the Scuffy - 15. Chapter 15

I gave my credit card to Nicky and showed him where to go for the food I ordered. Glen took Peter by the hand, “Captain, requesting permission to board.”

Uncle played the role, Peter laughed. I helped Grandmother on board and showed her where she could sit when we got underway. Uncle came out and sat beside her.

With all of the food on board, Nicky started the boat’s engines. I pulled in the anchor and united the boat lines from our dock. We were ready to go.

“We’re going for a short ride to get fuel and water. Then we’ll return to dock and Glen will drive you home Grandmother." Peter looked at me, “You ready to go fishing Peter?” His smile answered that question.

Fuel and water tanks full we returned to our dock. Glen drove Grandmother home. While we were waiting for Glen to return, Charles and Peter were looking into the water, ‘Dad, what are those?”

“Those are crabs, Peter. They hang around the docks hoping to get fed.”

“Are they good to eat?”

“Yes, some are very good and some are not. See those that look like they are blue, they are very good.”

“How do you catch them?”

“Take a line and tie a piece of food on it, then the crab sees it and grabs for it. When he grabs it, he’ll hold on till you pull him out of the water then he’ll let go.”

“Can we try it?”

“Sure and if you catch enough we can have them for dinner tonight.” I helped the boys bait a line, then I went to get a pail to hold them.

Sitting down between the boys, I showed them where to dangle the bait. Soon they had a crab hooked on the bait. As the boys pulled the line up, I had a net ready to catch them, the crabs would let go as soon as they came out of the water. They were excited as I put the crabs into the pail. They continued to catch crabs while we waited for Glen. When Glen returned, we had enough crabs for an appetizer. “Let’s go boys, we’re ready to leave the docks.”

Picking up Peter, we went into the cabin. “Uncle, this is Peter and Charles, Glen and my sons. Boys, this is the Captain and your granddad.”

I took out the map, “Uncle, do you have the weather report?”

“Yes, swells about 3 to 4 feet and a possible storm from the West.”

Looking at the map, “Nicky, this is where we fished last week, we could start here and if it isn’t good we can move East. We need to try to stay ahead of the storm.”

I watched as Nicky laid out the course. He started the motors and Peter started to laugh. “Peter, come here.” I sat Peter on one of the high stools in the cabin. “You can watch from here where we’re going.” I gave him a hug. Glen and I began to get the nets ready.

I kept an eye on the charts and where we were heading. Nicky was right on. “Kev, we should be here,” pointing at the chart.

I confirmed it, “Nice job Nicky” Glen and I got the nets into the waters, now it was a waiting game.

I fixed dinner, the cabin was equipped with a two burner stove and a very large microwave. The refrigerator was an under the counter type. I got out the food, heated it in the microwave and made coffee. We had to cook the crabs and then show the boys how to eat them. At first I wasn’t sure Peter would try, I told him to close his eyes and open his mouth, then I place a piece of crab in his mouth. We all laughed when he asked for more. Charles had no problem and soon he was opening the crabs for him and Peter.

Dinner over, nets in the water, the boat rocking, I was ready for bed. “Charles, you’ll sleep in Cabin 1 with Nicky and Peter will sleep in Cabin 2 with Glen and I”.

Nicky put his arm around Charles’s shoulders, “That’s great Kev, us big boys get a Cabin to ourselves"

The smile on the face of Charles was priceless. My concern about him not wanting to share with Nicky was warrantless. After blessing the ocean and making sure Peter didn’t need the head, we headed to the cabins.

“Peter, do you want to sleep on the lower bunk, I’m sleeping on the top bunk and Glen will have to sleep with you or me.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“Sure” I hopped up on the top bunk. Glen handed Peter to me, he looked a little sad. “Glen, there’s enough room for you up here. Peter, should we invite Glen to join us?”

This for me was critical, Glen’s acceptance by Peter. I didn't have to worry. As soon as Glen got in bed, Peter gave him a hug and kiss. I saw Glen’s eyes go moist, I reached over and pulled him close to us.

“Yes, some are very good and some are not. See those that look like they are blue, they are very good.”

“How do you catch them?”

“Take a line and tie a piece of food on it, then the crab sees it and grabs for it. When he grabs it, he’ll hold on till you pull him out of the water then he’ll let go.”

“Can we try it?”

“Sure and if you catch enough we can have them for dinner tonight.” I helped the boys bait a line, then I went to get a pail to hold them.

Sitting down between the boys, I showed them where to dangle the bait. Soon they had a crab hooked on the bait. As the boys pulled the line up, I had a net ready to catch them, the crabs would let go as soon as they came out of the water. They were excited as I put the crabs into the pail. They continued to catch crabs while we waited for Glen. When Glen returned, we had enough crabs for an appetizer. “Let’s go boys, we’re ready to leave the docks.”

Picking up Peter, we went into the cabin. “Uncle, this is Peter and Charles, Glen and my sons. Boys this is the Captain and your granddad.”

I took out the map, “Uncle, do you have the weather report?”

“Yes, swells about 3 to 4 feet and a possible storm from the West.”

Looking at the map, “Nicky, this is where we fished last week, we could start here and if it isn’t good we can move East. We need to try and stay ahead of the storm.”

I watched as Nicky laid out the course. He started the motors and Peter started to laugh. “Peter, come here.” I sat Peter on one of the high stools in the cabin. “You can watch from here where we’re going.” I gave him a hug, Glen began to get the nets ready.

I kept an eye on the charts and where we were heading. Nicky was right on. “Kev, we should be here,” pointing at the chart.

I confirmed it, “Nice job Nicky” Glen and I got the nets into the water, now it was a waiting game.

I fixed dinner, the cabin was equipped with a two burner stove and a very large microwave. The refrigerator was an under the counter type. I got out the food, heated it in the microwave and made coffee. We had to cook the crabs and then show the boys how to eat them. At first I wasn’t sure Peter would try, I told him to close his eyes and open his mouth, then I place a piece of crab in his mouth. We all laughed when he asked for more. Charles had no problem and soon he was opening the crabs for Peter and himself.

Dinner over, nets in the water, the boat rocking, I was ready for bed. “Charles, you’ll sleep in Cabin 1 with Nicky and Peter will sleep in Cabin 2 with Glen and I”.

Nicky put his arm around Charles’s shoulders, “That’s great Kev, us big boys get a Cabin to ourselves"

The smile on the face of Charles was priceless. My concern about him not wanting to share with Nicky was warrantless. After blessing the ocean and making sure Peter didn’t need the head, we headed to the cabins.

“Peter, do you want to sleep on the lower bunk, I’m sleeping on the top bunk and Glen will have to sleep with you or me.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“Sure” I hopped up on the top bunk. Glen handed Peter to me, he looks a little sad, “Glen, there’s enough room for you up here. Peter, should we invite Glen to join us?”

This for me was critical as to Glen’s acceptance by Peter. I didn't have to worry. As soon as Glen got in bed, Peter gave him a hug and kiss. I saw Glen’s eyes go moist, I reached over and pulled him close to us.