By: Saharreal Williams
Changing The Narrative Series
Hmm, that smell good! Glad I set the coffee maker, guess it’s five o’clock. Well, let me get up and get a cup. I’ll get dressed in a few, and then check the temperature. They said it would be about 81 degrees by noon, but the weather man is usually off most of the time.
Let’s see, tackle bag and life jackets? Check. Cooler, snacks, drinks, water and hats? Check. Looks like I got everything. Hope she doesn’t forget to take that stuffed dog, let me get her up. Dorothy, get up baby … Dorothy, get up baby … Dorothy, get up out that bed! You said you wanted to go fishing today, so go ask grandmomma where your clothes are. Remember now, bright colors to reflect the sun, and long sleeves for the bugs.
“But Daddy, it’s too early!” No it’s not, the fish are already up, so you better get ready while Daddy make you some breakfast. “Daddy, I’ll help you load the boat. Can I catch a white perch?” Yes, baby. *I hope she don’t start that thousand-question-a-minute “When we get there?” That was a hard phase to get through. Dorothy, you have everything? “Yes, Daddy. Let’s go Fishing!”
“Daddy, where we going? Deckery or Crystal Lake?” Crystal Lake, baby. “Is that where I got that catfish and crappie?” Yes, you sure did. “Daddy, can I hold the rope while you put the boat in?” Ok, sweetie. Don’t let go now. That’s good, Dorothy! Ready to drive the boat? “YEAH!” Alright, now head to that point over there, and go that way. You doing good! Okay, Dorothy, you can stop here.
Well, about this time, the fishing was good. Slow is an understatement. One here, one there, Dorothy: nothing. She’s getting frustrated and angry. “Daddy, we need to move.” Well, where you want to go? “Let’s see, we can go by the bridge, where we saw the alligator last time.” Okay, let me pull up an anchor, so pull up your line. Ready? “Yeah, Daddy!” Then, let’s go! We pull up next to some submerged trees. “Daddy, we got a whole bunch of fish here, and I’m gonna catch me a white perch.” I hope so because if you don’t, you going to be ready to go, right? “No, Daddy! I want to be out here with you.” Aww, that’s sweet, baby! But, you will catch something.
“Daddy, can I watch your phone?” Here you go. – About ten minutes pass – Dorothy, where’s your bobber? Get your rod, you got a fish, baby! “I GOT ‘EM, DADDY!” Fish on. Take your time. Don’t horse him now. “I won’t, Daddy. Daddy, get the net, he’s big!” What you got there? “It’s a catfish, Daddy!” Sure enough, it was a three-and-a-half pound channel cat. She handled it like a pro and put it in the cooler. She then got a minnow, baited up and made a good cast right next to the trees. Dorothy, your bobber moving. Something biting! “I ain’t gonna move it until it go all the way down.” And down it went. She set the hook and the fish gave a little fight. She pulled it in, and screamed, “DADDY! IT’S A WHITE PERCH! IT’S A WHITE PERCH! I GOT ONE! I GOT ONE, DADDY!” That was the start of a very good day; as fast as she baited up, and got in the water, a fish was coming in.
She had me nine to my six, so about the time we reach twenty total, the temp reached well beyond 81. More like 95 with no shade. I wanted to stay and move along the channel going to the bridge, where there was more shade, but the heat was getting to Dorothy and she shouted out, “Daddy! It’s too hot! I’m ready to go!” I think the fish had the same idea. They stopped biting, too. Okay, Dorothy, take in your line and let’s head in. I made her a tent for shade, made her drink a little water, gave her the phone, and she settled in for the trip to the boat launch. While heading in and watching Dorothy to make sure she’s drinking some Gatorade, I couldn’t help but think of all of our trips. Two make me smile more than others.
At Lake Docker, she hooked in a good fish. She started pumping the rod back and forward, yelling, “Whoa, fishy! Whoa, fishy! Whoa, fishy!” I died laughing. That one I got on video, now she screams, “Fish on, Daddy!”
We were going, scouting out an area for deer on my friend Tuna’s land, and she got mad because she had to walk between me and Tuna. While showing her how to look for deer signs, she said, “Why I got to walk in the middle? I want to walk the whole area!” At this point, she is around two years old, so I said okay. She walked the whole area, and showed us every trail, every rub, every dropping and didn’t miss a beat. She is six now, and I’m very proud, and thankful she’s in my life.
