Gone Fishing
Gone Fishing
Right before Shannon’s slumber he thinks to himself, “What would it be like to be kingof the mountain?” Slowly he drops his mountain bike magazine next to his bed.
“Beep”!
“Beep”!
“Beep”!
“Beep”!
“Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep”!
“ROAR”!!!
The quiet monster waits to erupt: as each tone subtle not abrupt, tickles my ears and tightens my gut, finally releasing me to make a rut. Behind me a mass of hurling rock, relentlessly after me to beat the clock. Gaining momentum with every second a mighty force to be reckoned. ROAR!!! Dust flies from the mass of rubble, spectators’ eyes are glazed with trouble, recklessly riding the boulderee mass, while gaining speed and flying past. The finish line is a beautiful sight, as I roll through it faster than light. The large mass dwindles to a slide, reflecting back I think, “What a Ride!”
“ROAR”!!!
“Beep”!
Waking in a cold sweat Shannon thought to himself. ”Oh, that dream, that very same dream. Why…and what does it mean?”
“Now.” Saying it made me wonder if there really is such a thing as “now”. Because, once you have said it, it is in the past. So, what is, “now?” Over and over I said it, “now.” Trying hard to make myself understand the concept of “now” was not easy. As I lay motionless in my bed, the early Saturday morning sun entered my room; it occurred to me that all the sounds my neighbors made while cleaning up their lawns was them living for, “now.” Opening and closing my hand in unison with my saying, “now…then,” helped me to realize that without “now” there would be no “then.”
Our house talked to me. Every time my brother or sister tried to sneak out of the house it would let me know. If the door below my window was opened it would shake my window and my Sis could open her window, and it would cause a draft in my room. One look at our house and a person could tell that no one did anything. It’s been more than two years since mom passed away, and it left my sister, brother, father and myself completely lost. The house eked as Dad walking past my room. He paused to stair at moms’ picture in the front room. A sound heard all too often as his long pause would lead to a big sigh, and then he would go and try to make himself some coffee. My heart somberly weeps as I think of how much dad misses mom. Moms’ picture must speak volumes to dad.
Jason, my brother, is the oldest and adapted with our loss the fastest. He is in college and he and his friends are plugged into the computer way of life. Phil and Joe are my brothers’ friends. Their dream is to become a modern day Dr. Frankenstein. They harvest parts from computers to make one and to build other things too. When we were younger they built a robot that they called the fifty-cent robot. They used a weed eater motor to propel it and old computer parts for the lights and sound. Two of them would hide to control it while the other walked with the robot and neighborhood kids would pay fifty-cents to ask it a question. They were older and always pulling pranks but this one really stood out because they were successful at it. Because, they made money off of the young and naïve up until I asked it, “When will the earth end?”
My younger sister, Sissy Collins, became more vocal. She cast aside her life long collection of dolls for it to be sold by our brother on the Internet. He denies it but all the evidence supports this theory. Also, she changed her persona as fast as she changed her clothes. Lately she has drifted to the dark side. Wearing dark make-up and nail paint with clothes to match. Her friends are even scarier. When they come over their rudeness leaves Dad in a deep funk, hopefully just a passing phase for my sister.
A picture of our mom sits on the desk in the front room. Dad has turned it into his personal alter. He has been known to spend hours staring at it blankly. His friends from work all had hilarious stories to tell about him like, forgetting stuff, using the wrong office and even losing his car. The mall security called after it was gone for a week and he couldn’t explain how it got there. Since mom has been gone this has been the story of Dad’s life.
My bed was the most comfortable thing we owned as far as I was concerned. Sometimes, I feel like never leaving it. In my chair lay a cap and gown from graduation. It is just a reminder of how much Dad wants me to be like Grandpa and join the military. Grandpa was in the Navy. Every time he gets on his boat, a pontoon boat, he salutes the flag that flies off the back and he says the pledge of allegiance.
Out of nowhere rides up a familiar face but I cannot remember the name. Judging by the picture he paints he is a World Cup Rider. He darts past and signals for me to follow. As I adhere to his request I notice the crowd is waving, friendly and cheering as we ride past. Then, like a bolt of lighting, he quickly rolls up a hill and leaves me behind. The crowd then turns dark and starts throwing things and chasing me. Faster and faster I pedal but to no avail as the angry crowd get closer and closer changing into the dogs of war. Barking and nipping at my heels they chase my spinning wheels. Faster and faster I pedal as the dogs of war chase me into a black hole. My bike and I fall helplessly and then…after jumping up and looking around my stickers to see myself in my mirror I realize it was only a dream.
