Page 23 of Unspoken Words
She turned to face me. “Really?”
I nodded. “Before Aaron got sick, I reckon he was a strong chance of being selected.”
“Wow! That’s cool but also sad. I’m sorry.”
My chest tightened again and, this time, I wanted to change the subject. “What’s your favourite food?”
“Pizza. You?”
I smiled. “Pizza.”
“What’s your favourite topping?”
“Meatlovers.”
“Mine too!”
We both smiled and laughed, but then Ellie stiffened.
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt something,” she whispered, nodding her head toward the rod.
“I stared at the line and it jerked.”
She stiffened even more. “There it is again!”
“You’ve got company.”
“What kind of company?”
“I don’t know, maybe cod or perch. Maybe even trout.”
“Quick! Take it.” She tried handing me the rod, so I put my hands behind my head.
“Uh ah. You can do it.”
“I can’t. I don’t know what to do.”
“Take a breath and relax, and next time you feel it, wrench the rod up quickly to try and snag the fish, and then wind the reel.”
We waited for what seemed like minutes. It was the quietest she’d been since I met her.
“I think it’s gone,” she whispered but then screamed and wrenched the rod up. “No. It’s still there.” The rod bounced as she frantically wound the reel.
“You hooked it,” I said, excited for her.
“I DID?”
“Yes. Is it heavy?”
“Not really. It’s just pulling.”
“Good. Keep winding and slowly pull back then wind again, like this.” I helped this time, stepping up behind her and wrapping my arms around her body to guide her actions.
“I caught a fish,” she squealed.
“Not yet, you haven’t.”
