Tug Baker and the Ginormous Surprise (F)

Tug Baker let his worm on the end of his line swing out to the edge of the lily pads. The morning sun was still lower than the trees on the shore, and a cool breeze blew in from across the pond.

Dragonflies landed and lifted off from the dock posts. Some geese honked in the distance.

Tug felt it was a great morning. To Tug it seemed like it was going to be his special morning.

Something grabbed his worm, and Tug easily hooked the little crappie. He brought it to the bank and unhooked the fish. Splash, back into the water.

Tug put a fresh worm on his hook and again landed the bait next to the lily pads.

While Tug watched his bobber, he noticed a little wave out in the middle of the pond. The wind wasn’t strong enough to make that wave. He took his eyes off his bobber.

Now something really was making waves out in the water. The waves were large enough to come into the lily pads and to make a little splash on the shore where Tug was standing.

Weird, Tug thought. Maybe a turtle. Maybe a beaver.

Okay, now the water was rising up as if something—a submarine—no—a rocketship—no. What in the world was under there?

Suddenly the water rose up four feet, no five, and there in front of Tug was a ginormous catfish. Not large. Not huge. Ginormous!

And it was swimming now right at Tug. He dropped his cane pole and stepped back. Should he run? Should he call for help?

On the catfish came, at least 10 feet from the water to the top of its back. Right up to the edge of the lily pads, it swam.

“You, boy, who said you could fish this pond?”

Yes, that’s right. Hard to believe, but that was the ginormous catfish talking. To him!

“Me?”

“Yes, you!” the catfish roared. “You see any other boy standing here?”

“No. No, Mr., uh Catfish, sir.”

“Hmmm, Mr. Catfish, I like that. Sir, I like that too. Perhaps you’re not just another one of the boys throwing hooks out into this pond.”

Tug stood still, looking at this massive fish.

“What’s your name, boy?”

“Tug. Tug Baker. Uh, sir.”

“Well, Tug Baker, I’m feeling kind of nice today. I’m feeling extra large today. I think I’m going to do you a favor.” The fish pushed forward so his head was on the shore.

“You want to take a ride?”

“A ride?”

Yes, a ride. Climb on. Here let me turn sideways. Get on up.”

Tug reached up and started to climb. The catfish used a fin to boost him up. And off they went. Fast!

Tug held on with his hands and squeezed his legs into the catfish’s back.

Zoom, they swam on the surface out to the middle of the pond. The catfish turned in great circles that made the waves race to the shore. The catfish splashed his tail and water shot up over his back and Tug.

Now Tug didn’t know how long they rode around, but it seemed like a long time, but it seemed like a short time too. The catfish swam straight in to where Tug had been fishing, slammed to a stop, and Tug went head over heels, splash.

Soaked. The ginormous catfish laughed and turned away.

“See you later, boy!” and it disappeared into the pond waters.

Tug picked up his pole and walked up to his house. His mother saw him coming in dripping wet.

“Tug Baker, how in the world did you get so wet fishing?”

“Well, Mom—“

“And don’t tell me some fish story.”

Tug looked at his mother and then shook his head. “Never mind.”