Family Fishing Is Fun ...

Zzzzzz. (Loud snoring.)
"Daddy."
"Uhh."
"Daddy!"
"Yes Kimmy."
"What are we going to do on this most beautiful morning?"
"Do you mean later this morning, when it is not so dark and the sun is high in the sky?"

"The Sun! Good idea daddy; you are so smart!"
"Oops! Did I say sun?"
"Oh daddy, I love you so much. Can we go down to the lake to see the sunrise on this beautiful morning?"
"Not today Kimmy."
"Why daddy?"

"Go back to bed Kimmy. In your own bed."
"But, but I want to see the sunrise daddy. Just like we did last summer. Remember when you bought donuts from Tim Hortons and we watched the sunrise down by the lake? It was so beautiful and ... well ... can we do that again this morning?"

"Kimmy, your mom is very tired, why don't we go back to bed for a few hours and we'll go fishing after breakfast?" "Fishing? Mummy, mummy, get up. We are going fishing. Daddy is taking us to see the sunrise, then to breakfast and then fishing. This is going to be a great day! Get up mummy get up."

"Fishing! Buddy, why can't you be like normal husbands? And, why can't we sleep in like all the other families in this neighborhood? Why do we have to go fishing so early in the morning while every other family is fast asleep?"

"Ms. Lucy, none of this was my idea, it was ..."
"Enough Buddy enough! It is never your idea!"

"Daddy! Daddy!"
"Kimmy?"
"Where are you Kimmy?"
"I'm down here daddy, I'll wait for you in the garage."
"Kimmy? Kimmy?"

"Daddy, I'm really hungry this morning, can I have a donut and a muffin from Tim Hortons?"
"Yes, Kimmy. What will you have Ms. Lucy?"
"This early morning air is making me hungry too. I'll have a regular coffee with double cream and two Boston Cream donuts please."

"Why don't we get a dozen donuts dad?"
"Who said that?"
"It's me dad. It's Norman. If we get a dozen donuts there will be enough for all of us to have more than one."
"I know that! What I don't know is where were you when I was packing all those things in the trunk."
"I was right here dad. Did you bring my fishing rod?"

"When will the sun come up dad?"
"In a little while Kimmy, just settle down. We'll listen to some good music on the radio while we wait."
"Please dad, not Foxy 88.5 again. That music will make me fall asleep and I'll miss the sunrise."
"If you fall asleep, I'll wake you up."
"But dad?"

"No buts, if you don't want to listen to Foxy, you could sit on that rock in front of the car until the sun comes up."
"But it is cold out there."
"Well then, just sit quietly and enjoy the music."
"Turn up the radio dad, I like this song."

"Buddy, coming down here at this time of the morning was a great idea. It is so peaceful and this sunrise is just glorious. My coffee is nice and fresh and the Boston Cream is finger licking good."

"I agree, we should have KFC for lunch."
"Lunch, who said anything about lunch Kimmy? And, how could you be thinking about lunch at this time of the morning?"
"I'm not thinking about lunch, it's mom. She is the one who said finger licking good! She is the one who is thinking about lunch. I only agreed with her. She was talking about ..."
"Aahh, never mind."

"You are right Ms. Lucy, this coffee is really nice and fresh. Hmmm, it is so good. This early morning air is making me hungry too! Pass me that box of donuts, I'll try one."
"It's empty dad."
"What's empty son?"
"The donut box dad."
"What? How could it be empty Norm? Did we not buy a dozen donuts?"
"I heard you ask the clerk for one dozen but she might have given us less than a dozen. Maybe she can't count very well."
"Aahh, never mind."

"Dad?"
"Yes Kimmy?"
"Are you ready to go fishing?"
"Yes Kimmy, put on your coat and your hat. Hold this fishing rod."
"I got it dad, I'm ready."
"Norman, you get the tackle box and your fishing rod. I'll bring the chairs and my fishing rod."

"Buddy, will you be coming back for the coats and the umbrella?"
"No! No! Why don't you bring them Ms. Lucy?"
"Because, I have to bring my coffee Buddy."
"OK, OK, just throw the coats on the chair."
"There you go Buddy."

"Not like that Ms. Lucy, I can't see a thing with that coat over my eyes!"
"Sorry Buddy."
"Now, carefully slide the umbrella between the chair."
"Ouch! Not down my pants!"
"Sorry. If you want me to come with you, you must stop this complaining."

