Free The Big Snapper by Katherine Holubitsky Page A

cutting into his back. Tears stream down his cheeks because he is tired, cold and hurting. Still, all he wants is this fish. Then he sees—he is sure of it—the angle of the line beginning to rise. He remembers something else Granddad had said to him, “Make him think you’re strong—stronger than he is. Make him think you’re a very big man.”

    Eddie tries hard to do this. He holds fast to the rod, trying to convince the fish he is as strong as a tugboat. He straightens his back, trying to make him think he is two times the length of the skiff. If the fish wants six inches of line, Eddie gives him two. The line rises a little more, and the tension eases just a little. For the first time he thinks he may have a chance at winning, but suddenly the knot Eddie had tied comes lose and he is yanked forward. The wind is knocked out of him when he slams into the side and crashes to the bottom of the skiff. He is face down in four inches of water, yet he will not let go of the rod. He is soaked through and cold—so cold his arms and legs are numb and his teeth are chattering. Eddie tries, but he discovers he no longer has the strength in his knees to stand up, and the muscles in his shoulders are too cramped towield the rod. He is lying on it, the weight of his body keeping it in the boat as the waves pitch the skiff back and forth.
    He is not sure how long he has been there when he becomes aware that the rain has stopped falling. The rise and fall of the boat eases, and he hears a sound above the flagging wind. It is clearer now. A boat engine. And then, his name. Grabbing hold of the rod, he lifts his upper body as high as he can manage. It is Fred’s boat. And in it, shouting and waving, are Fred, Jake and Eddie’s dad. Fighting the wind and waves, Fred pulls alongside Granddad’s skiff.
    â€œEddie! Are you okay?!” Eddie’s dad is by his side, helping him to stand and wrestling the rod from Eddie’s clenched hands. Eddie has the rod gripped so tightly that his fingers seem adhered to the fiberglass.
    â€œIt’s the snapper,” Eddie’s voice comes out hoarse. “Don’t let him go.”
    â€œSit down here.” His dad guides him to the seat in the bow. He hangs on to the rod while he struggles to remove his jacket, which he drapes over Eddie’s shoulders. Eddie pulls the jacket close around him. His teeth are chattering crazily as he watches his dad take control ofthe rod. After testing it, he looks over at Eddie in astonishment. He begins reeling it in, a little at a time.
    Eddie realizes it has been several hours since he first hooked the fish and it also must be wearing out. Certainly it is too weak to put up much of a fight against this sudden and strong new opponent. It is with ease that Eddie’s father plays out what little strength the fish has left in it while Fred and Jake watch from their boat. The angle of the line is rising quickly now. Ten minutes later, Eddie gets his first glimpse of his fish. Silvery white, it is a halibut, almost the size of himself.
    â€œLook, at that!” exclaims his father. “Eddie, how did you ever hang on to this whale?”
    Jake is wildly excited. “Eddie! It’s Moby Dick!”
    Fred whistles. “I haven’t seen one that size in some time. I’ll bet he’s well over one hundred and fifty pounds.”
    Now that he finally sees it, Eddie can hardly believe he was able to hang on to it. He only does because he is exhausted, bleeding and sore.
    The fish disappears again. Eddie’s dad cranks the reel, watching for it to reappear. When itdoes, Fred comes close enough to gaff it. His aim is good. Eddie’s father lifts the fish on the gaff over the side and into the boat. The fish now lies in the four inches of water at Eddie’s feet. For a moment, neither fisherman can take their eyes from Eddie’s beautiful amazing fish.
    His dad starts the engine.