A Day Fishing With the Fonz

Chapter 5

Richie talked with Ralph the same day he did with the Fonz. Ralph was over at his place.

"Mind if we talk about the fishing trip?" Richie asked.

"What do you want to say about it? Fonzie did say something about you asking these questions."

"Yes, I have."

"Name one of the questions I should answer."

"Okay. Lori Beth knows about the fishing trip, but I asked him this question, and now I'm going to ask the same thing."

"What's that?"

"You remember my twentieth anniversary is coming, right?"

"I haven't forgotten. What about it do you want to ask me?"

"I wanted to know if our wives can come. With Lori Beth and our anniversary coming closer, I'm not sure if that would be a good way to celebrate an anniversary."

Ralph laughed.

"That sounds original to me, Richie. You can do something different this year. You can celebrate your special day by going on the fishing trip."

Ralph finished saying that and once again he laughed.

"Sure, Lori Beth is invited. I don't think Karen could show up. She kept saying that it wouldn't make her available because the police department is short on staff this weekend because the sheriff is out sick."

"That's no fun. I understand that she won't be able to join us."

"So is she. Karen did tell me when she and her rock star brother were growing up, they would fish every year in the summer."

"You never told me that. Thanks for sharing with me. You never mentioned that to me before."

"I know. I didn't think it was necessary to share."

He understood.

"How about Tiffany? Is she coming along also?"

"I don't know. I thought he told you that one."

Richie shook his head.

"He never did. I guess he left that one up to you since this whole thing was your idea."

"That's true, Richie. I thought we would do something different this time."

"We never did anything like this when we were growing up," he reminded his friend.

"I know we didn't. I thought we would try something new."

"That's always a good thing," Richie agreed.

"I know. Karen thought that was about time we tried something new. She never showed me how to use the fishing rod, but I'm sure I can figure that one for myself."

"That is good you want to do it on your own as a beginner."

Ralph had to agree with Richie.

"Maybe with her having a busy schedule to protect the Milwaukee area, it makes sense she probably won't have time to show you."

"I can ask her," Ralph said.

"Never hurts to try," Richie agreed.

"True," Ralph replied.

They hung out a while longer until they had nothing else to talk about.

"Do you want Lori Beth and I meet you somewhere?" Richie asked.

"Not really. I happen to think we could get together rather than just driving separately."

"That makes sense. I'm sure Lori Beth would accept your invitation, and this was meant for the two of us instead of a fishing trip."

"I know. At first I thought it was a guys' trip without the ladies around."

"What's wrong with the wives coming?" Richie asked.

"Nothing," was his answer.

"If Lori Beth says she still wants to say no to this trip, I am sure that you would understand."

"Of course I would unless you want to go with us some other time."

"That can work too. I think you guys can go without me or set up another day and time."

"Have you told Fonzie about this idea you came up with?"

"No, I haven't. You're the first to know."

"Gotcha. You can tell him yourself if you'd like."

Ralph didn't seem to be disappointed about his friend's reply.

"I have to get going, Richie. I promised Karen I would run some errands for her."

"All right. We can talk again next time."

Then he watched Ralph disappear, and then he did the same.