The Fish Within

Five

Kevin wasn't waiting for her, didn't answer the phone or the incessant knocks she made on the counter when she found the bell wasn't working.  She rummaged around the desk and the countertops looking for any kind of note he may have left.

Outside the fishing shop, there was little to no movement.  It was too late for breakfast, too early for lunch. 

She sighed dropping her bag of purchases on one of the squishy uncomfortable seats.  She inspected the counter once again trying the latch on the swinging door that opened to lead behind the big opening.

She pressed a finger into the lock and pushed.  The door swung open like one of those little doors at the banks.  She'd filmed a TV episode once or maybe a scene from a movie with a similarly locked door.

Behind the little half door, behind the countertop she saw it.  A folder.  Labeled with her name on top.

She flipped it open and saw it was crammed full of fishing info.  "Whoa!  Is there gonna be a test?"

She jerked out a rolling desk chair and plopped onto it, reading.  The first line of "Fish Within's" motto was "If you can't fish, don't sit and cry in your liquor."  She read the words twice a slight red bursting onto her face and then suddenly she was laughing.

Doubling over, her giggles subsiding she kept reading.  "Clean your reels.  Inspect your fly line.  Inspect your waders.  Patch your waders if they have a leak.  Tie flies.  Read the 'Orvis Fly Fishing Guide.'  It covers everything about fly fishing for beginners. 

A beat up copy of the book was inside the file.  A note was taped on top.  "Gone fishing.  Guided trip.  Read this book.  Buy some waders (that fit).  Come back and schedule a trip."

Rachel read and re-read the note.  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.  She grabbed up the book slamming the folder down on the desk. 

She fumed.  "Fishing homework!  Really?"

When she got back to the rental home, it was near dark.  She flipped on every light in the house.  She wasn't used to the dark, the quiet.  She grabbed the phone first.  Her Agent had replied with a simple message asking again if she was doing okay and what did she think about the new script she was reading.  There was a three hour time difference back in LA - cocktails and dinner time there, bed time or close to it in West Virginia. 

She waited for her Agent's greeting to end and she replied after it.  "I'm fine.  It's peaceful here.  Quiet.  I'm not used to it.  I think I could get used to it.  I'm not reading scripts.  I'm learning about fishing.  I need to try something new, something real, something not onscreen.  I hope you understand."

The message left, she grabbed the book Kevin had left for her and plopped on the couch.  She muttered, "Fishing homework?  Can't get more real than this."