Father & Son

It was warm and so perfect….Such a perfect day after the hard rain from the previous night when the thunder had kept the boy awake and afraid. He had crept into his father’s bed for safety. Now, in the warmth, the father and son walked the lake side path near the pines. The slight breeze off the lake brought the smell of the woods. The son picked up a rock and skipped it into Myer’s at a clearing between the trees. He looked back at his father and he smiled and said ‘hmmm MMMM.’ Out in the boat, the son wore his father’s hat. Too big and it creased his ears but he was happy to have on his father’s hat. He felt safe under its brim, like when he had crept under the covers of his father’s bed. He made a funny face at his father, smiling and pointing at his missing tooth. He watched his father cast.
“Like this, son.” His father knew because he was the best.
“Ok, pa.” He imitated his father and his father smiled his approval. The son noticed his father had a perfect-toothed smile. The father was right about just wetting a toothbrush.
The son liked fishing with his buddies, but he loved it more with his father. His father knew the best spots and knew when to keep quiet. They had such great luck and fun together. The father did not have this luxury when he was a youngin.’ He had no father when he was his son’s age and now he was so glad to teach his son all the tricks. They were adrift on this warm, perfect day and they were so happy together.
The father reeled in a big one.
“Looky there!”
But the son was not having any luck and he seemed to be getting sadder now. The father could sense it with no more than a glance and he thought for a moment. He said:
“Did I ever tell you about the time Barney and me were fishing in this very boat and she sprung a leak?”
“No, pa, what happened?”, the son said leaning forward.
“I said, Barney, I said, we best make another hole quick to let the water out!”
“Ohhh, pa,” the son said giggling as the father reached over and tickled his side.
The father cast a line in the son’s memory.The son was happy and could reel it in later if he needed to.