A Memory
The sun rises on the lake as the fog settled on the water. It is still cool in Ohio, in the early days of April. As Fred and I walked we found a clearing on the bank. We sat our tackle boxes down. “See buddy, I told you we would find us a spot!” He rolled his eyes like a twelve year old can,after being torn away from his video game! Still, we bait our hooks and ready our lines,as I try to make small talk. Now it’s time to cast our lines“Fred you go first,” and with that, I hear a soft wissssssssh and with a splash his line was out. I followed suit and tried not to cross his line.
We sat up our chairs and cooler so we could relax and wait for our prey to come out for an easy meal. Lost in our activity we didn’t see his bobber disappear. “Fred your poll!” as he turns, his line is being pulled into the water. He dives in the water as he grabs his poll. He pulls back with a quick and steady motion, “Good job son, cross his eyes and set that hook!”
“I got it dad,” as he starts to reel in his line, tip down with his poll almost bent in half. “Need a hand?”I asked.“No I got it!”he said. I could hear the excitement in his voice. “Don’t let him dive on ya,” just then a large mouth bass breaks the surface of the water. Fred’s eyes were as large a saucers! He pointed his rod back down and SPLASH, both of them went back into the water.
“DAD……….DAD DID YOU SEE THAT?” “Yes I did buddy, good job, keep at it.” As he backed out of the water, he pulled his poll behind him,reached out with is free hand and took his prize out of the water. He sat his poll down and with his thumb and fore finger, took his fish by the bottom lip and held it out for me to see. I could see from the look on his face and the light in his eyes, he was happy, wet, but happy.
“Nice buddy, looks like three or three and a half pounds! Now what are you going to do?” I said. “I don’t know, what do you mean?” He said. “Well now you have a choice to make,ether put him back or take him home and dress him out.” “There’s no choice, I’m putting him back for next time,” he laughed! “Okay you need any help?”I asked, “Nope I got it.” He walked back into the water and lowered the fish back in and with a WHOOSH he was gone.
I built a small fire to dry Fred out. We spent the rest of the day talking and telling jokes. Fred was asking what seemed to bea thousand questions and telling me about his games, and other stuff that was important to a twelve year old. It was a good day. One we both want to repeat, except next time Fred wants me to bring a tent.