Just about the only family time we had was at breakfast. Dad’s rattling of the paper and Sis’ high-pitched voice beckoned me. “Dad, please let me have a scooter.” She was tinkering with the dishes in the sink as Dad canvases his mind for a reason not to do it. “It is hard to say no to someone who makes good grades.” He takes a long pause and a look at Sis. “Did you make good grades?” Sis jumped for joy. “In just a couple of days you’ll see.” Sis Spouted. After realizing what he had just done dad recanted. “Get me a brochure or something so I can better determine this decision. There is really not enough information for me to make a decision like this.” My sister agreed.
“Why don’t you just ride you bike around like Shannon still does?” Jason smirked at me. He had always been jealous of me just because I was younger than him. All I could do was roll my eyes at him then I turned to get something from the fridge. “I want to change my life and a scooter will help get there with little to no energy.” My sister must have thought she had Dad in her back pocket or at least get her hand deep into his. In an attempt to brown nose Dad Sis took Dad’s coffee to get him to notice all the work she was doing. Dad wrinkled his paper and hummed.
A major problem in Dad’s life was that Jason was in college. Being the brain of the family he deserved to be. “Speaking of nothing to do…” Dad looked up at me as he spoke. The gallon jug of milk had just a dribble in it so I grabbed it from the fridge and turned it up. “Yuck!” Very loud was my sister and my Dad said, “What are you doing Shannon? We have to drink from that?” While waving the empty jug around I throw both of my arms in the air and say, “Not any more.” My brother shouts, “Way to go!”
“Ok, getting back to the matter at hand, Jason, are you going to be able to spend some time on the yard?” Speechless and motionless was Jason as my sister began to rattle those dishes a little louder. “Joe, Phil and I were going to the lab today. Why can’t Shannon do it? He doesn’t even go to school or work now. He is just a mere bicycle riding existence and nothing else.” Dad could tell the tension was mounting between Jason and me by the way I was chewing my cinnamon roll and giving Jason the evil eye. Sis sniffed it out immediately. “Jason, you should not be so jealous.”
“Look, the house needs attention and I want us all to chip in. Is that asking too much? That is what families are supposed to do. Help the cause and we are still a family.” That took the wind out of Jason and myself. While drying her hands my sister spoke, “We will always be a family.” After chocking down the last of my roll I mumbled, “I am supposed to go fishing with Grandpa.” Dad sighed. He knew grandpa was alone and needed us. “Since, I will not be going to school this summer I should have some time to work on the yard. It is only fair since Sis does the housework and Jason does nothing then I should do the yard work.” Dad and my sister laugh as Jason moans.
“And since you are doing nothing you can keep on doing nothing by…” Dad was fixing to give me the speech about college or joining the military. “Look Dad; give me a chance to get a job or something.” Dad acted like he really had no faith in me at all. “That is what I am afraid of the or something.” He pushed his reasoning by using grandpa as his example and his glance at grandpa’s military picture was a plea for me to be like him. “You could join the bicycle brigade. You would fit right in.” My Dad snickered at what Jason had just said.
“Idol hands are the devils work shop. I just don’t want to see you wearing striped sun light or even worse.” A cold chill came over me as I realized how much Dad really did care for me.
“Yea, we don’t want our house blown up.” Jason was making a reference to an old friend of his who was making drugs in his basement and blew up his house and himself.
“Have you thought about becoming a priest?” Everyone laughed at my sisters’ comment except me. “Well, I thought since you did not have much luck with girls that you might be a good fit.”
I replied. “Gee, thanks.”
The small talk began to dwindle as my sister finished up the kitchen detail. In her cheery way she promised to get Dad some more information about a scooter. Jason mistakenly revealed that Joe, Phil and himself would be engaging in some serious paint ball action. At first Dad was visibly disturbed but then, without saying a word, he rolled his eyes and slid back into his paper. With my sister and brother gone from the table Dad sat and stared blankly at the paper all piled up in a heap in front of him. Breakfast was cold but tasty as I ate like there was no tomorrow.
