Gala woke with the first screech of the loon. Today was the day. She was going fishing with Grampa. They were going to Pike Lake to catch northerns. Fighting fish, that's what they are. They strike so hard they practically pull you out of the boat. Gala was so excited her teeth chattered. Oh, her big brother Jimmy John was going, too.
Ever since she could remember, Gala had wanted to go fishing with Grampa. Jimmy John had gone three summers in a row. Grampa used to tell her, "When you're old enough, you can go." She'd watch Grampa and Jimmy John load the boat with their gear and motor off until they disappeared.
This summer, she was old enough. Mom and Pops had given her a rod and reel for Christmas. At first, she practiced casting in her bedroom. She stood tall and worked on the proper flicking of her wrist. She used the rod and reel but didn't let any line out. When she thought she had it right, she practiced casting in the backyard almost every day after school. She loved to watch the fishing line as it arced against the sky and then plopped in the grass. Grandma's loud talk brought her back to the present. "If you don't want her to go, you tell her. I won't." Grandma must've been setting the table because Gala could hear the plunk of plates on a wooden surface.
"Aw, Honey," Grampa said, "she won't like it. We use live bait. We'll have to bait her hook. She'll say, "Ooo, they"re too slimy. Ooo, I can't stick a hook in this little minnow. It will hurt.'" Gala heard the slapping sound of a spoon mixing batter. Grampa was making pancakes. That was his treat for special occasions.
"Just show her what to do," said Grandma. "She'll bait her own hook." A wooden drawer slid open with a creak and then slammed shut. Knives and forks thudded onto the wooden table.
"What about the rapids?" said Grampa. "We have to shoot some pretty bad rapids to get to Pike Lake where the northerns are. With all the rain this spring, the water's high and the rapids will be rough. She's going to be scared to death. Jimmy John John's shot rapids before. He'll be okay, but she won't. Ask her to go hiking with you. I'll take her for a little spin in the boat later."
"She wants to go fishing." said Grandma. Grampa mixing the batter was the only sound for a few seconds. "She's told me a dozen times how much she wants to go," Grandma said. Plunk went a large platter.
"Is that so," said Grampa. The batter sizzled as Grampa dropped it on the hot griddle.
CHAPTER TWO
Waiting for the Bad News
Everyone was eating pancakes, except Gala, who sat hunched over her full plate. Grampa never did exactly say, "Gala, you can go fishing with us this year." After getting the tackle for Christmas, she thought this was the year. The air was heavy with the smell of pancakes and syrup and Gala's dread.
"Good, good, good," said Jimmy John, as he smacked his lips and scraped syrup off the plate with his fork. "These pancakes are good."
"That's my grandson," said Grampa. He forked pancakes onto Jimmy John's plate.
"Us guys gotta eat a lot," said Jimmy John. "Today's a big day." He poured more syrup on his pancakes. "Us guys have got to be ready for those northerns." He stuffed a huge forkful of pancakes into his mouth. Syrup dribbled down his chin. He wiped it off with the back of his hand.
Gala wanted to cry, but she would rather be hung feet first from the highest pine tree before she did. She wanted to go fishing so bad. Would she ever get to use hers on Pike Lake?
"C'mon, Gala, eat up," said Grandma. Grandma forked another pancake onto Gala'sr plate. "You'll be hungry later if you don't." As Grandma popped pancakes into her mouth, Gala took a small bite and chewed slowly. She was already full. The pancakes made her stomach feel heavy.
A few times Gala caught Grampa frowning at her, but he didn't say anything. He ate two stacks of pancakes with butter and syrup and drank three cups of coffee. He slurped his coffee. Gala usually liked that sound but this morning she wanted to yell at him to stop making so much noise.
The sounds of slurping, chewing, and forks scraping on plates seemed to last forever. Finally, everyone was stuffed.
"I'm full," Jimmy John said. He patted his stomach and burped. Flecks of pancakes spewed from his mouth. Gala thought he was a pig. Grampa laughed and slapped Jimmy John on the back. "What a big eater you are," he said.
