by Kevin Lamb

Created on: January 06, 2011

“Old man Tucker” as all of the neighborhood kids called him was an ice fishing fanatic. It seemed like he hibernated through the summer months just waiting for the lake to freeze over. His humongous garage was filled with the latest apparel that “might” be used for ice fishing.

Little Timmy lived next to Mr. Tucker, and used to watch him out of his bedroom window. He’d watch the old man rummage through all of his ice fishing apparel, and dream about using some of the cool stuff that Mr. tucker had just sitting in his garage.

Later on that afternoon Timmy was called down after supper and informed that he’d be staying with Mr. Tucker for a couple of days. His grandmother was sick, and his parents would be gone for several days. The next morning Timmy was dropped off at the Tucker’s residence.

After supper, Timmy was informed that bedtime would be early tonight as a big day was expected tomorrow. Timmy wondered what in the world they’d do since it had snowed the last several weeks, and of course everything was completely frozen. Finally he asked the dreaded question.

“What are we going to do tomorrow Mr. Tucker?”

“We’re going ice fishing of course,” Mr. Tucker replied

Timmy could hardly sleep the entire night just thinking about the next day. Then the smell of bacon frying seemed to awaken his senses along with a very bright light in the hallway outside his room.

The early morning was cold and dark as the two of them drove quietly to the frozen lake. From the moment they got into the tiny cabin on the lake the festivities began. Mr. Tucker danced and told stories for hours as Timmy was amazed at the energy this old man had. Once they were in the cabin on the lake the old man’s heart transformed into a young man again.

Now forty years later as Tim drives past the lake he always thinks about the day ice fishing with Mr. Tucker. Every year when the weather gets cold his mind drifts back into the past. He thinks about the record pike they caught on that day, and also about the young man hidden behind the eyes of an old man.

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