Short Stories

Calmest Day

There was not a single cloud in the sky and the sun hung high above the glassy smooth water. It wasn't that hot out and Garrett was getting ready to go out fishing. He looked out at the lake and felt a twinge of guilt because he was about to disturb the liquid glass. There was a rumble behind him, and he looked around and a smile spread across his face. A red pickup was pulling into the dock parking lot. His friend Frank was getting out of the driver seat and then grabbed his fishing gear out of the bed of his truck.

"Took you long enough" Garrett said as he walked over to the shoreline.

"Make yourself useful and grab the rest of stuff" Frank yelled as he was heading toward the dock, and he took he a deep breath and smelled freshly cut grass. One of the easiest ways to tell summer was on its way. He pulled the tailgate down and grabbed the fishing rods and tackle boxes.

"Do you want the beer?" he yelled over his shoulder "What do you think? Frank laughed at Garrett, grabbed the six pack, and headed back toward the dock. Frank was untying the boat. "Whoa, whoa do you mind waiting for me?" Garrett started running faster and took a leap onto the boat.

"Well, you could have gone a little faster, ya know" Frank answered.
Garrett just looked and Frank. "What?" Frank laughed "I want to get my rod in the water" Garrett said as started to untie the boat off the dock. "Can you wait for me?" Frank started jogging on to the dock and jumped onto the boat.

"There we go," Garrett said as he started the engine. The two men started out into the middle of the lake. Once there, the men were out in the middle, they cast their rods out and sat down and put up their feet on the edge of the boat. The men both just sat back and relaxed. Garrett had invited Frank on this fishing expedition because he seemed to be really stressed out. For him, there was no better way to spend the day.

As the men fished on, they had a few bites here and there, but they couldn't reel anything in.

"At this rate, we're not going to have anything to grill" Frank grumbled. Garrett realizing that the lack of progress was diluting Frank's confidence. Garrett got up and went over to the driver's seat and turned the key until the ignition fired up and they could feel the vibration of the boat beneath their feet and Garrett pushed forward on the lever to give it some gas.

"Uh, hello, my rod is still in the water; my brand-new rod, little warning would be nice" Frank yelled at Garrett as he was trying to pull the rod out of the water from the back.

"Oh sorry," Garrett looked back "My bad man." All Frank could do was smile.