the Scuffy - 22. Chapter 22

At day break, we sounded the horn. “Let’s pull the nets within sight of the dock.”

They looked at me and began to laugh. “You know they know we’re coming in.”

I just smiled. I wasn’t being mean but a fishing boat manned by kids is usually made a laughing joke. I knew some of the captains that sat at Uncle’s table at the Wharf. I’m sure they gave him a ribbing about not finding men to work his boat and having to rely on kids.

The cannery truck arrived as we pulled the nets. With the nets up, we docked the boat. “Charles, go and drop the anchor.” I need to teach Nicky and Jamie how to tie up the boat. We’ll practice when we go to sea.

We started to unload the tins of tuna. I saw the crew of the round table coming over to watch. I heard one of them ask Uncle how he was able to get a full load each week. “Look, I don’t know. I’m not sure where we are most of the time. That kid Nicky takes the helm and then heads out. He tells us to drop the nets and we do. Dam how he knows, but we always get a full load. I think the mermaids talk to him.”

I could tell they didn’t believe him but they had to believe the load we unloaded. Again we took an additional twenty-five tins from the cannery, filled them and my ice chests. I heard one of the captains telling uncle he was buying. With all of the fish unloaded, we closed up the boat. I took an ice chest to the Wharf and gave Marie several fish. I knew she would cook them for Barney and Uncle as well as herself.

Walking home, I detoured to the bank with Peter on my shoulders. Everything was routine now, ice chests loaded into the trunk of the car, after adding more ice, showering and dressing. “Let’s go, we have fish to deliver.” I took the time to put fish aside for Stella.

Dropping fish off at Gram’s, we headed to Glen’s parents. Again I could smell the grill going. “What do you bet we won’t be invited to dinner?” I said this as I entered the house with several fish.

“You keep talking like that and you won’t be invited to eat with us.”

“Aw Mom, you know we love you.”

“That’s not going to work.”

We lined up, “Peter go and give Grandma a kiss, Charles go and give Grandma a kiss, Nicky go and give your mother a kiss, Glen go and give your mother a kiss.” She looked at me, “No kisses unless we are invited to dinner.”

Everyone was laughing when I saw Glen’s dad heading in, I went and gave her a kiss.

“Hey what’s going on here?”

Before she could say anything, “It’s her fault. She wanted to know why Glen liked my kisses, so I showed her.” Now everyone was laughing, “I whispered, if you invite me to dinner, I’ll tel the truth.”

“Glen, this guy is trouble, okay you’re invited to dinner.”

“Dad, the only way I knew to get her to invite us to dinner was for each of us to give her a kiss.”

“Dad, you should have seen what happened on the dock today. Just before we docked, I blew the horn and we pulled the nets, loaded with fish. One of the captains of another boat was making fun of us since out boat is manned by kids. Another captain asked Uncle how come we come back loaded, he told him he didn't know. He said the kid takes the boat out and says drop here. He said the mermaids are in love with me and load my nets.”

“I don’t think the other captains believed Uncle, but it’s a good story.”

“Nicky, do you steer the boat?”

“Yes, he does and he does it very well. You need to be proud of him, right Glen.”

“I’ve always been proud of him.”

Nicky smiled, “Let’s eat, the hamburgers are ready.”

I waited till everyone left the kitchen, “Nicky, here’s your earnings.” He smiled as he gave me a hug.

Waking outside I saw Jamie standing by himself with a burger on a plate. “Jamie, would you sell that burger?” He looked at me perplexed, “Here is your wages for this week-end.” I took a hundred dollar bill, rolled it and stuck in his pocket and I took the hamburger.

I watched him take out the bill, his eyes grew big and he smiled. He looked over at Nicky, headed for another hamburger and then to Nicky. I saw him whisper in Nicky’s ear. Nicky looked at me and then said something to Jamie. I had a young crew but I’d stack them up against any other crew and win.

Driving home, “Jamie, think your folks would like some fish?"

“I thought you gave it all away.”

“Nope, I always have some for the crew.” Looking in the rear view mirror I could see Jamie smiling. Arriving at Jamie’s home his dad came out as soon as we pulled into the drive way. “Are you interested in having some fish your son help catch?”

“Sure, what do you have?”

I opened the trunk and ice chest, “Take your pick” Just then Jamie came out with a pan.

“Dad, those are larger than the lake bass we catch.”

“They sure are. I hope you know how to clean them.”

“I hoped you’d do it while I was in school.”

“You know the rule, you clean what you catch.”

I winked at Jamie, “Here let me put these in your pan” Nicky saw what I was doing, I gave Jamie the fish I had cleaned.“Okay, guys, see you next week Jamie. Bob, I hope you know how to clean those fish.” Laughing, I got in the car and drove home. Nicky would stay overnight, I’d take the kids home in the morning on our way to work.

When we arrived at Grams in the morning, I paid them and then put a quarter in their banks so when they shook them they would hear the quarter. Peter especially liked the idea.