The sun has only been up for about two hours that Saturday morning, when the two brothers seen their mom DJ getting ready to leave. She called out to the boys, “Are you two ready yet? I have to go pick up my friend CJ today.”
“Not yet, can we go fishing in lake behind our house?” Jordan asked.
“Can we stay home, please? I am old enough now! Aiden responded.
“I won’t be back for an hour, because I have several errands to run today.”
“Please, we won’t get into trouble. If Uncle Lee was here, we would be fishing already.” Aiden said.
Aiden was mad and decided to stomp away towards him room grumbling and gently closed the door. He knew his mom would lecture him about slamming doors. He hated disappointing his mom, because she is everything to him. With his dad gone away, he was all the boys had to lean on. He trusted her and she was his entire life. Uncle Lee was one of their mom’s three older brothers. The boys enjoyed going to different places with him and he enjoys their time together too. He loves spending time those boys, as if they are his very own children. His fiance loves spending time with the boys as well. He has a bubbly, sweet attitude, large build, short, dark brown wavy hair and brown eyes.
“I know….However, he is working in Orlando, FL., but I am sure that he would rather be fishing too.” DJ said.
“I wish he was here.” Jordan stated.
“The roommate Ann will watch you until I return. I will think about whether you may go fishing or not…when I get back.”
The boys waited till their mom left and they both sat down together to devise a plan on how they could convince their mother to agree. They talked about singing a song for her, drawing a Gator or Jaguar’s picture. She is a sports fanatic and she is proud of it, both kids couldn’t decide on what to do. They decided to flip a coin but just as the coin hit the ground. Jordan realizes neither one of the boys had finished anything yet.
So, they both agreed to help each other complete their chores, while waiting for their mom to return home. They both took off in different directions and the only sound being heard was things being put away. First, the boys began cleaning up their room and cleaning up their bathroom, while their mom left to pick up her friend and run the errands. The roommate woke up and walked out to the kitchen, but it was silent except for a crash in the boy’s room. She fixed herself a large cup of coffee and then went to check on the boys. Unfortunately, the Ann thought she would have to break up a fight between the boys; instead she was surprised at how well they were getting along and quickly cleaning up their room together. She sat at the kitchen and drank her coffee, while the boys finished up their chores.
Both boys finished putting their clothes away, cleaning up the bedside table, and organizing their closets. Then, they each checked under the bed for stray toys or clothes, because they knew their mom would check there first. Next, they both helped each other gather up their dirty clothes around the house and carried the hampers into the laundry room. The boys split up the trash duties, Aiden changed the trash bags in each room and Jordan took the trash out to the big trash can outside. Both of the boys both pulled the big trash can to the curb, since trash pick-up day is tomorrow anyway. As they were walking back from the curb, they noticed their mother’s truck turning on to their street. The boys eagerly helped their mother unload the minivan and also helped their mom put away the groceries. Each one waited patiently for DJ to notice what the boys had done for her, but she was distracted and talking to CJ.
The handsome boys faces were beaming and they literally looked like they were going to explode any minute. They didn’t say it out loud, but they were proud of themselves for working together without fussing with each other. Hopefully, soon they both will be laid back on the lake bed trying to catch fish and having fun together.
“What are you two up too? DJ said.”
“We have something to show you.” Aiden responded.
“Close your eyes!” Jordan said calmly as he guided his mom throughout the house. Their mom waited until they gave her permission to open her eyes. She was immediately was surprised, even was amazed when she looked under the bed. They brought her to the bathroom and everything was in its place, plus everything was clean even the toilet. They explained that they had clean the whole house, while she was gone to run errands and pick up her friend.
“Wow” She thought to herself.
“I am proud of you both!”She declared.
Both boys said, “Thank you…mom.”
You both did a job and Ann said you worked together, instead of arguing amongst yourselves. So, yes you both can go fishing, but take my cell phone with you. This way, you can contact if needed and check in every hour. Be careful at the lake and watch over each other. Follow Uncle Lee’s rules and go have fun.