“Do you want a ride to your grandpa’s?” Eating was first and foremost on my mind as I shook my head no and mumbled, “Naa.” This did not set well with my father. “Shannon, do not talk with your mouth full. I know you know better than that.”
While shaking my head yes I cleaned out my mouth as quickly as I could. “I’ll ride my bike. I want to stop at the book store and get a magazine.” After my Dad realized he was going to spend another Saturday alone he just shrugged his shoulders. “Dad, could I have a few bucks?” Dad rolled his eyes. “Only, if it is an advance on the lawn being mowed?”
With a big smile on my face I said, “Ok, what choice do I got?”
My day was rolling a long and so was my bike as I made my way to the bookstore. Before I left home I called my friends Clay and Gunner to see if they could meet me there. As I approached the store I could only see Gunners’ bike. “Where’s…” Gunner interrupted before I could get a sentence out. “Gone to mow with his Bro, last minute change.” Gunners’ voice was sad because we both knew that his dad was going to make him work all summer. “Awe man, not this!” As I spoke of my displeasure Gunner pushed a magazine in my face. “Look!” On the cover of our favorite biking magazine read, Mountain Biking Queens, and the glossy cover mesmerized me as I gazed at the group of mud-covered women. They were dirty and at the top was THE mountain biking Angel, Angel: the queenest of queens, the royalist of royalty, the pontiff of pontification, yes she is THE mountain biking queen.
“This one has the trick stuff, though.” Gunner sticks another magazine in front of the other. As I took the magazine from his hand I asked, “You buy one, I’ll get the other?” Gunner asked.
“Do you wanna go fishin with me and Grandpa?” And the voice behind the counter quickly spoke after me. “Take me! Take me, please! I’ll close the store. We’ll take it with us!” The clerk was a true fisherman from his shirt to his hat. Gunner leans over and asks, “Do you own this place?” The clerks’ head drooped, “No.” We all laughed.
“Well, maybe next time.” I said as Gunner and I turned and began to leave. “Don’t forget about me.” The clerks attempt to reach out to us didn’t touch Gunner, though. “Don’t worry. We want.” By the way Gunner acted I could tell he was excited about getting to go fishing.
“GPC!” Shouts Gunner, as we ride up to my Grandpas’ house. GPC stood for Grandpa Collins. Gunner didn’t have any grandparents and the only relatives that I knew of were his aunt and uncle. Plus, Gunner was an only child. “Are you getting shorter or is your hair getting longer?” Grandpa was always happy and trying to poke fun at someone. That was his way of showing love. Gunner made up a nickname for all the people he liked. Grandpa was sitting in a lawn chair in his carport as we rode up.
“Gunner, I got a pole that needs some line. Do you think we could use some of your hair to string it?” Grandpas’ smile was from ear to ear as he asked. Gunner ran his fingers through his long hair and spoke. “Now, the idea is to catch the fish not chase them away.” We all laughed as Grandpa agreed. “Does your mom or father know you are coming with us?” Gunner shook his head no at Grandpa’s question. “Well then, you better give them a call.”
“I’ll stow our bikes in the carport closet while you call.” He hopped off his bike and handed it to me. “Shannon, while you are in there grab another six-pack of sodas and throw them into the ice chest.” The closets and the cellar of Grandpas’ home were stock piled with food and drinks. Grandpa was ready for any type of disaster and tried to always be prepared for anything. For many years Grandpa has taken my friends and I fishing. Sometimes we would take a lunch and be gone all day. It was always a good time. We loaded up the gear on the trolley and made our way to the boat. Grandpa lived on a big hill on the lake and he was no longer able to climb up and down the hill. So, a trolley was built by some of Grandpas’ Navy buddies to help him up and down the steep hill.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” All three of us together were not in perfect harmony but we sounded nice. Grandpa instructed me to, “Release the dock lines and prepare to set sail.” In my most pirate like voice I replied, “Aye, Aye, captain.”
Gunner made himself comfortable in one of the cushy seats on my Grandpas’ party barge. He started looking through one of the magazines we had and it sparked Grandpas’ interest. “Is that a dirty magazine?” Grandpa asked. Gunner then held up the magazine so Grandpa couldn’t see his face and winked at me. “It sure is.” Slyly Gunner held up the magazine and tried to hold back his laughter. “See GPC; look at the mud covered babes. They are totally dirty.” Gunner quickly closed the magazine and showed Grandpa the front of it. Grandpa focused in on the cover of the magazine and then we all laughed wildly.
