MOON LIGHT BAY
“I
WAS SAILING ALONG-G-G-G, ON MOON LIGHT BAY-Y-Y-Y, JUST A
SAILING ALONG-G-G-G, ON LOVES OLD SWEET SONG-G-G-G-G-G.” I
SANG AS I MOTORED IN FROM RUNNING MY LINES. THE MOON WAS
FULL. IT’S GLOW SEEMED TO SNEAK THROUGH THE CYPRESS TREES AND
SPREAD IT’S SHIMMERING LIGHT ACROSS THE WATER. THERE WAS NO
WIND. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR AND I WAS THE ONLY BOAT ON THE LAKE
TONIGHT. THE WATER WAS LIKE A MIRROR REFLECTING THE MOON AND
STARS. THE SMELL OF CYPRESS TREES WAS IN THE AIR. ALL WAS AT
PEACE WITH THE WORLD.
I
REACHED OVER AND TURNED OFF MY MOTOR AND LET THE BOAT DRIFT TO
A STOP. AS I SAT THERE IN MY BOAT I LEANED BACK AND PROPPED
MY FEET UP ON THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. I COULD HEAR THE TREE
FROGS IN THE CYPRESS TREES SINGING AND ONCE IN A WHILE A BIG
BULL FROG WOULD CHIME IN WITH HIS “KRUMPPP KRUMPPP KRUMPPP.”
THEN AN OWL SAID HOOO HOOO HOOO-A-A-A-A. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
THIS MUST BE WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE.
THEN A SMALL FISH MADE A SPLASH SOMEWHERE. SMALL NIGHT SOUNDS
TIP TOED IN ON THE LIGHT BREEZE. AS I SAT THERE I WAS AT PEACE
WITH MYSELF AND THE WORLD. SUDDENLY I HEARD A BEAVER HIT THE
WATER WITH HIS TAIL AND THAT MAKES A BIG SPLASH. I HAD
DRIFTED TOO CLOSE TO HIS DEN AND HE WAS LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT
IT. ONCE IN A WHILE I COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF SOME NIGHT BIRD
CALL OUT. OCCASIONALLY THE SOUNDS OF THE RAFT OF MUD HENS,
OUT IN THE OPEN WATER, WOULD DRIFT OVER THE WATER TO ME AS
THEY CHUCKLED AND SQUAWKED AT EACH OTHER. THEY SOUNDED LIKE A
BUNCH OF WOMEN AT A TEA PARTY. THEN I HEARD THE WHISTLE OF A
TRAIN LOW AND EERIE. IT ECHOED ACROSS THE WATER LIKE A
GHOST. THE NEAREST RAILROAD TRACK WAS 12 MILES AWAY IN THE
TOWN OF WASKEM. IT’S AMAZING HOW SOUND TRAVELS AT NIGHT,
THEN A CATFISH IN THE 5 GALLON BUCKET BEHIND MY SEAT FLOPPED
AND IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO REALITY. I HAD A BUCKET OF CATFISH
TO CLEAN BEFORE I COULD GO TO BED. SO I STARTED THE MOTOR
AGAIN AND HEADED FOR CAMP. WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, I STARTED
SINGING AGAIN. AS BAD AS I SING, EVEN I DON’T WANT TO HEAR MY
VOICE, SO THE ONLY TIME I SING IS WHEN THE MOTOR IS RUNNING.
WHEN I GOT BACK TO CAMP, JOHNNIE AND I WERE STAYING AT MRS.
TUCKER’S CAMP ON CADDO LAKE, I CARRIED THE BUCKET OF CATFISH
AROUND TO MY FISH CLEANING TABLE AND GOT STARTED. JOHNNIE
STUCK HER HEAD OUT THE BACK DOOR OF THE CABIN AND SAID, “WHAT
TOOK YOU SO LONG, IT’S AFTER MIDNIGHT?” I JUST TOLD HER I HAD
LOTS OF HOOKS TO BAIT TONIGHT. SHE SAID, “WELL I’M GOING TO
BED, BE SURE YOU WASH THOSE FISH GOOD BEFORE YOU PUT THEM IN
THE REFRIGERATOR.” “OK,” I ANSWERED. AFTER I FINISHED WITH
THE FISH I WALKED BACK DOWN TO THE BOAT.