"Stop that Kimmy! Don't throw it in the water."
"Norm, watch your sister while I organize the rods. Where is the bait?"
"It is in the car dad, under the seat."
"Why did you not bring it with you?"
"Because no one asked me to bring it."
"Aahh, never mind. Just stay here, I'll go back for the bait."

"Buddy, will you bring me my sunshades and a bottle of water?"
"Yes dear."

"Kimmy, here is your rod, stay near to your Mom."
"Daddy, will you put on some bait for me too?"
"Why don't you bait your own hook Norm?"
"Because I don't like touching those worms dad."

"Daddy, daddy, come quick, I caught my first fish! I knew it! I knew I would catch the first one."
"Can I touch him dad? Oh, yuck, it's so slimy."
"Get him dad get him, he just jumped right out of my hand. Get him quick. Now put him in the pail before he dies. I don't want to eat a dead fish."

"Daddy, daddy, come quick, I caught a big one. Help me! Help me!"
"Easy Norm. Easy. Wind it in slowly. I'll get him with the net. Oops, he got away."
"Ahh daddy, you let my big one get away."
"Don't worry Norm, you'll catch another one."

"Daddy, they ate my bait. Will you bait my hook for me?"
"Ms. Lucy, can you help Kimmy?"
"Who me, you know I'm not touching that slimy worm. You help her."
"OK Kimmy, here you go."

"Daddy, they ate my bait too. Can you bait my hook?"
"Here you go Norm."

"I got another one dad, add it to the pail. He is bigger than the first one."
Kimmy started singing, "I caught two fish! I caught two fish! Norm caught no fish! Norm caught no fish!"
"That's enough Kimmy, leave Norm alone."

"Dad, can you help me untangle this line?"
"Ms. Lucy, will you hold this end while I untangle his line?"

"I got one dad, another big one! Help me quick!"
"Easy Norm, wind it in slowly. I'll get the net."
"Be careful dad, I don't want this one to get away too."
"It's a Pike, I got him. He's a beauty."

"Get the measuring tape Norm."
"Wow! Twenty seven inches."
"That's the biggest fish I ever caught."

"Stand next to your dad. Smile Norm, I'll take your picture."
"Can I hold it for a picture by myself?"
"Sure, but be careful, we don't want it to fall back in the water."
"Say cheese!"

"Put him in the pail dad."
"Don't put that big ugly fish in the pail with my nice little fishes. He will kill them and I don't want to eat dead fish."

"He's too big for the pail Norm, get the chain from the tackle box."
"It's not in the tackle box dad."
"Why? Where is it Norm?"
"It is at home. I used it to extend Buster's chain."

"Daddy, daddy, I caught another one."
"Ms. Lucy, will you help Kimmy? Please?"

"Buddy Muiller, look at your new birthday shirt! It is covered in blood. I'll never buy you another expensive shirt."
"Where is the blood coming from dad? Did Norm's big ugly fish bite your finger?"
"No Kimmy, the blood is from the fish. Don't worry about it."

"Daddy, daddy, another one."

"Daddy, another one. That's number six and the pail is full. We should have brought the bigger one."
"That's OK, we are leaving. Bring your things to the car."

"Where is my Pike dad?"
"It is in the trunk."
"What's that loud thumping sound dad?"
"It is your Pike Norm; he does not like it in the trunk."

"Did anyone see the camera?"
"I got it Mom, it is in the pail with my nice little fishes."
"In the pail!"
"Yes Mom, I'll put it in the sun to dry when we get home."

"Family fishing is so much fun. I had a great time. I caught six nice little fishes. Can we do this again next week?"
"I had a good time too. I still can't believe the size of that Pike. It is my biggest fish ever."

"How many did you catch dad?"
"None!"
"Your father did not catch any fish because he was too busy baiting your hooks and untangling your lines."
"Poor dad, next time you'll catch some. Right?"

"When we get home, you could clean the fish while we watch the movie, Finding Nemo. Then we'll have a big fish fry in the backyard. Thanks dad, family fishing is so much fun!"

The kids are now in the TV room with large bowls of popcorn and Buddy is in the kitchen cleaning the fish for the fish fry. He looks through the window, shakes his head and mutters, "Family fishing is fun ... but not for me!"