Fishing

James walked quietly into his son's room,
It was Saturday.
He woke Jesse before sunrise.
Time to head out for Striker lake north of town.
He had hooked the boat and trailer up to the Chevy the night before.
Jesse sat up and rubbed his eyes,

he had slept in his clothes..
Times like this with his father were few and far between.

They pulled out of the long two-track driveway across the cattle guard onto Garrigas road.

Jesse held a mug of hot chocolate and sipped it slowly.

James adjusted the radio and found a Merle Haggard song, "Momma Tried".

He lit a cigarette and cracked the window..

cool morning air eased through the opening as Marlboro smoke escaped.

"I bet the bream will be biting just about the time the sun comes up.

"It ought to be easy pickings with this cool weather finally breaking."

Jesse shook his head in agreement and sat up straight as best he could,

happy as a jaybird.

wkm

The Horses

Nashville