I
SAT DOWN IN THE BOAT AND WAS JUST ENJOYING THE SOLITUDE. AS I
SAT THERE I SAW A MOTHER COON AND HER THREE BABIES COME
WALKING ALONG THE WATERS EDGE. SHE WAS IN THE LEAD AND THE
LITTLE ONES WERE FOLLOWING IN SINGLE FILE. AS THEY WALKED
ALONG THE WATERS EDGE SHE REACHED DOWN AND PICKED UP A
CRAWFISH. SHE BIT THE HEAD OFF IT AND HANDED IT TO THE FIRST
BABY IN LINE. AS HE STOPPED TO EAT IT THE MOTHER COON AND THE
OTHER TWO BABIES MOVED ON. AS HE FINISHED HIS MEAL HE CAUGHT
UP AND TOOK HIS PLACE AT THE END OF THE LINE. IT WASN’T LONG
BEFORE THE MOTHER COON CAUGHT ANOTHER CRAWFISH AND THIS TIME
SHE HANDED IT TO THE FIRST BABY IN LINE. HE STOPPED TO EAT
AND WHEN HE FINISHED, HE TOOK HIS PLACE AT THE END OF THE
LINE. BY THIS METHOD EACH BABY WAS BEING FED AS HE GOT TO
THE HEAD OF THE LINE.
THEN THAT OLD HOOT OWL STARTED AGAIN. “HOOO HOOO HOOOA-A-A-A-A-A.”
I GUESS THAT WAS MY SIGNAL TO GO TO BED. I RELUCTANTLY WENT
BACK TO THE CABIN AND WENT TO BED. JOHNNIE WAS ALREADY ASLEEP
SO I COULDN’T TELL HER ABOUT THE COONS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
NICE TO SHARE THAT WITH HER.
THE NEXT MORNING AN HOUR BEFORE DAYLIGHT THE
COFFEE POT CAME ON. NOW I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS
COFFEE POT. IT’S A MR. COFFEE ELECTRIC POT WITH A TIMER ON
IT. YOU JUST SET THE TIME YOU WANT IT TO MAKE COFFEE AND IT’S
LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK. IT TURNS ITS SELF ON AT THAT TIME.
THERE ARE LOTS OF MR. COFFEE ELECTRIC POTS OUT THERE, BUT I
BET THERE IS NOT ANOTHER ONE LIKE THIS ONE IN THE WHOLE
WORLD. OH, IT MAKES COFFEE JUST FINE, BUT IT’S WHAT IT DOES
WHILE IT’S MAKING COFFEE THAT’S UNUSUAL. WHEN IT TURNS ON IT
STARTS MAKING NOISE. IT WILL SAY, ”WOOOOOOOOO, WOOOOOOOOOOOO,
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, SHOOSSS SHOOSSS.”
WHEN WE HAVE GUEST AND THEY HEAR THAT COFFEE POT FOR THE FIRST
TIME WE DON’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE GETTING THEM OUT OF BED EARLY
IN THE MORNING. THEY SIT STRAIGHT UP IN BED AND HOLLER,
“WHAT’S THAT?” NOW I DON’T NORMALLY BELIEVE IN HAUNTS BUT
THIS COFFEE POT WILL MAKE YOU WONDER. IT SCARES THE BEE-JEEBERS
OUT OF EVERYONE THE FIRST TIME THEY HEAR IT.
ANYWAY JOHNNIE AND I GOT UP AND HAD A BREAKFAST OF EGGS,
BACON, HOT BISCUITS, AND PLUM JELLY. JOHNNIE DRANK COFFEE AND
I DRANK MILK. AFTER BREAKFAST WE WENT DOWN TO THE BOAT.
THERE HAD BEEN A HEAVY DEW THAT NIGHT AS USUAL. I ALWAYS PUT
LARGE PLASTIC TRASH BAGS OVER MY BOAT SEATS TO KEEP THEM DRY.
