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out of Eddie's hands and sent him sprawling into backwards into Tommy. Arlo turned to see what was going on when the rod nearly knock him down. The old Zebco somehow snagged on the bucket in Arlo's hand. Arlo grabbed the rod and began screaming.
"Somebody help me!" shouted Arlo.
Eddie and Tommy, after getting untangled, rush to Arlo's aid. The three boys all grabbed the rod and dragged the big bass up on the bank. For a moment, all was quiet. The giant fish still had one last card to play. A final huge flop and the hook flew from his mouth. Eddie looked in disbelief as Old Jaws landed in the edge of the water. Without thinking, he took three running strides and dove head first into the pond. Both boy and bass hit the water at the same time in a great splash. Tommy and Arlo stood in shock not knowing what to do. It was then that Eddie stood up in the lantern light with both hands locked on the bottom lip of the largest bass they had ever seen. He waded out of the pond with the bass they all knew as Old Jaws in his arms.

"When I put him in the wash tub, cover it with the plywood," said Eddie while blowing pond water and moss off his upper lip.
The water in the tub exploded as Arlo and Tommy slammed the plywood down on top of the wash tub. After a few moments, the three boys eased up the plywood and stared at their prize. Floating silently with its gills waving in and out was nearly fifteen pounds of line breaking legend. They were heroes now or were they? Something was not right. The exhilaration of a few moments before was gone. The three were caught up in conflicting emotions.
Still pulling moss from his hair, it was Eddie who spoke first.
"I wonder what Bill Dance would do now?" asked Eddie.
"Or Roland Martin?" said Arlo.
"Or Orlando Wilson?" said Tommy.
They looked at each other then to the pink in the eastern sky. They had to hurry. There was not much time.

"It's the first weekend of school year," complained Tommy, "And I'm loaded with homework."
"Me too," said Eddie.
"Seventh grade sure aint going to be easy," added Arlo.
The three boys continued to talk as they walked in Arlo's backyard. Tim Arlo's big brother was unloading a little pond boat out of his truck while proclaiming something to Arlo's dad and grandpa. It seemed that he and a buddy had been fishing that morning in the Hanson's farm pond. The Hanson's property bordered the Murphy farm to the east. Since the Murphys had drained their pond, he had told Tim and his buddy that they could fish theirs.
"I threw that big white buzzbait of mine up by that downed tree on the right side. I tell ya, it looked like someone dropped a cinder block from an airplane when he hit. Dang fish shook its head twice and slung my buzzbait back at me. Nearly hit me between the eyes. If I didn't know better, I swear that it was Old Jaws," explained Tim breathlessly.
"You know we never found Old Jaws when we drained the pond," said Grandpa Murphy.
"Are you saying that Old Jaws just got up and walked three quarters of a mile to another pond?" asked Arlo's dad.
About that time, the three boys walked by giggling.
"What are you twerps laughing at?" asked Tim.
"Oh, nothing," answered Eddie while turning to face Arlo.
"Mr. Dance, are you ready to go do some homework," asked Arlo.
"I believe I am Mr. Martin," replied Eddie.
"Mr. Wilson, what about you?" asked Arlo.
"I believe that would be a good idea," answered Tommy, "If you and Mr. Dance would lead the way."
The three laughing boys went into the house.
"What was that all about?" asked Arlo's dad.
"Don't know?" answered Grandpa Murphy.
"Stupid kids. They wouldn't know what to do with a big bass if they could even catch one," said Tim as he finished unloading his boat.

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