The "The Record" Story

It was an ordinary day. My Mom, Dad, brother Stevie, Aunt Lillian, cousins Judy and George, my Aunt Doris and my friend Bill H. were on vacation. We were spending a week at Aunt Doris' cottage along the Elk River in Maryland. We always had so much fun together as a family. I loved to swim, but my favorite passion was fishing. Bill enjoyed fishing also, at least I think he did. I guess he had no choice! From sunrise to sunset, we were on the boat dock with our fishing rods, worms, can of corn and chairs trying to catch the BIG ONE! This particular year I told my Dad I was going for "The Record." I'm not sure what record I was going to break, but break it I would. Anything counted in my quest. Channel catfish, sunnies, slimy eels, crappies and the extra big carp. The only breaks we would take was for swimming and rowing the boat. Oh yes, we had to take time out for food. I don't remember taking any showers, but I guess my Mom made sure I took one every now and then. I truly don't remember ever wearing suntan lotion when I was a kid at the bay. Might be the reason for the need to see the skin doctor yearly now. One thing I still remember though was the big bug zapper that hung above the dinner table. It would make the neatest noise when a bug would hit it. Big collection of bugs always filled the table in the morning. If we had to take a trip to the store or market for more worms and corn, I would always bait the line and tie the rod to the dock in case a big one would hook itself. It became apparent after a few days that catching 100 fish during the week may be "The Record" I was going after. The end of the week rolled around and I was getting close. Saturday arrived and packing and cleaning were the chores of everyone except Bill and I. I was going to make 100 fish. The car was packed and everyone was sitting in the car while I kept fishing. Dad blew the horn and I yelled, "just one more!" The horn again. Finally Dad got out of the car. "OK, we'll be there in a minute." "Just one more" I told Bill. "Take your stuff up and put it in the car and I'll pretend I'm putting my stuff away." "I know I can do it!" Well, Dad wasn't going to wait any longer. As he headed down the steps toward the dock, I had the bite. #100. It only counted if I got the fish onto the dock. Didn't have to keep him hooked as long as he made it onto the dock. Those were the rules for "The Record". A crappie. These are little buggers to catch and he got off just before I got him on the dock. Well, "The Record" still stands at 99. Still haven't beaten it. It was an extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.