“Wow! You guys are not like any of my old Navy buddies. Did I…” Before Grandpa could get another word out I knew what he was going to say and I had to interrupt. “Yes! You did and we are not like your Navy buddies because there is fifty years difference in our ages! If you keep talking we are going to scare off the fish and that is what we are here for.” Through Grandpas’ astonishment a smile shinned through. More than anything I did not want Grandpa to go into one of his sailing stories and then it lead into me joining the Navy. “The fish don’t have any place to go but you do. I just hope you don’t decide to swim in the same pond forever.” My shoulders slouched as my Grandpas’ wisdom struck a chord in my heart.
Gunner picked up the rod and reel that had no line on it and acted as if he had caught a big one. “Awe, look at this cheap line. It broke and let the biggest fish I ever caught get away.” He then handed me the spool of line and said, “Let’s rig it so that want happen again.” While shaking my head in agreement I told Gunner, “Just as long as you don’t burn my fingers up doing it.” The look on Gunners face was shock. “Well, that’s the fun of it.” We quickly filled the reel and strung it to be ready for use and we did it without burning up my fingers too. Grandpa was happily navigating us to his favorite cherry spot that he always talks about.
After finishing with the rod Gunner opened the ice chest and took out two drinks and handed me one. “Thanks.” We both opened them and began to chug them down. “Burp!” Both of us began to belch loudly. Grandpa laughed. “Is that all the two of you have planned for the summer?” After winking up at the sun Gunner looked at Grandpa. “No GPC. I plan on going fishing with you every day until all the fish in this lake are gone.” Lake Hamilton is very large and Grandpa looked all around and back at us as if to say that there would be no possible way. “That is ok just as long as I do not have to scale and fillet them all.” I then winked at Gunner and we both laughed at Grandpas’ comment.
“My parents want to see my aunt in Florida and I do not have summer school, so my agenda is clean, how about yours?” The gleam in Grandpa’s eye let me know he was glad to hear that he had Gunner as a fishing buddy all summer long. I tipped my drink in the air and said, “Mine’s clean too.” Grandpa just shook his head and thought to himself. After Grandpa maneuvered the boat over another boats wake the spray hit us and then Grandpa gave me a funny look. “Something just occurred to me. Someone just passed a milestone in their life and I forgot to get them a gift.” Quickly jumping up and snatching up one of the magazines Gunner shoved it in front of Grandpa and shouted, “This! Get him this!” On the back cover was one of the most beautiful bikes I had ever seen. It really shined.
“Well, is this what you really want?” All I could do was shrug my shoulders at Grandpas’ comment. “Haven’t given it much thought. Nobody else has gotten me anything.” After taking the magazine from Gunner I stared at the illuminated cover blankly. While Gunner excitedly flipped through it, still in my hands, I began to gaze at the Lake Hamilton shoreline. There he was that rider from my dreams the World Cup Rider. As he rode he raised both hands and flexed his muscles in defiance. “You just can’t miss with any of them from this page.” Gunners’ words seemed distant as he tried to focus my attention on finding a new bike. “One of those things looks to be about the same price as your brothers’ computer so here is my phone. Order one up.” Then Grandpa set his phone on the table in front of me. Brushing away a ray of sunshine, as it began to sting my arm, made me think that the canopy to Grandpas’ pontoon boat was too small. “How do we pay for it?” My eyes were firmly set on dream as I continued to scan the canopy. Grandpa was ready for my question as he tossed his wallet onto the table he said, “Pick a card any card will do it.”
It didn’t take Gunner long to convince me which bike to get. While ordering my new present Grandpa told Gunner he could have something too. He asked for a new helmet. Grandpa teased Gunner by asking, “Is that to protect that pretty hair?” Gunners reply was, “Naa, just want it for the style?” By the time I finished ordering my new ride we pulled up to Grandpas’ honey hole. We spent the rest of that day catching more fish than all the other times combined. At the end of the day, while scaling the fish, I cut my hand. The fuss that Grandpa and Gunner put up over it made me realize that I had a whole lot more than a new ride and a mess of fish.