“I will come get you immediately and you will never go by yourselves again!” DJ said.
The boys loved going fishing with their uncle Lee every Saturday, but he is out of town this weekend. Therefore, the boys both decided to gather up their lunch and fishing gear, so they can go catch some fish for their mom. They both were carrying their homemade bamboo fishing poles, their tackle box, a rusty old bucket, as well as medium sized fishing net. Generally, the boys and Uncle Lee had to walk about four blocks on a winding trail, in order to get to the lake. Both of the boys finally reached the nature trail, which will lead them to their fishing paradise.
Unfortunately, the boys were getting tired of walking throughout the winding nature trail, while carrying the supplies. Jordan and Aiden were playing at Tatterhill’s Lake within the hour and the boys were getting excited. After reaching the lake, both boys found their favorite shady spot and they both set their gear down, however they both wished their Uncle Lee was there with them. Fishing was fun with Uncle Lee, especially when they stayed out on the lake all day and caught many types of fish. Thankfully, they each remembered what their uncle Lee had taught them whenever they went fishing together. Additionally, Jordan wrote down the instructions the night before, just in case Aiden forgot them. The south side of the lake’s bank looked more like a small beach, instead of the rugged terrain and dangerously high cliffs that lined the north side of the lake. Finally, they were ready to fish, so Jordan helped Aiden put a worm or bait his fishing pole and then turned to bait his own.
Jordan was older but only by two-and-half years, yet he was very protective of Aiden, whenever they went fishing together with or without Uncle Lee. Both boys had bright yet shining blonde hair, which made their sea green eyes stand out as one their most prominent features. Luckily, Jordan was turning ten in a few days, but he felt as if he was becoming a teenager. They boys stepped into the lake together before casting their poles into the lake, until the water came up to their knees. Each one casted their fishing poles into the lake and began talking about the last time they had been there with Uncle Lee. They both laughed as Jordan described the look on Uncle Lee’s face when he had caught an old boot, which their uncle thought was a big fish. Suddenly, Aiden’s line snagged, but Jordan pulled his pole out of the water and helped his brother. They began bragging about how big the fish was going to be, but it took both of their strength to pull the fish in. Finally, as the fish got closer to them, Jordan grabbed Aiden’s fishing net and in one swoop he caught the fish.
They weren’t sure what kind of fish it was, but it was a big one by anyone’s standards and it wasn’t an old boot. The boys put the fish in Jordan’s bucket and decided it was time to head home, so they called to check in and let their mom know all about their big catch. On the way home, Aiden spotted a small ditch and it had a lot of tiny fish in it, so he scooped up as many as he could. He showed Jordan the tiny fish and they both decided that they wanted to keep them. After getting home, Jordan took the fish they caught to his mother and Aiden went to the garage to get the ten gallon aquarium. Both boys worked together and cleaned out the aquarium, before dumping the little fish in it. Once they were done, they both begged their mom to come look at the little fish they had found.
“Can we keep them?” Aiden begged.
“Yes, you can keep them, but you both are responsible for them.”
Aiden realized that after about a week, the fish the boys had caught were growing legs. He went to school and came back and the fish hadn’t grown anymore yet. Aiden had caught about maybe 20 fish, but about 15 had survived so far. Additionally, Aiden stopped by the ditch everyday to get more water, but one in a while he would catch the fish with legs. Another week passed and one home Aiden came home with water from the ditch.
Suddenly, he noticed that his tank was full of frogs and some fish with legs were still swimming around. Aiden screamed for Jordan and his mom. However, they were just as surprised as Aiden, but their mom realized that they had caught some tadpoles.
“I didn’t know they were Frog Fish…Mom.” Aiden said.
“Jordan help Aiden give all of these frogs out of the house. Take the remaining tadpoles that are left and dump the rest back into the ditch.” His mom replied.
The boys did as they were told by their mom, but with every frog Aiden let go…he said, “Good-bye Frog Fish!”
Copyrighted, 2007 Crystal S. Kauffman
