Toby's Day Fishing

It was a beautiful April day. Toby was tasked with finding fishing worms so Toby and Daddy could go fishing while Mommy and Auntie Harper spent the day in the kitchen. Mommy said she was going to have plenty of yummy food ready to eat when the boys got back from their adventure.

“Mommy, look!” Toby said fervently trying to get the attention of his mom.

“What did you find?” Mommy asked

“Mommy, look! I got a worm! It’s a BIIIIG one!” Toby said as he ran carrying his prized find to Mommy. “This is a good fishing one!”

“Ooh that is a big one! You outta go take that to Daddy! We need to stick it in a bowl of dirt for your fishing trip! You could catch a big one with that one!” Mommy said guiding Toby to Daddy. Daddy was in the garage working on switching out the line in their fishing poles for stronger line that is less likely to snap when they snag a big fish. Toby and Daddy have a big fishing trip planned for this afternoon. The light breeze and the clouds have brought in some light rain that sends the fish to the shores and surface of the water.

“Oh, my goodness. Whatcha got there?” Daddy said as Toby ran in showing off his best find yet. “Today is the perfect day for fishing, and I’ve got the perfect fishing buddy. Look at that big fish-catching worm you’ve got there!”

“I found it!” Toby said, beaming with pride. “We need a dirt bowl! Dirt bowl, Daddy!”

Daddy grabbed the old sour cream container that was turned into a worm container. It was filled with dirt for the worms to crawl around in, and a lid on top with some holes poked into it to make sure the worms had some air to breathe. Daddy took the lid off and watched as Toby gently placed the worm into the dirt. Wiping his hands on his shirt to get the worm dirt off, Toby turned and took off out of the garage.

“I’ll find more!” Toby hollered over his shoulder, running to make Daddy even more proud.

“Do you need help in here?” Mommy asked Daddy, offering to help get their fishing gear together. Mommy peeked out of the garage to watch Toby as he dug in the ground with his little blue shovel again, determined to find more worms. Auntie Harper was sitting on the back porch, watching Toby dig as she rocked in a rocking chair perfectly placed in the shade and protected from the gentle drops of rain that slowly fell from the sky.

“No, I think I’ve about got it all done. Just need to load it into the truck.” Daddy said, smiling at Mommy.

“Woo-hoo!” Toby whooped as he stood up quickly. He had his hands held over his head, holding another huge worm that he just dug up from the ground.

“Daddy look.” Mommy said to Daddy as Toby ran in again with another worm in tow.

Auntie Harper followed Toby into the garage this time, watching as Toby asked Daddy for the dirt bowl again so he could place this worm with his previously collected worms. Daddy squatted down with Toby, whispering in his ear.

“Uh-oh. Here comes trouble” Auntie Harper said softly as Toby turned away from Daddy with a mischievous grin on his face. Whatever Toby and Daddy had whispered about was surely a funny plan about to play out with the worm. Toby started toward Auntie Harper with the worm. Was Toby about to throw the worm at someone? Was he going to stick it down someone’s shirt? Mommy and Auntie Harper glanced at each other, sharing a quick smile and returning their attention to Toby as he played out his trick.

“Here’s my worm.” Toby said to Auntie Harper as he stopped in front of her, holding his worm out with one hand. Auntie Harper grabbed the worm, ready to play along with whatever trick was about to happen. “Daddy says you’re too sissy to eat it. I bet daddy a dollar that you would.”

Auntie Harper held the worm, contemplating her next move. “I’m not a fish, silly. Why should I eat it? What’s in this for me?”

Toby motioned for Auntie Harper to stoop down so he could whisper in her ear. Toby whispered, “If you do it, I’ll give you half of my dollar.”

Auntie Harper stood back up, placed a hand to her mouth, tapping her finger to her lips to show that she was thinking it over. “Deal.” She said as she reached her hand out and shook Toby’s hand to seal the deal.

Mommy and Daddy shared a look with each other, eyes wide as they watched Auntie Harper lift her hand that held the worm and toss the worm into her mouth like it was a handful of candy. Toby’s eyes were bulging as his mouth fell agape, watching Auntie Harper eat the worm.

“Ewwwww! Daddy! Auntie Harper ate the worm!” Toby said running back to Daddy with his hand held out expecting the money he was owed. Daddy laughingly handed over 4 quarters, explaining that 4 quarters equals a dollar. Toby ran back to Auntie Harper to share their winnings. Auntie Harper grabbed the quarter that Toby held out, understanding that Toby doesn’t know how to split a dollar in half, and smiled at Toby with pride.

“Time to go fishing now, Bubby. Come kiss me goodbye.” Auntie Harper said reaching out her arms.

“Ewww! No kisses from a worm eater!” Toby squealed as he ran fast, now being chased by Auntie Harper to the back seat of the truck.

“Do you think she actually ate it? That looked a little too easy, like she’s done that before.” Daddy said to Mommy, trying to figure out if what they just saw was real, or some sly of hand.

“I have no idea. I hope not. That is so gross” Mommy said laughing.

“What do you think it tastes like?” Daddy asked laughing.

“I have no idea, and I never plan on finding out!” Mommy laughed as she walked to the truck to kiss Toby goodbye, Auntie Harper already had him buckled safely into his car seat.

Mommy and Auntie Harper spent the afternoon cooking and canning in the kitchen. As they were cleaning up the dishes and counter tops, they saw the truck pull up in the driveway. The boys’ footsteps echoed as they walked across the porch as Mommy and Auntie Harper dried their hands with towels and crossed the kitchen and dining room to meet them at the door.

“Hi baby! Did you catch you a fish?” Mommy asked as she stooped to bear hug Toby after several hours apart. He hugged her big, then pulled away ready to tell Mommy about his catch.

“Yeah! We caught us a Catfish! It was a BIIIIIG one!” Toby said excitedly. “It was THIS big!” Lifting his hands and holding them apart to show how long the fish was.

“Well, what else happened, Toby?” Daddy questioned, trying to get Toby to tell a story. Toby stood there giving Daddy a look that said Shhh they don’t need to know. Daddy turned to Mommy and Auntie Harper to tell the story. “So Toby was helping me bait the hooks before we threw our first cast. He was grabbing the worms out of their container and watching me hook them up. I turned around to grab another fishing pole to bait and I heard Toby gag. I spin around as he’s spitting out a worm! He tried to eat it like Auntie Harper did!”

The room burst out in laughter over the story as Toby continues giving Daddy a look.

“I told you not to tell them!” Toby said as everyone continued laughing and Toby’s face deepened to a dark shade of red.

“Now we are both Worm Eaters! Where’s my kiss, now?” Auntie Harper exclaimed, reaching for Toby as he took off running into the living room.

“I guess she really did eat it after all. I should’ve known. This is going to be a story to tell at their weddings!” Mommy said as she laughed with Daddy, watching Auntie Harper continue to chase and tickle Toby around the living room. This is a good memory that will last a lifetime.