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Age anxiety and fish trouble - Chapter 4
Sunday
Woke up quite early today and the sun is already shining from an almost cloudless sky. Good weather for fishing, but I probably have to wear my sun hat so I don't get too hot on my head.
Eats a good breakfast with marmalade and toast but takes Earl Russian Gray instead of fruit tea. I like the lemon flavor in the tea. Packing up some sausages to grill when we're out. Tony always has a small grill with him so we can grill sausages.
The sunglasses go on and I go downstairs and wait for Tony. He is usually punctual and almost exactly at 10.00 his car is outside in the parking lot. I go out and get in the car.
Tony drives to Hästö where the boat is. After parking the car we go to Tony's boat.
It's not huge, but it's enough for the two of us. The boat is beautiful dark brown and is called Jola. Tony carefully puts down his two fishing rods that we use when fishing. He also has a large box of different moves.
After we pull the boat down to the lake, we settle into the boat. Tony starts the engine and we are heading for the sea. Lyckebyfjärden glistens in the sun.
- I thought we should check out a new place to go fishing that I haven't visited before. It is said that you get good catch there, says Tony.
- Sure, why not, I say.
We sit there in silence for a while while the boat engine takes us on. Despite the hum of the engine, we hear the lapping of the water against the boat and it's a nice and cozy sound somehow. It gives me peace of mind.
The journey continues and we approach Verkö and the northern hill. We continue and turn north after Ängholmen. We see a few others who are also out with their boats. We greet and they greet back.
It takes a while but eventually we arrive at the destination Tony chose. It is located near Knösöudden. There is no other boat in sight here at the moment but according to Tony it should be a popular spot.
The engine is turned off and now only the gurgling of the water and a little noise from the wind can be heard. Some birds fly over the lake and it looks absolutely magical. Almost like a postcard that you can buy as a souvenir.
- Well. How does it feel to be 50 like this a week later?
- Well no problems really. I stand firmly on my feet and life goes on.
- I was surprised yesterday when you took out the photo album. It's the kind of thing old people do when they want to remember better times.
- Gosh. Just thought someone wanted to look at old photos. Nowadays, everything is digital and is not the same as when you really thought before taking a picture.
It's quiet for a while but Tony nods a little to himself. That's actually pretty accurate.
I suddenly sigh and say without thinking: Okay. I've had a few gray hairs removed from my hair recently and I got a great leaflet on age anxiety in the mail.
Tony looks at me and says hmm. He seems lost in thought. Finally he says; it is fine. I won't gossip. He has a small sly smile and I hope he keeps what he promised.
- Okay My Friend. Now I think it's time we go fishing, says Tony with a smile.
I agree with him. We take each other's rod and put on each other's move. I choose one with a nice color while Tony chooses a more neutral one. Then we throw out the lines and start checking whatever there are any fish here or not.
Tony gets his first fish first. A relatively large splashing herring. After killing it, it is placed in the fish bucket. He gets another one. A slightly smaller one but still.
I haven't had a fish yet but that doesn't matter. In the background I hear Tony gasp. Another fish caught. Maybe my move is too colorful. I take it off and put another one in there. It's more blue-grey.
I throw out again and start humming a song that was played yesterday. It's Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a place on earth". It's been so long since I heard the melody and now it's stuck in my head.
I have a crazy travel memory for that song. It was when the family visited London and the song was played everywhere. The whole family was singing along to the song in the car when suddenly the engine cut out. It smelled burnt and dad had to stop in the middle of a motorway.
We soon got help and we got to borrow a car while ours was being fixed. The loan car was probably the worst thing we ever drove. But we arrived and saw all the sights, so the trip was still good.
In the middle of sitting there in other thoughts, I notice that I've have a catch. And what a catch then. This fish does not want to be caught. However, I am stubborn as a donkey and gradually the fish comes closer to the surface. It's really colorful, almost like a rainbow. I know nothing about fish but I have never seen one like this before.
Tony looks over at me and whistles
- Don't drop it. Hold it steady.
- Yes Yes. I know. I know this reasonably well.
- Damn what a badass you've gotten.
- Yes, it is struggling, but I will win, I say
The fish is up at the surface and I can see it well now. It's big, almost like a cod, but it's definitely not a cod. The colors of the fish combined with its movements make me almost hypnotized. I mumble something unconsciously.
- Huh? what did you say Tony wonders.
- The fish will soon be up.
- that's good. Nice catch there.
I pull the fish up the last bit and it lands in the boat. I grab its head and..
