Andrew and Gill
Andrew dashed up the front steps of the little log cabin as the sun was rising. “Gil,” he hollered, “let’s go! We’ve got to get on the lake before the ranger does!” Slowly, shuffling like an old man, Andrew’s friend Gil headed toward the door.
“I don’t think this is such a good idea. If we get caught we’ll be in really big trouble,” Gil moaned.
“Why are you being such a wimp? We won’t get caught–the park ranger won’t be up this early,” chided Andrew.
“If you say so, then let’s get the oars and the fishing rods from the shed out back.” Gil walked passed Andrew and headed toward the shed, wearing a worried look on his face.
Once the two boys gathered their fishing equipment in their arms, they made for the rowboat down at the dock in front of their family’s cabins.
“Okay, untie us,” commanded Andrew as he loaded the last of the fishing equipment into the rowboat. Gil unwound the rope and the boys began to drift out to the center of the placid lake. As they drifted over the glassy water, a man watched them from the shore.
“I hope we have better luck than yesterday. Must have been three hours before–“
“Wzzzzzzzzz!” Andrew’s fishing line whirred like crazy through his rod. “I’ve already got something!” he exclaimed, as his line continued sailing through the rod. “This fish must be a monster!”
“Well what are you waiting for? Start reeling it in!” Gil said, urging his friend to haul up whatever was on the other end of the line.
Andrew leaned back, planted his feet firmly on the edge of the boat, and reeled in his catch. His fishing line danced around as he pulled up a glistening largemouth bass, still wriggling and trying to get free.
“Look at the size of this thing!” Andrew exclaimed. “It’s got to be at least 15 pounds!”
“Sssshhhh!” Gil whispered loudly. “We’ve got to get this fish back to our cabin, and we don’t want the park ranger to hear us!”
I don’t see what the big deal is about fishing when we could fish here last year,” Andrew began, but he was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.
“Not so fast, son.”
Andrew and Gil whipped their heads around to the other side of the rowboat just as a uniformed park ranger pulled up alongside them. “I already told you why there’s no fishing this year,” he stated firmly. “The fish population has been completely depleted from overfishing. This is your second warning, and now you boys are going to have to come with me.
” The next morning, Andrew and Gil trudged slowly up the steps of the boat rental office. Once inside, they stepped behind the counter, each putting on a vest with “Silver Lake” stitched on the pocket.
“I can’t believe the ranger is making us work here without pay just because we caught a stupid fish,” muttered Gil.
“Yeah, there goes summer vacation,” sighed Andrew in agreement.
