Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:04:25 -0400 From: wild wing Subject: David's Northern Adventures Chapters 3 and 4 CHAPTER THREE Ned was not pretentious. He could easily have afforded a house in Rosemont or Bay Hill, the high-end neighbourhoods of the upwardly mobile. Instead I drove on Friday to a nice three bedroom bungalow in the middle of a blue-collar neighbourhood. With some input from Ned I had spent all day planning over and over how we would entice David into accepting an invitation to come on one of my fishing adventures. David knew me from conversations I had had with him and his father about previous fishing exploits. He had read an article or two of mine as well. Because of our common interests he had been a bit in awe of me. Although I hadn't seen him for about a year I was hoping he still felt the same way about me. It would help. Barbara, Ned's wife, warmly greeted me at the door and then ushered me to the den. The room was panelled in rich walnut. A small law library dominated one wall while some expensive looking oil paintings adorned another. A large stone fireplace, not in use at this time of year, occupied an entire third wall. I was shown to a black leather chair into which I sunk so deep I was concerned I might have to come up for air. A large plate of party sandwiches sat on the coffee table and Barbara instructed me to help myself. She then left me alone and made herself scarce the rest of the evening. A few moments later the door opened and Ned appeared literally pushing his son ahead of him. He extended a strong hand towards me and stated, "Robert, it's great to see you again. You remember my son David don't you? David say hello to Mr. Davis." This wasn't the small boy I remembered from a year ago. Before me stood a startling young Adonis. Tall for his age, he had long blond hair, piercing blue eyes and facial features that appeared to be chiseled to perfection. He still had the body of a young boy, lacking the musculature he would soon develop in his teenage years. It was David's turn to extend his hand. "Good evening Mr. Davis," he uttered dutifully. "You're almost twelve now," I responded. "You can call me Robert." David did not respond. Instead he sat himself in a nearby chair and folded his arms. His body language clearly said that he did not want to be there. "So," Ned started, "how have you been doing on your recent expeditions?" "Not so hot on the last one but the one before that was a real barn burner. I caught a fish you wouldn't believe. I just happen to have a picture of him with me. Here take a look at this." I took a large photo out of an envelope and handed it to Ned. Ned whistled low and passed it on to David. "Look at that monster, David. Isn't that something?" David failed to respond so Ned placed the photo on the coffee table directly in front of him. David continued to face straight ahead but bent his eyes down so that he could scan the image. "Damn near took me an hour to land him!" I enthused. "It was all I could do to drag him into the boat. Caught a bunch of lunkers that week but none as big as that one!" "What have you got planned next?" Ned queried. "Well," I responded, "my editor has asked me to find a young man to take with me to a trophy lake in the Chapel district in Northern Ontario next month. I was kind of hoping you'd let me take your son with me." "You mean Ned Junior?" Ned responded. "No, I mean David." David immediately looked up at me and then at his dad. The expression on his face could hardly be called one of excitement or anticipation. Rather his look could best be described as one of puzzlement and surprise. "No I don't think so," said Ned firmly. "You need someone with some maturity." David immediately jumped in. "Daaaaaad, I'm mature. You said so just last month." Ned ignored his son and went on, "You also need someone who is strong enough to carry those heavy packs on the portages." "Daaaad," David wailed. I knew the closest we were probably going to get to David accepting the invitation were these protests to his dad's put-downs. Accordingly with as much finality as I could muster I leaped at the opportunity. "That's great David. If you think you can do it I'm accepting you as my official partner for the trip." "But I didn't......." started David. "Are you sure?" Ned interrupted looking directly at me. "He's small and not very experienced." David shot an angry glare at his father. "I have a hunch he'll do just fine. He'll make you proud," I asserted. Turning to David Ned added, "I don't know, Son. I'm not sure you're ready for this. It might be dangerous. What do you think?" Both Ned and I sat back. We had given it our best shot. Now it was up to David. He unfolded his arms and put his hands to the sides of his face. His eyes darted back and forth between Ned and me. He was clearly in a quandary. Ned and I waited patiently. "I guess.....I guess......" David was searching for the right thing to say. Then he slowly turned to his father and lowered his hands. "Dad, I want to go." I exchanged email addresses with David before he slipped off to bed. I told him I would send a list of the gear he needed. Ned and I didn't care if we won a single poker hand that night. We had already won the jackpot. CHAPTER FOUR About a month later I found myself returning to Ned's house to pick David up. Ned had already left for the office. Barbara helped David load his gear into the Land Rover. It all had that brand new smell. "Aww Mom I really didn't need your help but thanks anyways." He then turned to me and added, "Hi, I got everything you sent me on the list I think." "You be a good boy David," Barbara pleaded, "and make sure you......" "Yeah, I know Mom. Don't worry. I'll be fine." David looked at me with that 'lets get out of here before she embarrasses me some more' look. I assured Barbara that she could call me anytime on my cell. David climbed in and we were off. I set out the immediate plan as I entered traffic. "We're going to a sporting goods store to buy some lures. Then we'll grab a bite to eat and head for my home. We'll retire early so that so we can rise at 5:00 AM and travel north. Sound okay?" David stared straight ahead and grunted. A hint of what tomorrow would bring didn't garner much of a response either. I told a couple of dumb jokes. Hardly a smile. I was getting concerned. Perhaps he realized he had been coerced into coming and resented it. Perhaps he was still just melancholy. I had to find a way to loosen him up. I needn't have worried. A totally unexpected incident would occur in the store that would change him completely. It was the beginning of a holiday weekend. The department style store was packed. David and I were working our way towards the fishing section when I suddenly felt a deep rumbling in my intestines. A large quantity of gas was amassing in the nether region. There was no way I could make it either outside or to the washrooms. What to do? Making a quick decision I opted for a slow controlled escape of the gas. With so many people around I figured no one including David would identify the source. The plan was reasonable. The execution was not. Try as I might the gas had a mind of its own and released itself with one of the loudest, most prolonged farts I had ever heard. I immediately looked at David. His mouth was open and his eyes were wide. I exclaimed in a loud voice that everyone in the vicinity could plainly hear, "David, how could you?" I immediately back peddled away from him. Quicker than you can tell it everyone else within forty feet of him did likewise. Poor David was left alone in the middle of the cleared circle. I kept a straight face as long as I could. It didn't last long. I then proceeded to break into uproarious laughter. David came running at me with clenched fists and a wide grin. "I'll get you for that. I'll get you for that if it's the last thing I do," he laughed. He leaped into my arms, wrapped his legs around my waist and faked a pummeling of my chest. I looked at him eye to eye still unable to stop laughing. As strange as it may seem an instant bonding occurred. For the rest of the night I would continue to break into spontaneous laughter. David would join in the revelry and repeat the threat or give me a friendly punch in the arm. We had more stops to make before heading home. David, afraid of another gas attack, wanted to stay in the car. I was able to entice him into one of my favorite eateries. "Although it wasn't necessary your father gave me a few bucks with instructions to feed you well. Pick anything you want on the menu but let me suggest the New York strip sirloin." David stared at the menu for some time with the look of a connoisseur of fine dining. In the end he chose the timeworn choice of every twelve year old boy I had ever known. "I'll have a hamburger with the works, some fries and a coke." When I suggested that he select an entry that was more substantial he quickly reminded me that I had said it was his choice. I acquiesced. By the time we pulled into the driveway I had answered a barrage of questions about the itinerary. I was enjoying David immensely and falling in love by the minute. As I watched this graceful beauty step from the car I pinched myself realizing that he and I were about to spend a week together. I had a feeling that this adventure would be one I would remember for the rest of my life.