16/12/2025
“Bring the Net around here, son,” he said as they were getting the boat ready to go in the parking lot. “Dad, you’ve got a tangled-up mess back here.” They had this trip planned for weeks in advance: a weekend on the bay, fishing and swimming, maybe a little camping. “Buddy, just try your best, but we need to get going soon before daybreak.” The young fella didn’t know how to handle it at this point. He was looking down into a gigantic plastic bin that his grandfather had given his dad. It was slightly warped and broken on one side and was absolutely full of every piece of fishing equipment needed for a weekend like this. He let out a little sigh and grabbed the handle of the net, said a little prayer, and yanked hard. His dad got a glimpse of the commotion that ensued. “That dadgum net was hooked to every single fishing lure and whistle you had in that bin.” His son jumped down off the tailgate and started walking on the opposite side of the boat, telling everyone in the parking lot and the next town just what he thought. The net gently flew into the air and crashed into the back of the boat. It took another 15 mins to clean up the mess he’d made, and a few boats got in before them. When the parking lot was cleaned up of every bit and bob, the two sat on the tailgate and watched the sun peak over the bay. “ I tell you what, buddy, we are gonna have a heck of a weekend.” The little fella looked up at his dad and said, “I ain't going nowhere till I finish this pecan swirl. I’ve had myself a stressful morning.”