What on earth?
The head looks weird. Almost like.. well almost
Almost like a human!
I look at the fish and shake my head. People are people and fish are fish, it's that simple. But this relatively big thing makes me think about what I believe.
what the hell. This is absolutely crazy.
I pull the string from its mouth and study it more closely. It looks like a fish, smells like one, feels like a fish too but has an almost human face.
I'm about to kill the fish with my hands when its teeth come into contact with my fingers and it bites me. It hurts my finger on the left hand.
I stagger backwards in surprise and the fish goes back into the water. Tony reacts immediately.
- Hey hey. What's going on buddy?
- Me. the. The fish bit me.
I show the finger that has now begun to bleed.
- Nah. You must have simply cut your teeth on the move.
- I had already removed it then
- The fish can't have bitten you. Tony sees the bite and nods to himself.
- It looked strange too. The head almost looked like…
- Yes what?
- like a..
- Yes what?
I sigh deeply and say; Nevermind. I don't think Tony would believe me if I told him what it looked like.
- Well, where is the fish then? You caught it
- I dropped it in the water when it bit me; I said truthfully.
- God how boring. You have to try to catch it again, you know.
- Yes, yes, that's what happens. It's probably far away now.
I'm not going to try to catch it again. Actually it was quite spooky but feel like I can't explain it very well to Tony. He would probably laugh if I explained. Besides, he knows my attitude towards fish.
- There are plasters in the yellow box in the drawer if you need.
I thanks Tony and took out a Band-Aid. It fit perfectly.
I don't feel like fishing anymore so I put my rod in the boat but Tony fishes some more. The bucket is almost full when Tony is satisfied.
- It was indeed a good catch here. Will definitely recommend the place to anyone.
I say nothing but look out over the sea. It's nice and peaceful somehow. There is something alluring about it.
-Would you like some sausage? I'm super hungry.
I,m actually hungry and nods. Tony starts the engine and drives a little longer. We find a smaller island where you can stop and grill.
It doesn't take long to grill the sausages. Tony and I sit on a small rock that is on the island and we look out to sea while we eat. The wind has started to blow a little but the sky is largely cloudless.
- This is freedom. This is how I would like to live; says Tony
- Live on such an island? Without beer and home?
- But think. Okay. You build a house on the island and take the boat and take yourself to the store and then back home. That would work right?
- Yes, it could have worked, apart from when there is a storm.
- So what?
- A flood can easily destroy the house if its close to the sea.
Tony sits quietly for a moment, then shrugs. We sit in silence for a while and just be. Today's society is always so stressful and there are few times you can relax like we do now.
I drag my right finger over the rock. It feels really smooth. The finger on the left side where the fish bit me still stings a little but not so much that it bothers me.
When the sausages are eaten, we just sit there in the sun and cuddle.
- Now we must get home. The fish will be bad otherwise: says Tony and gets up.
- Nice to get together and do some fishing, even if the only fish I caught fell back into the water. Talk about fail.
We both have a good laugh about it all as we walk to Tony's boat. If we filmed the whole thing, it would probably have placed well on failarmy on Youtube.
Once in the boat, Tony starts the engine and begins the journey back to Hästö where the boat is kept when not in use. I turn on spotify on my mobile to the 80's mix and soon Baltimore's "Tarzan Boy" echoes across the ocean.
Oh how people screamed their heads off to it when this was played at the disco. Tony laughs and I suspect he's thinking the same thing or has a funny memory for the song.
The journey towards Hästö is relatively fast but without any rocking in the boat. Tony is used to the sea and turns perfectly at any waves.
Once there, we pull up the boat where it is when we are not using it. Then we go to Tony's car. The fish bucket is on the floor behind my chair and I smell them and wrinkle my nose slightly.
Tony drives me to town and drops me off outside the entrance to the house where I live.
- There we are. Shall we go fishing next Sunday too?
- Sure why not.
- Will it be okay if I pick up at the same time?
- Absolutely.
- Well. Hello to you!
I waved goodbye to Tony and he drove home. Tony lives on Saltö, so he doesn't have that far from home.
Once up in the apartment, I fixed some supper. It turned out to be some chicken and salad with tomatoes and little else. I also had some honeydew melon in the salad. Very good.
Then I sat down in front of the TV and watched some drama film. It doesn't seem very good so I turn it off and sit there in silence. I feel tired and lay down on the sofa for some rest.
I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and decided to go to bed instead. I feel a little warm but not too much.
