Angler

I did the usual with the dictionary in that I shut my eyes, opened the book, and pointed with a mind to write about what I pointed to.  It was actually like all my Christmases had come at once.  But I am glad all my Christmases do not come at once, as I reckon it would mean less presents.  At least everyone has a chance to save up every year.
The word I pointed to was “angler” or “one who fishes with line and hook.”  I thought that is me.  Though judging by the amount of bait I have bought over the years compared to the miniscule number of fish I have caught, I would like my money back.
But it is the thrill of the chase.  The not knowing.  The, “this could be it.”  The dream of the line racing off the spool.  I have had line race off my spool.  But it was incredibly brief.  Stingrays.  They run a very short distance.  Then they sit.  Big ones are really hard to move. 
I do remember having been fishing and having a container of hooks in my pants pocket.  I came across friends who were having piggy-back races.  I went in it and we fell over.  One of the hooks embedded into my leg.  Because of the shape of hooks, it had to come out a different way to what it went in.  I do not remember the extraction.  I think I must have been incredibly brave.  I know though I was incredibly stupid to go in a piggy-back race with hooks in my pocket.  I know that because an adult told me so.
But it has not stopped me.  I am famous to a really really small number of people.  I think it is three.  Me and two others.  What I am famous for is catching the weirdest things.  When Merril and I fish, I always catch the most, but she always catches the biggest.
I think the ugliest thing I ever caught was a toad fish.  A big toad fish.  I will never forget the way he looked at me.  I guess though ugliness is subjective.  No.  It was ugly.  I could say it had a face only a mother could love but there is no evidence in the toad fish world of a mother loving its offspring.  More like abandoning its offspring.  If I was giving out first, second, and third place prizes, this toad fish would have won first prize.
What made it worse for me was the sense of anticipation.  Something big was on the line.  Is it a huge Brim?  Maybe it is my dream fish a “Mangrove Jack.”  Maybe it is a hungry Flathead.  Nope.  A Toad Fish.  I was disappointed.  Anything except a sea snake is probably better.
But bad experiences have not caused me to give up.  Maybe I should have though.  I am the only one I know of that has caught what looked remarkably like a stick but it was alive.
I don’t want to give the wrong impression.  I have known success.  Not on our reef trip though.  It is really hard to be genuinely happy for others pulling in the biggest fish I have ever been in a boat with when I was only catching half a fish.  The other half a shark got on its way up.
I could tell of my successes though.  Sizes would no doubt be like fisherman’s stories.  Come to think of I, I will have my money back please.