Gala woke with the first screech of the loon. Today was the day. She was going fishing with Grampa. They were going to Pike Lake to catch northerns. Fighting fish, that’s what they are. They strike so hard they practically pull you out of the boat. Gala was so excited her teeth chattered. Oh, her big brother Jimmy John was going, too.

Ever since she could remember, Gala had wanted to go fishing with Grampa. Jimmy John had gone three summers in a row. Grampa used to tell her, “When you’re old enough, you can go.” She’d watch Grampa and Jimmy John load the boat with their gear and motor off until they disappeared.

This summer, she was old enough. Mom and Pops had given her a rod and reel for Christmas. At first, she practiced casting in her bedroom. She stood tall and worked on the proper flicking of her wrist. She used the rod and reel but didn’t let any line out. When she thought she had it right, she practiced casting in the backyard almost every day after school. She loved to watch the fishing line as it arced against the sky and then plopped in the grass. Grandma’s loud talk brought her back to the present. “If you don’t want her to go, you tell her. I won’t.” Grandma must’ve been setting the table because Gala could hear the plunk of plates on a wooden surface.

“Aw, Honey,” Grampa said, “she won’t like it. We use live bait. We’ll have to bait her hook. She’ll say, “Ooo, they”re too slimy. Ooo, I can’t stick a hook in this little minnow. It will hurt.’” Gala heard the slapping sound of a spoon mixing batter. Grampa was making pancakes. That was his treat for special occasions.

“Just show her what to do,” said Grandma. “She’ll bait her own hook.” A wooden drawer slid open with a creak and then slammed shut. Knives and forks thudded onto the wooden table.

“What about the rapids?” said Grampa. “We have to shoot some pretty bad rapids to get to Pike Lake where the northerns are. With all the rain this spring, the water’s high and the rapids will be rough. She’s going to be scared to death. Jimmy John John’s shot rapids before. He’ll be okay, but she won’t. Ask her to go hiking with you. I’ll take her for a little spin in the boat later.”