Our Grandson's First Fish

My husband has been fishing on the same lake for fifty years. This summer, our five-year-old grandson, Eli, came with him for the first time.

They sat in the old aluminum boat for three hours. Eli talked the entire time. He asked whether fish have families, whether they have names, and whether the lake has a bottom. My husband answered every question seriously, even the ones he didn't know the answer to.

Then Eli's line jerked. He screamed so loud I heard it from the porch. He reeled in, with help, a sunfish about the size of his hand.

He held it up and looked at it with total wonder. Then he looked at my husband and said, "Can we put him back? His mom is waiting." So they did.

They came back to the cabin glowing. Eli told the story at dinner nine times. My husband said it was the best fish he's ever caught.