![]() A Bridge for the WatersA Story by A.J.
Everyone loves to burn bridges. The thrill of
it all must be akin to that of a good old fashioned barn burning. That is, of
course, all dependent on the reasons they way back lay blackened and drowned. But
as I sit next to my fishing buddy Colby, it is not of charred, spear-tipped columns
and smothered ashes I am thinking of when he picks up on my state of inner
monologue. “You had any bites?” “Not a one yet.” “How would you know? You’ve been
staring off into the fourth for half an hour.” “Ah, I’m just watching the lake.” We
were fishing a secluded cove, anchored just right so that to look out at the
greater water was to see no land on the other side; much like staring out into
the ocean. “Yeah? And what’s she tellin’ ya AJ?”
“Just stuff man. Toss me a beer.” He
didn’t say a word as he handed me the flask of scotch, though a few seconds
later I heard him utter some sort of sarcastic reproach under his breath.
Normally I would have struggled to bite my tongue- but I could have cared less
at the moment. My head was in an entirely different place. It
was in a place across that great expanse of water I mentioned before, where all
my devils where known to dwell; and from whence I had just burned the path of sure
return not too long ago. I was interrupted suddenly by the sound of my line being
pulled deep and away by my supper, and everything else faded for a few moments.
“Damn, that’s a keeper for sure”
Colby exclaimed as the fish broke the surface. We both smiled, gasping at the
fish’s size as I drew it nearer. “Yeah, I think we’re in the right
spot. Look at your pole man.” Colby
nearly fell out of the boat as he lurched over to his side to retrieve his
renegade pole. I turned my attentions back to my own catch, and as I reached
for the giants mouth, my laughter fell short. I saw, in the depths beneath the
fish, the faces of the past. My ex, my father, the old man that died in a car wreck,
friends from the service who had passed, others lost in one way or another- for
better or worse. They all gazed up at me with various expressions, and they all
grasped for my hand. “What are you doing? Hurry the hell
up and give me a hand over here” Colby exclaimed. “S**t…” I
hoisted my catch, a good 25 pound Cat into the boat and bashed him before
bounding over to Colby’s side. His fish was slightly larger, and slightly
angrier. We had a hell of a time getting that thing aboard. “What the hell took you so long
over there?” “Ah… just thought I saw a snake or
something in the water.” “So you practically stuck your face
in the water for a snake?” “Just forget it won’t ya? Bait up.”
We
fished on for a few more hours until high noon with only moderate success
before shoring up for lunch. I need not tell the reader what we had to eat. Afterwards
we smoked, had a few beers, and passed the flask back and forth for a while in
relative silence. “So what was your problem earlier
man?” "Nothing, I'm fine now." “That didn’t look like fine. I know
there wasn’t a damn snake.” “…I’ve had that Johnny Cash song in
my head all day.” “Well that’s a real help. Explains
everything.” “Bridge over Troubled Water” I said,
throwing an empty can at him. “Let’s get back out there.” “So what’s the trouble” he asked as
we cast off. “There’s no bridge I guess; one
direction or another.” “Ah. I see.” Again
in silent fashion, we baited our hooks and cast out before sitting down to a
few more drinks, a couple of smokes. I couldn’t help but gaze down into the
murky waters lapping against the pontoons, wondering when one of those cold,
pale, clammy hands would reach out and pull me under. Maybe they already had,
in a sense, and I just hadn’t realized it yet. Maybe I was just as drowned as
they were; or maybe I was just drunk. I
thought back to each of those faces in the water; how my ex had looked so disappointed
and hurt. My father had just looked scornful as always- evil, and the old man;
helpless. Each expression told the story of how they hand ended up there, in
the depths. My ex’s face was the most painful one to recollect, by far. That
time of my life had been the most personally challenging by far, and had, for
better or worse, shaped who I felt I was today. “Sun’s starting to go down.” “Yeah,” I said. “Would you look at
that,” I said as I set my eye across the endless watery horizon to where the
sky came down. The sun,
with the beginning tinges of red, shone in such a fashion across the entire
body of water it was as if we were travelers on a bridge of tainted gold. “’Must be another sign from Johnny.”
“Yeah…” I said. We
fished through the night, catching quite a mess of those damned ol’ catfish,
and a buzz to boot. © 2014 A.J. |
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Added on May 20, 2014 Last Updated on May 29, 2014 Author![]() A.J.Ft. Gibson, OKAboutMy pen name is AJ. As far as writing, I enjoy finding the beauty, the tragedy, the strength and the reality of everything, right down to smallest, seemingly most insignificant details. The world as I .. more..Writing
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