WE PULLED OFF THE BAGS AND PUT THEM IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT
IN THE BOAT FOR THE NEXT TIME. THEN WE STARTED FOR OUR LINES
OUT AT JOHN’S HOLE JUST AS THE SUN WAS PEEKING OVER THE
CYPRESS TREES. ITS NOT REAL COLD BUT WITH THE DAMP AIR AND
THE WIND CHILL FROM THE MOVING BOAT WE HAVE LEARNED TO WEAR A
COAT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. AS WE APPROACHED JOHN’S HOLE
WE SAW SOME OF THE LIMBS THAT WE HAD LINES TIED TO JUMPING UP
AND DOWN. WE HAD FISH! AS WE CAME TO EACH TREE I WOULD TAKE
THE FISH OFF THE HOOK AND JOHNNIE WOULD BAIT IT WITH ANOTHER
PIECE OF WEENIE. AFTER WE RAN OUR LINES AT JOHN’S HOLE WE
WENT TO OUR OPP LINES ACROSS THE OLD RIVER BED. THESE LINES
ARE BAITED WITH LIVE BREAM FOR OPPS, (OPPELOUSAS CATFISH) OR
AS SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM FLAT HEAD CATFISH. THEY GROW UP TO
100 POUNDS, AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY THING BUT LIVE BAIT. THEIR
FAVORITE FOOD IS A LIVE BREAM ABOUT 4 TO 5 INCHES LONG.
WE
HAD TEN OPP LINES OUT. AS WE APPROACHED THEM I COULD SEE ONE
OF THEM PULLED BACK IN AGAINST THE TREE. THIS IS WHAT A BIG
OPP WILL DO WHEN HE GETS HOOKED AND FINDS HE CAN’T TEAR OR
BREAK LOOSE. HE BACKS IN AGAINST THE TREE AND SAVES HIS
STRENGTH UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. WHEN YOU GET HOLD OF THE
LINE AND TRY TO PULL HIM UP, HE COMES ALIVE AND GIVES YOU A
REAL BATTLE. YOU USUALLY GET WET, GET HIT BY THE LIMB YOUR
LINE IS TIED TO AS HE JERKS IT UP AND DOWN, AND YOU GET YOU
RIBS BRUISED LEANING OVER THE EDGE OF THE BOAT TRYING TO LAND
YOUR FISH. BUT YOUR ADRENALINE IS PUMPING SO HARD YOU DON’T
NOTICE THESE THINGS AT THE TIME.
WELL WHEN I GOT A HOLD OF MY LINE EVERYTHING HAPPENED. THE
FISH CAME ALIVE AND THE BATTLE WAS ON. JOHNNIE STOOD THERE
WITH THE NET TELLING ME TO GET HIM UP TO THE TOP OF THE WATER
SO SHE COULD NET HIM. THE TREE LIMB WAS SLAPPING ME IN THE
FACE, WATER WAS SPLASHING ON MY GLASSES SO I COULDN’T SEE, AND
THE FISH WAS ABOUT TO PULL ME OUT OF THE BOAT. I YELLED,
”JOHNNIE I’M TRYING, JUST YOU BE READY.” SHE KEPT TELLING ME
TO NOT LET HIM GET AWAY. I YELLED BACK, “I’M DOING EVERYTHING
I CAN JUST BE PATIENT.” SHE HIT ME WITH THE NET AND SAID,
“DON’T YELL AT ME.” NOW I’M NOT ONLY FIGHTING THIS FISH I
HAVE TO WATCH JOHNNIE TO KEEP HER FROM HITTING ME WITH THE NET
AGAIN!
WELL EVENTUALLY I GET THE OPP TO THE TOP OF THE WATER AND
JOHNNIE NETS HIM AND IT TAKES BOTH OF US TO LIFT HIM OVER THE
SIDE OF THE BOAT. WHEN WE GET HIM IN THE BOAT JOHNNIE DROPS
THE NET AND THERE LAYS A BIG OPP THAT WILL WEIGH OVER THIRTY
POUNDS. WE BOTH LAUGH AND SAY THAT WAS SOME BATTLE. JOHNNIE
EVEN SAYS SHE’S SORRY ABOUT HITTING ME WITH THE NET. THAT’S
THE ONLY FISH WE HAVE ON OUR OPP LINES THIS MORNING SO WE
START BACK IN TO CAMP TO TAKE PICTURES AND CLEAN OUR FISH.
WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE BANK JOHNNIE GOES AFTER THE CAMERA
WHILE I GET THE FISH OUT OF THE BOAT. WHEN SHE COMES BACK I
HOLD UP THE BIG OPP SO SHE CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF ME AND THE
FISH. OTHER PEOPLE ARE UP AND AROUND BY THEN AND COME TO LOOK
AT OUR FISH. EVERY ONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WE CAUGHT HIM ON
AND WHERE WE CAUGHT HIM. WHAT I TOLD THEM IS A WHOLE NOTHER
STORY FOR A DIFFERENT TIME. BUT YOU CAN BET I DIDN’T TELL
THEM WHERE WE CAUGHT HIM.
AFTER CLEANING OUR FISH AND PUTTING THEM IN THE FREEZER. I
ATE A SNACK OF PEANUT BUTTER AND CHEESE ON CRACKERS. JOHNNIE
HAS PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANAS ON BREAD. THEN WE WENT OUT TO
CATCH SOME MORE BREAM FOR BAIT FOR OUR OPP LINES. WE WENT TO
JODY’S DUCK BLIND. I KEEP THE WATER UNDER HIS BLIND BAITED
WITH A SACK OF DOG FOOD. THAT ATTRACTS THE BREAM AND MAKES IT
EASY FOR US TO CATCH ALL WE NEED. WE CATCH ABOUT 20 AND PUT
THEM IN THE BOAT’S LIVE BOX. THEN WE GO BACK TO CAMP FOR OUR
AFTERNOON NAP. LATE IN THE EVENING WE WILL USE THEM TO BAIT
OUR OPP LINES FOR THE NIGHT.
AFTER WE GET UP FROM OUR NAP, WE EAT A SANDWICH AND GO OUT TO
BAIT OUR LINES. WE GO ACROSS THE RIVER TO OUR OPP LINES
FIRST. AS WE GET TO THE FIRST ONE, I ASK JOHNNIE TO REACH
INTO THE LIVE BOX AND HAND ME A BREAM. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE
LETS OUT A SCREAM THAT MAKES THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK
STAND UP! “WHAT’S WRONG” I ASK? JOHNNIE SAYS, “THERE’S A
SNAKE IN THE LIVE BOX!!!” I STAND UP AND WALK TO THE BACK OF
THE BOAT AND LOOK IN THE LIVE BOX. SURE ENOUGH THERE IS A
SNAKE IN THE LIVE BOX. HE HAD SWAM IN THROUGH THE HOLE THAT
LETS WATER INTO THE LIVE BOX TO GET HIM A BREAM. HAVING
SWALLOWED THE BREAM HE COULD NOT GET BACK OUT OF THE LITTLE
HOLE.
WELL THE BATTLE IS ON. I’M TRYING TO CATCH THE SNAKE WITHOUT
GETTING BITTEN. BUT, BOY IS HE SCARED AND MAD. HE TRIES TO
GO BACK OUT THE HOLE HE CAME IN, BUT WHEN HIS BODY GETS TO THE
BIG BULGE THE BREAM HE SWALLOWED MAKES, THAT PART IS TO BIG TO
GO THROUGH THE HOLE. SO HE’S STUCK. THERE IS ABOUT 12 INCHES
OF HIM OUTSIDE THE BOAT AND ABOUT 18 INCHES OF HIM STILL IN
THE LIVE BOX. I KNOW IF I GRAB HOLD OF HIS TAIL AND PULL, I
CAN PULL HIM BACK THROUGH THE HOLE. BUT JUST AS SOON AS HE IS
CLEAR OF THE HOLE HE IS GOING TO CURL UP AND BITE ME. WELL
FINALLY I FIGURE THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TAKE MY KNIFE AND CUT
HIM INTO TWO PIECES. THE FRONT OF HIM CAN GO OUTSIDE AND THE
BACK OF HIM WILL STAY IN THE LIVE BOX. THEN I CAN PICK UP THE
TAIL AND THROW IT OVER BOARD WITH OUT GETTING BITTEN.
AFTER I GET RID OF THE SNAKE, I ASK JOHNNIE TO HAND ME A BREAM
SO I CAN GET ON WITH THE BAITING OF MY LINES, “NO.” SHE
SAID. “WHY?” I ASK. “YOU SAW ME THROW THE SNAKE OUT OF THE
LIVE BOX.” “I’M NOT STICKING MY HAND BACK IN THAT LIVE BOX,
EVER!” SHE SAYS. I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LIVE BOX AND CATCH
ALL THE BREAM AND PUT THEM IN A 5 GALLON BUCKET OF WATER, THEN
JOHNNIE WILL CATCH AND HAND ME A BREAM AS I NEED IT TO BAIT A
HOOK. SO GOES THE HARD LIFE OF A FISHERMAN WITH A CITY GIRL
FOR A WIFE.
