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.