A Fish Story With a Happy Ending

On a Saturday morning that was sunny and warm, Eric did not want to play trucks or go up into his tree house, he wanted to go fishing. Kyle and Eric are pretty good fishermen. They have been out in the boat with their dad fishing a lot and it is fun when it is done safely. Today they were not on the lake and their dad was at work.

Eric and Kyle are good kids who know they should always ask their Mother and Father for permission to do things near the water. They did not think going to the little brook near their house could be dangerous. The little stream was only about Knee deep and not very wide. So they got the fishing rods and some worms that looked like Gummy Bears.

Before they went, Eric called out to his mother that they were going to the brook to fish, but his mother was inside the house making lunch and she did not hear him. So off to the brook they marched with fishing pole and Gummy Bear bait.

When Eric and Kyle reached the brook and saw how low it was, Kyle said, "We won't find any fish in this little stream". Just then a nice fish jumped out of thr water and then back into the small puddle that was it's home. The fish was stranded and could not swim down stream to deeper water and to safety.

Kyle said to his brother, "We should help him to reach the deep water so he will be safe. He could die in that little puddle". "How are we going to move him down to the deeper part of the stream"? Said Eric. "We need a bucket to put him in", replied Kyle. Before he went to find the bucket, Kyle told Eric to stay out of the water while he was gone. "I'll be right back", said Kyle.

Lunch was ready at home and Mom called, "Lunch is ready you guy's". Mom waited a minute, then called again, this time out in the yard, but no one answered. Mom walked around the house to find out why they did not answer her.

Meanwhile, back at the brook the poor little fish was trying to find a way to get to the deep water with the other fish. He tried one way then the other but he could not find a way. He was stranded and very sad. What was he to do? Eric was watching the fish trying to get down stream by crawling over the sandy part of the brook that was almost dried up. Just then the fish got stuck in some rocks and fallen tree branches. Eric decided the fish needed help now. He could not wait for Kyle to return with the bucket. He forgot that his big brother had told him to stay out of the water.

Eric's and Kyle's Mom could not find them and she was worried. "where are they", she thought, and began to call their names over and over again, but still they did not answer. Mom was upset, "where could they be"? Just then, Kyle came home for the bucket. "Where have you been"? "Where is your brother"? Why didn't you answer me"? "where is Eric"? Said Mom very excitedly.

"We are helping a stuck fish down at the brook because the stream is dried up. I came home to get a bucket to put the fish in and carry him to deeper water", said Kyle. "you left your brother at the brook all alone"? Said Mom. "He will be okay because I told him to stay out of the water until I got back", said Kyle. Mom said, "We will talk about this later. Let's go to the brook right away". Mom ran so fast that kyle could hardly keep up. Kyle started to worry.

Eric had caught the fish with his hands and the little trout stayed very still while he carried him to safety. When they got to some deeper water, Eric let him go and the little trout was very happy. Suddenly, Eric's foot got caught in some branches at the edge of the water. He sat at the edge of the stream, but his feet were in the water. He could not set himself free. He pulled and twisted but could not move. He could see the little fish watching him. Now the fish was safe but Eric was not safe. What could the little fish do to help him?

Mom reached the brook first and called out to Eric but he did answer. Kyle got to the brook and said, "The fish was stuck in this little pool of water right here". Where was Eric? Where was the fish? They decided to walk down stream a little and called again, "Eric where are you"? Kyle knew he should not have left Eric alone near the water.

Eric was around the bend in the brook behind a big tree. He had answered, but they could no hear him. Just then the little fish swam back upstream into the shallow water and began to jump out of thw water again and again. Mom and Kyle saw him. "Look", said Mom, "I think he wants us to follow him".When they came around the bend they found, Eric sitting by the stream. He was still stuck in the branches, but okay and safe, thanks to the little fish. The very happy little fish.

Mom was still upset because of this near tradgety happened at all, but very relieved it turned out okay. Mom told the boys, "Lets talk about this tonight as a family to make sure this never happens again". "Dad and I want you to be able to have fun fishing and hiking, but safely", said Mom. Kyle thought to himself, "It was pretty scary when I got back to the brook and Eric was gone".

What do you think, Kyle and Eric could have done to make this a fun, yet safe, fishing trip? Should both he and Eric have gone into the house to ask Mom if it was okay to go fishing alone?