ANYWAY WE GET OUR HOOKS BAITED AND GET BACK TO CAMP JUST AT
DARK. IT’S SUPPER TIME, SO WE GO IN AND FRY SOME FISH AND
HUSH PUPPIES AND MAKE A SALAD FOR SUPPER. AFTER WE EAT AND
CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN WE GO OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH AND SIT ON
THE COUCH. THEN I GET A CHANCE TO TELL JOHNNIE ABOUT THE
COONS I SAW LAST NIGHT. WE QUIETLY TALK ABOUT WHAT EVER AS WE
SIT THERE NEXT TO EACH OTHER. I PUT MY ARM ACROSS HER
SHOULDER AND PULL HER CLOSE TO ME. I THINK HOW NICE IT IS TO
BE IN LOVE. NEVER MIND THAT WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED OVER 40
YEARS.
ABOUT 10 O’CLOCK I SAY, “I THINK I’LL GO LOOK AT OUR LINES TO
SEE IF WE HAVE ANY FISH YET. DO YOU WANT TO COME WITH ME?”
JOHNNIE SAYS SHE WILL GO THIS TIME, SO WE GO TO THE BOAT AND
START OUT TO OUR LINES. NO SINGING THIS TIME, WITH SOME ONE
ELSE IN THE BOAT I DON’T SING. BUT AS WE GET OUT TO JOHN’S
HOLE AND TURN OFF THE MOTOR. THE NIGHT SOUNDS CAN BE HEARD
AND WITH THE BIG MOON SHINING UP IN THE SKY I THINK OF THAT
DEAN MARTIN SONG. THE ONE THAT GOES, “WHEN THE MOON HITS THE
SKY, LIKA BIG PIECEA PIE THAT’S AMORE-E-E.” BUT I SURE DON’T
TRY TO SING IT.
WE
CHECK OUR LINES AND DON’T HAVE ANY FISH YET, SO WE JUST BOAT
RIDE FOR AWHILE UNDER THE MOON. IT’S SO PRETTY OUT ON THE
LAKE I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK. JOHNNIE SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING
THE NIGHT BOAT RIDE ALSO. AFTER AWHILE SHE SAYS, “IT’S NICE,
BUT I’M TIRED. LET’S GO IN.” RELUCTANTLY I TURN BACK AND GO
TO CAMP. AT LEAST I DON’T HAVE ANY FISH TO CLEAN TONIGHT.
THE NEXT MORNING WE ARE WOKE UP BY THE SOUNDS OF THAT WEIRD
COFFEE POT AT 6:00 AM AND HAVE BREAKFAST. THEN IT’S TIME TO
RUN OUR LINES AGAIN. WE PUT OUR COATS ON AND OFF WE GO. THE
SUN IS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER PROMISING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL
DAY. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CHANNEL CATFISH THIS MORNING, BUT NO
OPPS. WHEN WE GET BACK FROM RUNNING OUR LINES, MRS. TUCKER
ASKED JOHNNIE IF SHE WANTS TO GO TO TOWN TODAY. “SURE,” SAYS
JOHNNIE. SO OFF THEY GO, LEAVING ME TO CLEAN THE FISH BY
MYSELF. ALSO, WITH MRS. TUCKER GONE, I WILL HAVE TO STAY IN
AND RUN THE CAMP. AFTER I GET MY FISH CLEANED AND PUT IN THE
FREEZER, I GO DOWN TO THE BOAT SLIP TO WORK ON SOME OF THE
RENTAL BOATS. THEY ARE ALUMINUM JON BOATS AND THE RIVETS GET
TO LEAKING AFTER AWHILE. SO I SEAL THE RIVETS WITH A SILICONE
SEALER.
