EDENVILLE

Gone Fishing

By @silenttomorrows

Eli had put in a full mornings labour before deciding to ride out to cut more reed for thatch. He hitched up the shire horse, that he kept in the paddock behind Frank's watermill and set off to the wetlands where the reeds grew a plenty.

Meanwhile Frank had set to making the barn a safe place for visitors. Millie and he had been friends since school, if someone made fun of her name they only did it once. Frank made sure it didn't happen again. On the other hand, when she was excited she often muddled Frank's name up, he didn't mind, it was just her way. But to clear his head he decided to go for a walk, follow the stream down to the stone bridge. Maybe he'd spot some mushrooms for supper, it gave him time to think about a couple of inventions, including his rotating bricks to change the colours of walls, and his inflatable pillow cases. He had tried filling them with a little helium, fell asleep and was awoken by his head hitting the ceiling.

The day was fresh and the he felt good. After a short distance he heard the sound of a fish flip in the water, he looked up and there was a girl fishing. 'Oh hello, caught anything yet?'

The girl focussed on the rod, didn't look up, 'not yet.'

'There's some big ones in there, I....'

'Now, now, now. What do we have here. Fishing without a licence, that'll be a fine fine, I dare say.' The beaming Constable Breem, couldn't contain his glee as he licked the tip of his pencil. 'Have you caught any bream because Breem has caught you. Your name please Miss.'

The girl who was pretty with her long dark hair and cool blue eyes, looked astonished. 'Sorry Sir, I didn't know, it won't happen again.' She began collecting her tackle up.

'But it happened this time, didn't it. That's £50 for the licence and £250 for not having a licence.'

'But that's extortionate, I haven't got that sort of money'

'And strictly speaking, it's not exactly accurate is it Constable' Frank spoke directly to Breem who looked quizzically at him. Breem was not used to being challenged.

'What do you mean Mr. Boffinski, have you invented an alibi, are you aiding and abetting a thief.'

'Thief' the girl said in surprise and astonishment'

'Thief of fish, Miss? Name please.'

'It's Viola Fiddler, if you must know' she said indignantly'

'Ah, a Fiddler. Fiddler by name and Fiddler by nature. That accounts for it then. Well I've finally plucked a Fiddler, down to the station then to take a statement and collect a fine I think young lady'.

'Viola's mouth opened to complain but before she could think of what to say, Frank said, 'Post'.

'Yes, post', she echoed, 'post?'

'What post, there's no postman about', said Breem, 'what you talking about Boffinski?'

'That post constable. As you know, that post is where my land ends and where the common land begins.'

'I do know of it, what of it Boff' said the Constable already sensing a chink in his armour.

'Well then, you'll know that this side of the post is where Miss Fiddler is fishing and it needs no license because its on my land. T'other side of that post is common river fishing jurisdictions. Miss Fiddler is within her rights to fish here, this side of the post because I invited her to'

'But, b b but....'

'Good day Constable, oh incidentally, have you a warrant to be on my land? No? Oh well, I'll let you off this time. Do t think I need to talk to Mayor Maynot about falsely obtaining revenue? He doesn't like anything fishy.'

With that Constable Breem stormed off.

Frank and Viola looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

'Did you see his face? Viola stuttered through her laughter. My grandad will find this funny when I tell him. Thank you, sooooo much'

'Well he's as slippery as an eel, guess we left him with roe on his face. It's good fishing up nearer the mill, come on, I'll show you.'

They walked together back along the track that Frank had trod not fifteen minutes before. That's when they noticed a commotion from the watermill, a chicken in a swirl of feathers flew out the door, then there was a kind of buzzing sound as Frank's specialised teeth and hair drone drilled its way through the thatched roof up to a height of about 100 feet and exploded into pieces.

'Oh dear' said Frank.

'What was that? Asked Viola.

Frank signed, 'Oh, just my invention for cleaning children's teeth and cutting their hair. Cat must have sat on the remote control again. Anyway I got letters of complaint.

'Complaints, why? Viola was intrigued.

I had a letter from Fanny Edwards of The Edenville Hedge Strimmers and Bush Cutters Society complaining I was trying to take their trade away. I did explain to Fanny that my invention was never meant to be used for bush trimming. It wasn't calibrated right for that. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. Look that road show thing is coming this way, someone's shouting about it. If you'd like you can lend a hand in the barn. It's nearly ready, I'm putting a trailer in there for a stage.

'Sure', Viola smiled. 'I'd like that.'