Chapter Seven: The Fishing King:

Hong barely spoke to anyone. He spent more of his time outdoors. Unlike Josie, Hong never looked sad. I just wondered why he almost was never at our house. Daddy smiled at the counter as he washed the breakfast dishes.

“He’s just at the creek like he always is,” he said.

“Why is he there?” I asked, holding more plates. Daddy turned around with the rag in his hand.

“He’s being one with nature,” he replied.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Why don’t you go down to the creek and ask him?” Daddy suggested.

“Where is that?” I asked.

“I’ll show you,” he said. Daddy led me through the woods and out to this really long creek. I tried to look through all of the bushes and trees in front of us. Daddy grabbed me by my shoulder.

“Careful,” he said. “The path is pretty muddy. I don’t want you to spill and fall and hurt your head.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Here,” Daddy said. He picked me up and put me on his shoulders. “This should help you look for him much easier.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Do you see where Mr. Hong is?” he asked.

“I find him by looking for that ponytail on his head, right?” I asked.

“Very good,” Daddy said. I looked over the trees from where I sat. I liked sitting on Daddy’s shoulders. He made me fell so much taller.

“See him yet?” he asked.

“No,” I said. I looked harder over the treetops. Suddenly, I spotted a person further down the creek. “I think I see him,” I said.

“Where?” Daddy asked.

“All the way up there,” I said, pointing.

“Alright, hang on!” he said. Daddy took off running down the trail.

“Whee!” I shouted as I hung onto his t-shirt. The wind blew through my dark blue pigtails.

“Do you like this?” he asked.

“Yes!” I exclaimed. Daddy ran further down the path.

“I’m flying! I’m flying!” I shouted.

“Do you want me to go faster?” he asked.

“Yeah!” I shouted. He ran faster up the hill. We came further down the creek.

“Do you see him now?” Daddy asked. I squinted my little eyes and spotted a tall black ponytail standing upright in the distance.

“There!” I shouted, pointing.

“Hang on!” Daddy yelled. We reached all the way up to Hong. He sat on the bank, fishing.

“Hey, Hong!” Daddy called to him. Mr. Hong looked up with a smile as he waved.

“Hi, Joe, Sappoto!” he called back.

“Hi!” I shouted. “What are you doing out here?” Hong sat back, chuckling.

“Fishing,” he replied. I gave him a funny look.

“Fishing?” I asked. Hong put down his fishing role and gave me a warm smile.

“Let me show you,” he said. Daddy let me down on the ground so I could come closer. Hong picked up his rod.

“You just hold this in the water and wait,” he said. I took a seat next to him.

“And then what?” I asked.

“I catch something,” he said. Suddenly, the line tugged. “Oh! I think I caught something!” Hong shouted. He stood up and grabbed the pole.

“Need some help?” Daddy asked.

“Yeah!” Hong shouted. My Daddy ran over and grabbed him by the waist.

“When I say three, you pull!” Hong shouted. “Ready? One… two… three!” They pulled and pulled until a big fish leapt out of the water.

“Wow!” I gasped. Hong picked up the fish and held it up to me.

“Isn’t he a beauty?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. A question came in my head. “Why do you do it?” I asked. Hong looked at me with a smile.

“Why do I fish?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, nodding.

“My dear,” Hong announced. “This is part of who I am. Fishing eases my soul.”

“Can you teach me how to fish?” I asked.

“Of course!” he said.

“Can you fish with us, Daddy?” I asked. He gave me a huge grin.

“Sure, honey,” he said. Daddy helped Hong put Mr. Fish in the cooler. For the rest of that summer, Hong, Daddy, and I fished by the creek. I found that it was peaceful as Hong said it was. Pretty soon, I was fishing alone. I can remember when I caught my first fish. I was thirteen and he was a big one too. I dragged him all the way home.

“Daddy!” I shouted in the front door. “I caught one! I caught one! I caught my first fish!” He poked his head out of the kitchen.

“What is it, sweetie?” he asked.

“I caught my first fish!” I shouted, holding up the big fellow.

“That’s great, honey!” Daddy said. “Bring it in here.” I brought that big fish into the kitchen. We had him for dinner that evening.

Over time, I got better at fishing. During that time, I always thought of Yu. He didn’t spend that summer with me like he usually did. I heard that he was with his dad for a little while. I hoped that he was happy and that I would see him again soon.