Sunday
Woke up quite early today and the sun is already shining from an almost cloudless sky. Good weather for fishing, but I probably have to wear my sun hat so I don't get too hot on my head.
Eats a good breakfast with marmalade and toast but takes Earl Russian Gray instead of fruit tea. I like the lemon flavor in the tea. Packing up some sausages to grill when we're out. Tony always has a small grill with him so we can grill sausages.
The sunglasses go on and I go downstairs and wait for Tony. He is usually punctual and almost exactly at 10.00 his car is outside in the parking lot. I go out and get in the car.
Tony drives to Hästö where the boat is. After parking the car we go to Tony's boat.
It's not huge, but it's enough for the two of us. The boat is beautiful dark brown and is called Jola. Tony carefully puts down his two fishing rods that we use when fishing. He also has a large box of different moves.
After we pull the boat down to the lake, we settle into the boat. Tony starts the engine and we are heading for the sea. Lyckebyfjärden glistens in the sun.
- I thought we should check out a new place to go fishing that I haven't visited before. It is said that you get good catch there, says Tony.
- Sure, why not, I say.
We sit there in silence for a while while the boat engine takes us on. Despite the hum of the engine, we hear the lapping of the water against the boat and it's a nice and cozy sound somehow. It gives me peace of mind.
The journey continues and we approach Verkö and the northern hill. We continue and turn north after Ängholmen. We see a few others who are also out with their boats. We greet and they greet back.
It takes a while but eventually we arrive at the destination Tony chose. It is located near Knösöudden. There is no other boat in sight here at the moment but according to Tony it should be a popular spot.
The engine is turned off and now only the gurgling of the water and a little noise from the wind can be heard. Some birds fly over the lake and it looks absolutely magical. Almost like a postcard that you can buy as a souvenir.
- Well. How does it feel to be 50 like this a week later?
- Well no problems really. I stand firmly on my feet and life goes on.
- I was surprised yesterday when you took out the photo album. It's the kind of thing old people do when they want to remember better times.
- Gosh. Just thought someone wanted to look at old photos. Nowadays, everything is digital and is not the same as when you really thought before taking a picture.
It's quiet for a while but Tony nods a little to himself. That's actually pretty accurate.
I suddenly sigh and say without thinking: Okay. I've had a few gray hairs removed from my hair recently and I got a great leaflet on age anxiety in the mail.
Tony looks at me and says hmm. He seems lost in thought. Finally he says; it is fine. I won't gossip. He has a small sly smile and I hope he keeps what he promised.
- Okay My Friend. Now I think it's time we go fishing, says Tony with a smile.
I agree with him. We take each other's rod and put on each other's move. I choose one with a nice color while Tony chooses a more neutral one. Then we throw out the lines and start checking whatever there are any fish here or not.
Tony gets his first fish first. A relatively large splashing herring. After killing it, it is placed in the fish bucket. He gets another one. A slightly smaller one but still.
I haven't had a fish yet but that doesn't matter. In the background I hear Tony gasp. Another fish caught. Maybe my move is too colorful. I take it off and put another one in there. It's more blue-grey.
I throw out again and start humming a song that was played yesterday. It's Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a place on earth". It's been so long since I heard the melody and now it's stuck in my head.
I have a crazy travel memory for that song. It was when the family visited London and the song was played everywhere. The whole family was singing along to the song in the car when suddenly the engine cut out. It smelled burnt and dad had to stop in the middle of a motorway.
We soon got help and we got to borrow a car while ours was being fixed. The loan car was probably the worst thing we ever drove. But we arrived and saw all the sights, so the trip was still good.
In the middle of sitting there in other thoughts, I notice that I've have a catch. And what a catch then. This fish does not want to be caught. However, I am stubborn as a donkey and gradually the fish comes closer to the surface. It's really colorful, almost like a rainbow. I know nothing about fish but I have never seen one like this before.
Tony looks over at me and whistles
- Don't drop it. Hold it steady.
- Yes Yes. I know. I know this reasonably well.
- Damn what a badass you've gotten.
- Yes, it is struggling, but I will win, I say
The fish is up at the surface and I can see it well now. It's big, almost like a cod, but it's definitely not a cod. The colors of the fish combined with its movements make me almost hypnotized. I mumble something unconsciously.
- Huh? what did you say Tony wonders.
- The fish will soon be up.
- that's good. Nice catch there.
I pull the fish up the last bit and it lands in the boat. I grab its head and..
What on earth?
