A Fish Tale

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By Angie Bromeland

Joey stood at the front of the boat, casting his line far and deep into the lake. His grandpa was chuckling while fixing the tangled hooks of a fishing lure. “Boy, I’m sorry to tell you so, but that beast only exists in your mind,” he told Joey. Joey had just described the fish he hoped to catch: 10 feet long, with a mixture of rainbow colored scales, a golden tail and silver fins. His grandpa shook his head. Joey was 8 years old, but he still had a wonderful imagination. Even if most of his ideas did still consist of imaginary creatures.
 “What did you use for bait?” his grandpa asked.
“An earthworm,” Joey said. “And a leech.”
“Eh, mixing the bait again,” his grandpa said.
“Yep,” Joey replied. “I think that’s what the giant rainbow fish likes to eat.”
His grandpa nodded and dipped his own line in the water. He couldn’t resist asking, “Who do you think will get the first bite? Should we put some money on it?”
Joey checked his pockets. “I have a nickel and two quarters,” he said.
“Let’s bet a nickel.”
Joey agreed. “I think I’ll get the first bite,” he said. “I have more bait, and it’s been in the water longer.”
“Sure,” his grandpa replied. “But I think I’ll get the first one, because my bait is fresher.”
Joey smiled and shrugged.
Suddenly, he felt a jolt at his line. “Hey, I got one!” he yelled. “It’s huge!”
His grandpa shushed him. “Don’t go broadcasting the hot spot in the lake! Keep it down!” he said.
The line was so heavy that reeling it in lasted forever. Finally, the line splashed out of the water. There at the end of the hook, was nothing more than a pile of weeds as large as Joey himself. Joey groaned and slouched in disappointment.
“Aw, shucks,” his grandpa said as he tucked his nickel away. “Better luck next cast, Joey.”

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