The first time my father and I ever went fishing became a family legend.
The
first
time
my
father
and
I
ever
went
fishing
became
a
family
legend
.
We spent hours waiting for a bite.
We
spent
hours
waiting
for
a
bite
.
The sun was bursting with fire.
The
sun
was
bursting
with
fire
.
We were hot, sticky, and mad that the fish refused to suck up our night crawlers.
We
were
hot
,
sticky
,
and
mad
that
the
fish
refused
to
suck
up
our
night
crawlers
.
Being only seven years old, I observed that perhaps the worms were the problem.
Being
only
seven
years
old
,
I
observed
that
perhaps
the
worms
were
the
problem
.
Maybe the night crawlers only moved at night, and now they were just lying there motionless on the hook.
Maybe
the
night
crawlers
only
moved
at
night
,
and
now
they
were
just
lying
there
motionless
on
the
hook
.
Dad ignored my assessment of the situation.
Dad
ignored
my
assessment
of
the
situation
.
We began to pack up to leave.
We
began
to
pack
up
to
leave
.
As we headed back to our truck, we heard tires spinning in the distance.
As
we
headed
back
to
our
truck
,
we
heard
tires
spinning
in
the
distance
.
Getting into our truck was tough.
Getting
into
our
truck
was
tough
.
Having sat in the boiling sun for six hours, the seats were blistering.
Having
sat
in
the
boiling
sun
for
six
hours
,
the
seats
were
blistering
.
Naturally, I was wearing shorts.
Naturally
,
I
was
wearing
shorts
.
I shifted from side to side in the seat so as not to cook my bottom.
I
shifted
from
side
to
side
in
the
seat
so
as
not
to
cook
my
bottom
.
While driving out we saw a truck with a boat trailer and boat that was stuck in the mud.
While
driving
out
we
saw
a
truck
with
a
boat
trailer
and
boat
that
was
stuck
in
the
mud
.
That explained the sound of spinning tires we'd heard.
That
explained
the
sound
of
spinning
tires
we
'd
heard
.
Being a nice guy, my dad helped pull the man from the mud.
Being
a
nice
guy
,
my
dad
helped
pull
the
man
from
the
mud
.
In return, this fellow gave Dad some fish for being a Good Samaritan.
In
return
,
this
fellow
gave
Dad
some
fish
for
being
a
Good
Samaritan
.
As Dad climbed back into our truck with a brown bag full of fish, we waved goodbye to our newfound friend.
As
Dad
climbed
back
into
our
truck
with
a
brown
bag
full
of
fish
,
we
waved
goodbye
to
our
newfound
friend
.
On the drive home, we agreed to take in the fish as if we had caught them.
On
the
drive
home
,
we
agreed
to
take
in
the
fish
as
if
we
had
caught
them
.
We were sure there was no way for Mom to know the difference.
We
were
sure
there
was
no
way
for
Mom
to
know
the
difference
.
It was just a little white lie.
It
was
just
a
little
white
lie
.
We arrived home hot, sweaty, and smelly, and went to clean up while Mom prepared the fish.
We
arrived
home
hot
,
sweaty
,
and
smelly
,
and
went
to
clean
up
while
Mom
prepared
the
fish
.
We made a big deal out of the fact that we had already cleaned them and put them in the bag so as not to make a mess.
We
made
a
big
deal
out
of
the
fact
that
we
had
already
cleaned
them
and
put
them
in
the
bag
so
as
not
to
make
a
mess
.
After showering, Dad and I met in the hall and exchanged conspiratorial grins.
After
showering
,
Dad
and
I
met
in
the
hall
and
exchanged
conspiratorial
grins
.
Sitting down to freshly fried fish, we started eating happily and went on about how good something tasted that we had actually caught ourselves.
Sitting
down
to
freshly
fried
fish
,
we
started
eating
happily
and
went
on
about
how
good
something
tasted
that
we
had
actually
caught
ourselves
.
Mother looked suitably impressed.
Mother
looked
suitably
impressed
.
As we got up to do the dishes, Mom cleared her throat.
As
we
got
up
to
do
the
dishes
,
Mom
cleared
her
throat
.
"I just have one question of you two great fishermen," she said.
``
I
just
have
one
question
of
you
two
great
fishermen
,
''
she
said
.
We looked at her expectantly, thinking we had another opportunity to delight her with our great fishing ability.
We
looked
at
her
expectantly
,
thinking
we
had
another
opportunity
to
delight
her
with
our
great
fishing
ability
.
With a tiny smile, Mom asked, "How was it again that you two managed to not only clean your fish, but also freeze them before you got home."
With
a
tiny
smile
,
Mom
asked
,
``
How
was
it
again
that
you
two
managed
to
not
only
clean
your
fish
,
but
also
freeze
them
before
you
got
home
.
''
The first time my father and I ever went fishing became a family legend. We spent hours waiting for a bite. The sun was bursting with fire. We were hot, sticky, and mad that the fish refused to suck up our night crawlers.  Being only seven years old, I observed that perhaps the worms were the problem. Maybe the night crawlers only moved at night, and now they were just lying there motionless on the hook. Dad ignored my assessment of the situation.  We began to pack up to leave. As we headed back to our truck, we heard tires spinning in the distance. Getting into our truck was tough. Having sat in the boiling sun for six hours, the seats were blistering. Naturally, I was wearing shorts.  I shifted from side to side in the seat so as not to cook my bottom. While driving out we saw a truck with a boat trailer and boat that was stuck in the mud. That explained the sound of spinning tires we'd heard.  Being a nice guy, my dad helped pull the man from the mud. In return, this fellow gave Dad some fish for being a Good Samaritan. As Dad climbed back into our truck with a brown bag full of fish, we waved goodbye to our newfound friend.  On the drive home, we agreed to take in the fish as if we had caught them. We were sure there was no way for Mom to know the difference. It was just a little white lie.  We arrived home hot, sweaty, and smelly, and went to clean up while Mom prepared the fish. We made a big deal out of the fact that we had already cleaned them and put them in the bag so as not to make a mess.  After showering, Dad and I met in the hall and exchanged conspiratorial grins. Sitting down to freshly fried fish, we started eating happily and went on about how good something tasted that we had actually caught ourselves. Mother looked suitably impressed.  As we got up to do the dishes, Mom cleared her throat. "I just have one question of you two great fishermen," she said. We looked at her expectantly, thinking we had another opportunity to delight her with our great fishing ability. With a tiny smile, Mom asked, "How was it again that you two managed to not only clean your fish, but also freeze them before you got home."