The head looks weird. Almost like.. well almost
Almost like a human!
I look at the fish and shake my head. People are people and fish are fish, it's that simple. But this relatively big thing makes me think about what I believe.
what the hell. This is absolutely crazy.
I pull the string from its mouth and study it more closely. It looks like a fish, smells like one, feels like a fish too but has an almost human face.
I'm about to kill the fish with my hands when its teeth come into contact with my fingers and it bites me. It hurts my finger on the left hand.
I stagger backwards in surprise and the fish goes back into the water. Tony reacts immediately.
- Hey hey. What's going on buddy?
- Me. the. The fish bit me.
I show the finger that has now begun to bleed.
- Nah. You must have simply cut your teeth on the move.
- I had already removed it then
- The fish can't have bitten you. Tony sees the bite and nods to himself.
- It looked strange too. The head almost looked like…
- Yes what?
- like a..
- Yes what?
I sigh deeply and say; Nevermind. I don't think Tony would believe me if I told him what it looked like.
- Well, where is the fish then? You caught it
- I dropped it in the water when it bit me; I said truthfully.
- God how boring. You have to try to catch it again, you know.
- Yes, yes, that's what happens. It's probably far away now.
I'm not going to try to catch it again. Actually it was quite spooky but feel like I can't explain it very well to Tony. He would probably laugh if I explained. Besides, he knows my attitude towards fish.
- There are plasters in the yellow box in the drawer if you need.
I thanks Tony and took out a Band-Aid. It fit perfectly.
I don't feel like fishing anymore so I put my rod in the boat but Tony fishes some more. The bucket is almost full when Tony is satisfied.
- It was indeed a good catch here. Will definitely recommend the place to anyone.
I say nothing but look out over the sea. It's nice and peaceful somehow. There is something alluring about it.
-Would you like some sausage? I'm super hungry.
I,m actually hungry and nods. Tony starts the engine and drives a little longer. We find a smaller island where you can stop and grill.
It doesn't take long to grill the sausages. Tony and I sit on a small rock that is on the island and we look out to sea while we eat. The wind has started to blow a little but the sky is largely cloudless.
- This is freedom. This is how I would like to live; says Tony
- Live on such an island? Without beer and home?
- But think. Okay. You build a house on the island and take the boat and take yourself to the store and then back home. That would work right?
- Yes, it could have worked, apart from when there is a storm.
- So what?
- A flood can easily destroy the house if its close to the sea.
Tony sits quietly for a moment, then shrugs. We sit in silence for a while and just be. Today's society is always so stressful and there are few times you can relax like we do now.
I drag my right finger over the rock. It feels really smooth. The finger on the left side where the fish bit me still stings a little but not so much that it bothers me.
When the sausages are eaten, we just sit there in the sun and cuddle.
- Now we must get home. The fish will be bad otherwise: says Tony and gets up.
- Nice to get together and do some fishing, even if the only fish I caught fell back into the water. Talk about fail.
We both have a good laugh about it all as we walk to Tony's boat. If we filmed the whole thing, it would probably have placed well on failarmy on Youtube.
Once in the boat, Tony starts the engine and begins the journey back to Hästö where the boat is kept when not in use. I turn on spotify on my mobile to the 80's mix and soon Baltimore's "Tarzan Boy" echoes across the ocean.
Oh how people screamed their heads off to it when this was played at the disco. Tony laughs and I suspect he's thinking the same thing or has a funny memory for the song.
The journey towards Hästö is relatively fast but without any rocking in the boat. Tony is used to the sea and turns perfectly at any waves.
Once there, we pull up the boat where it is when we are not using it. Then we go to Tony's car. The fish bucket is on the floor behind my chair and I smell them and wrinkle my nose slightly.
Tony drives me to town and drops me off outside the entrance to the house where I live.
- There we are. Shall we go fishing next Sunday too?
- Sure why not.
- Will it be okay if I pick up at the same time?
- Absolutely.
- Well. Hello to you!
I waved goodbye to Tony and he drove home. Tony lives on Saltö, so he doesn't have that far from home.
Once up in the apartment, I fixed some supper. It turned out to be some chicken and salad with tomatoes and little else. I also had some honeydew melon in the salad. Very good.
Then I sat down in front of the TV and watched some drama film. It doesn't seem very good so I turn it off and sit there in silence. I feel tired and lay down on the sofa for some rest.
I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and decided to go to bed instead. I feel a little warm but not too much.
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Aquatic (Other)
Gender Any
Size 50 x 50px
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