The fisherwoman of Alabama

Only chapter

The day had arrived. The day Ruth Jamison hoped would never come.

It was terribly early.

Even before the roosters began to crow, before the cicadas began their dawn song and with it, pulled all the other insects and bats into the symphony, Ruth opened her eyes. There was movement in the bedroom, and she looked to the side to find Idgie with a candle in her hand, leaving the room hastily.

"Idgie?" she asked in a sleepy voice. With no response, Ruth let herself be lulled back to sleep. But Idgie's footsteps woke her up once again.

"Morning, flower of the day," Idgie said with a big smile. "It's time to get up!"

"Get up? The sun hasn't even risen...", Ruth turned to the other side of the bed, wanting to be lulled into delicious sleep once again.

But Idgie wouldn't allow it. She pulled the sheet off Ruth.

"We have to go, Ruth", her voice had a funny tone.

"Go where?"

"To a special place... you know... I prepared a special day for both of us today"

Ruth finally turned around, lifted her torso, rubbed her eyes, and looked at Idgie.

"We have to go to the cafe," said Ruth.

"Mama will take care of the cafe today," Idgie replied.

Ruth looked at the crib next to the bed where one and a half year old Buddy Jr used to sleep every night. The crib was empty.

"Buddy...?", she started to ask.

"I just dropped him off at Ninny's."

"What have you prepared for us today?", Ruth gave the blonde a small smile.

"It will be a surprise! Come on, get changed. I recommend very comfortable pants. I'll be waiting outside with the car, alright?"

Idgie gently took Ruth's hand and planted a kiss on its back. She released her with a smile and left the room happily in that impossible-to-contain way of hers.

Ten minutes later, Ruth left the house, locked the door behind her, and, yawning, walked to the car. She had followed Idgie's instructions and opted for a pair of brown pants she liked and a yellow shirt. Idgie wore her denim overalls over a white tank top and wellies.

As soon as she approached the car and saw fishing rods sticking out of the back windows, she bolted in place like a pack mule.

"Idgie, no"

"C'mon, Ruth, it's going to be fun! I promise! I got us a boat and everything!"

"I don't like fishing"

"You're terrible at fishing, it's different," Idgie said with a smile as she approached Ruth and grabbed her hand to pull her to the car. "As soon as you feel that hook in your rod... you'll feel different. You will start to love fishing! In fact, you'll like it so much that I'll have to take care of the café myself, because you'll be in the river all the time with Buddy and a huge basin full of fish that you caught yourself..."

"That's not it..." sighed Ruth, stopping in front of the car. She looked at Idgie. "It's just... the poor fish..."

Idgie took a deep breath and held both of Ruth's hands. She looked at her deeply.

"Hey, Ruth, listen to one thing. Far be it from me to pay attention to anything Reverend Scroggins says, but isn't there a story out there saying that Jesus multiplied the fish?"