Me and Den, Spring Fishing
by Lee S. Wilbur
“Grapevine tells me the Salmon are up on your lake. You been trying to keep something from your old Brud? What’d I, say somethin’ wrong?”
“How come the only time I ever hear from from you is when you want to go huntin’ or fishin’?”
“Don’t get smart,” Den replies, “I’ll be there first crack tomorrow morning. You have that skiff of yours ready to go. And put on one of your good motors. One that will troll, not like that last one when we had to tow a bucket cause it kept stallin’ at slow speed.”
“You must have me confused with someone else you don’t know. See you in the morning. Oh, you bringin’ a rod, or do I have to supply one”
Phone rings as I’m getting up to put the teapot water on. “Truck just quit at the bridge. Can you come pick me up?”
“And you’re worried about my motors! Which wreck you driving today so I'll find you?”
“Just come get me.”
Forty-five minutes later we’re back at the lake. Den gets his rod and semblance of a tackle box from the back of my suburban and we start downhill to the camp. “Judas,” Den says, “ Wait, I forgot my thermos and donuts in the truck and you don’t drink coffee. What’ll I do? Can't go fishin’ without coffee and donuts.”
I look at the sun just beginning to break over the trees. Salmon on our lake are unionized, have a set schedule where they refuse to bite after 9AM. But, Den would be growling all morning if we went out without his coffee and donuts.
“Take the “burb”, run down to One-Stop. Get an extra large and donuts. I'll warm up a thermos and the motor. Shouldn't take you twenty minutes.”
I check the kitchen clock. Fifteen minutes have slipped by. Phone rings. Niggle surfaces as I lift the receiver of the old dial-up. “Hello.”
“Someone just ran into your “burb”.
“How bad is it?”
“Well,” Den says, “Well, it’s a little bigger than most of your other dents. But we're going to put a line on the bumper and try to pull it off the wheel. I think we can jack the fender off enough so I can drive it. Just wanted you to know I'll be a few minutes longer.
I heated more tea water. Fixed some eggs, bacon, boiled grits and made toast. From experience I knew there was not the least sense for hurry. Could just picture the scene and detail Den would be orchestrating along with the chin rubbing and jokes he’d have to tell and then the nuances of the moment he’d gather to embellish the story as it unfolded later.
I finished putting the breakfast dishes away, made the bed, and swept the floor. Just started out the porch door to fire the five horse when I heard a dragging, kind of final death-defying scream and then, seconds later, the burb's motor stop up in the parking lot. I start the five horse and come back inside. Few minutes and Den's coming through the back door, extra large coffee and box of donuts juggling. Sets them carefully on the counter. Full light on the Lake. Sun’s come over the mountain from the east. He looks at me kind of sideways, grins that lopsided smile of his and says, “Well,” He Says, “I got it roped back on, but that twine you had in the back was kind of light and it let go as I steered around the corner on the big hill, but I figured you’d want to get to fishin’ so I didn't stop. You ready?”
“Yep. Motor’s idlin, thermos is in the oven for your coffee. Fresh, live minnows in the bait well. Boat's clean for a change. Even remembered the oars, and I tied the end of the anchor rode.
Hands on the kitchen clock read 9:23.
Summer should be along soon and with it the thousands of cucumbers and zucchini squash friends bring when they stop by or leave in the front seat of your car, or drop on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and dis-appear. We enjoy the many possibilities of this joked about fruit of the vine, from pan saute’d rounds, to stuffed, to a good pasta sauce with tomatoes and garlic. Here's a simple recipe I found in my collection this morning, one I must have concocted in a moment of desperation and saved, cause there’s genuine oil spatters on the paper.
• R E C I P E •
Zucchini/Apple/Ham Medley
1 apple, medium sweet (my favorite are Empires) diced
1 medium to large zucchini chopped
4 Tablespoons salty ham
Regular Olive oil for sautéing
Salt and pepper to taste
Sauté the ham first in a dollop of olive oil in a medium weight frypan and let it just start to crisp. Then add the zucchini, chase it around the pan a few times, add the apple until just softened and take it off the heat. Serve immediately as a side dish. Great company to Fried Chicken, Grilled Salmon, or a thick, charcoal grilled, Pork Chop.
Fair winds and Good roads.