WHILE I’M DOING THIS ONE OF MY FRIENDS COMES IN OFF THE LAKE
WITH A BIG BASS HE WANTS TO WEIGH. WE PUT HIM ON THE SCALES
AND HE WEIGHS 11 LBS. AND 12 OZ. “MAN, THAT’S A BIG BASS!” I
SAY. BUT I DON’T DARE ASK HIM WHERE HE CAUGHT IT. “DID HE
GIVE YOU MUCH OF A FIGHT?” I LET HIM TELL ME ABOUT CATCHING
THE BASS AND HE WINDS UP NOT ONLY TELLING ME WHERE HE CAUGHT
IT, BUT WHAT HE CAUGHT IT ON. YOU SEE WHEN YOU GET A
FISHERMAN TALKING ABOUT HIS BIG FISH, HE JUST DOESN’T KNOW
WHEN TO SHUT UP. NOW THAT I HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION I
CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR JOHNNIE AND MRS. TUCKER TO GET BACK FROM
TOWN.
BUT THEY MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR ESCAPE FROM THE CAMP. THEY
STAY ALL DAY. FIRST, THEY GO TO THE BANK FOR MRS. TUCKER TO
MAKE HER DEPOSIT. THEN THEY GO SHOPPING AT WAL-MART. AFTER
WAL-MART THEY STOP AT A “CHURCH’S FRIED CHICKEN” FOR LUNCH.
THEN THEY GO TO THE BEAUTY SHOP. AFTER THAT THEY GO TO THE
GROCERY STORE AND FINALLY COME BACK. THEY GET TO CAMP ABOUT
AN HOUR BEFORE DARK. JUST AS SOON AS THEY DRIVE UP I TELL
JOHNNIE I’M GOING FISHING FOR BASS FOR AWHILE. I HEAD FOR
BIRD ISLAND, WHERE MY FRIEND CAUGHT THAT BIG BASS THIS
MORNING.
WHEN I GET THERE I START CASTING A TEQUILA SUNRISE COLORED
WORM JUST LIKE THE ONE MY FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT. WITHIN 30
MINUTES I HAD CAUGHT FOUR NICE BASS, BUT THE LARGEST ONE WAS
ONLY ABOUT SIX POUNDS. I KEPT TELLING MYSELF THAT THE NEXT
CAST WOULD GET THE BIG ONE. HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL IN A
FISHERMAN! THEN JUST AT SUN DOWN I THREW MY WORM UP AGAINST A
LARGE STUMP AND JUST AS SOON AS IT HIT THE WATER A FISH HAD IT
AND WAS RUNNING FOR DEEP WATER. I SET BACK HARD ON MY ROD TO
SET THE HOOK. WHEN I DID THE FISH JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER AND
MADE A BIG LUNGE FOR SOME BRUSH. THE HOLE HE MADE IN THE
WATER WHEN HE CAME DOWN LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AS BIG AROUND AS A
BUSHEL BASKET. HE WAS STRIPPING LINE OFF MY REEL AGAINST THE
DRAG SO FAST IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD HOOKED INTO A SPEEDBOAT. HE
WAS BIG!!! I MANAGED TO TURN HIM BEFORE HE GOT TO THE BRUSH,
BUT THEN HE RAN BEHIND A CYPRESS TREE.
WELL THAT’S WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY LINE BROKE! I SAT THERE IN
THE BOAT AND LOOKED DOWN AT MY HANDS. THEY WERE SHAKING. I
FELT EXCITED AND DISAPPOINTED AT THE SAME TIME. EXCITED THAT
I HAD HOOKED A BIG BASS AND HAD THE FIGHT OF MY LIFE AND
DISAPPOINTED THAT HE GOT AWAY. I SAT THERE IN MY BOAT LOOKING
AT THE WATER WHERE THE FISH HAD BEEN WHEN HE BROKE MY LINE AND
SAID OUT LOUD, “MR. BASS YOU BEAT ME THIS TIME BUT I’LL BE
BACK.” HE HAD WON THIS BATTLE BUT HE HADN’T WON THE WAR!
BY
THIS TIME IT WAS TOO DARK TO CAST ANY MORE SO I CRANKED THE
MOTOR AND SLOWLY MOTORED BACK TO CAMP. “ I WAS SAILING
ALONG-G-G-G, ON MOON LIGHT BAY-Y-Y-Y, JUST A SAILING
ALONG-G-G-G, ON LOVE’S OLD SWEET SONG-G-G-G.”
|