The Seaman's Quest

Chapter Six

"Any fish bitin'?"  asked grandfather, slowly reeling his line in.  Vick shook his head, sighing.  "Not yet, but I keep on seeing this bass circling my hook."  

     Grandfather grunted, raising his eyebrows thoughtfully.  Cindy stood to grandfather's left side, and was having very little luck catching anything.  Only one small minnow swam circles in the bucket of shallow water they had set up for her.

     Grandfather's bucket, however, was becoming full with three large fish.  "Maybe this'll be my fourth!"  grandfather said hopefully, quickly reeling his line back to the bank.  "Maybe.....  Maybe....  "  He pulled his line out of the water, splashing everyone with the smelly lake water.  Spitting out water and rubbing her eyes, Cindy took a step closer to her grandfather.  

     Water now out of her eyes, she smiled at the sight of what was grandfather's biggest catch of the day;  A bass three feet long.

     "Whoa,"  she breathed, watching as grandfather unhooked the large fish.  "How do you do it, Richard?"  Vick said with admiration.

     Grandfather laughed, dropping the fish into the bucket with the rest.  He wiped his slimy hands on his worn jeans and smiled wider.  "It feels good to be back out fishing."

     He paused for a moment, looking out at the green lake.  "If only we were on a boat."  he said.  All remained silent, until Vick let out a long whistle, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

     "I don't know about you guys,"  he said,  "but I'm getting sweaty out here.  Is everyone ready to head back home?"

     "Yeah, I guess that 'ould be the smart thing to do."  grandfather said, while Cindy nodded.  The three gathered their fishing equipment and started for the buggy.  The smell of fresh pine needles filled the steamy air, mingling with the smell of fish.

     Grandfather stopped in front of the buggy and dropped his bucket.  He stretched his arms up towards the sky, opening his mouth wide.  "Long day."  he said to himself, before bending down to pick the bucket back up.

     He opened the buggy's door and got in, along with Vick and Cindy.  "So, how has life been back in Scotland?"  asked Vick once they turned onto the main road.

     Grandfather shrugged.  "Good."  he said.  Another awkward pause followed, as they had been the whole day.  "Um -- Anything interesting happening there?  Or?"  

     Cindy looked at her father skeptically, though he couldn't see her watching.  Why is he trying so hard to start a conversation?  she wondered.  It's annoying!

     Grandfather yawned again, squinting his eyes until they closed.  He quickly opened them again, shaking his head slightly.  "I'm tired from our fishing trip,"  he explained, pulling up to the house.  They quickly piled out of the buggy, all smelling like fish.

It was past lunchtime, but mother offered to make a stew out of the fish.  Grandfather and Vick excepted without hesitation, while Cindy secretly gagged at the thought.  She only liked to fish for catch and release, but since she was with her fisherman of a grandfather, of course they were going to prepare a nasty meal out of it.

     She wondered over to the bookshelf, hoping to find something good to read.  She traced her fingers along the hardbound spines of the books, reading the titles aloud;  "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Robin Hood, Little Women, Rebecca of Blue Moon.  "

     Disappointed with the selection, the walked into the kitchen to watch her mother prepare the stew.  Boiling water popped and sizzled, welcoming her into the kitchen.  Beside the pot of boiling water sat a pan with a fish simmering in it.  Bubbles formed around the cooking fish and popped.  Cindy brought a fist up to her mouth and bit her knuckles to keep from gagging.

     "H-hey Mom,"  she said, looking away from the stove.  Mother smiled at her knowingly.  "It is kind of gross, isn't it?"  she said, walked towards the pantry.  Cindy nodded, following her mother.

     "Would you get the celery from the refrigerator?"  she asked, grabbing the pepper from the top shelf.  "Sure."  Cindy walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a see-through bag, full of celery.

     "This is it, right?"  she asked, showing the bag to her mother.  Mother smiled, nodding.  "I guess I need to feed you kids more vegetables, don't I?"  she laughed, taking the bag from her.

     She pulled a few small leaves of celery off the stem and plopped them into the pot ruefully.  Cindy had to admit, when all the smells started coming together it almost smelt good.  But not good enough to eat fish.  she thought, once again backing down from the thought.

     "Cindy!"  grandfather shouted.  Startled, Cindy stumbled back.  She looked down the hall, where the knew the voice was coming from.  "Coming, Grandfather!"