orangetoughguy | log post II

Fishing? [Their boat is sizable enough to accommodate two bodies. The old bear is leaning back, not too far or too much, after all they gotta find a balance in this boat.]

Not much. I'm always heading one place or the other. I try and go at least once a year. Clears my mind.

[His blazer has been folded up and could be used as a pillow for anyone. Glasses on and cigarette between his lips he slowly drags his line. There were a few bites, but he threw them back.]

Yeah fishing.

[What else would he be talking about? Hearing this though the kid can't help but grin. He sits up a little.]

You ever do the winter thing too, on the lake with ice holes? Whatever that's called?

I get just as much of a thrill of choosing how I want the catch of the day to be served. [All smiles here. Big, dopey smiles that Larry feels like he should be some kind of high right now he's so relaxed and satisfied with the world. It's the effects of fishing and Freddy that make the deadly combo.]

Ice fishing. [He shakes his head vehemently.] Fuck no. I pretended I would as a kid. That's a sport for people with a death wish. You'd be stuck squatting in the snow for hours. For that a body can't move around, don't wanna scare the fish.]

Says the guy who rolls around on the ice with a stick and a puck.

[Just saying, Larry, just saying.]

You really think we're gonna catch anything today? I mean knowin' this place what if it's barracudas or somethin'?

[That almost has the kid wanting to suddenly finger the riff to the Wilson sisters.]

Different matter entirely. That sport is hockey. [Even though he is just bullshitting right back, the old man still wags a finger at the kid.]

I already caught a few things. [Not worth keeping in Larry's point of view. At least things in the fish category for the day.]

'A few things.'

[Freddy repeats while gesturing the average size of said few things between his own animated hands. Hey where does that place the kid's rod? Oh yeah, secured against the side of the boat. He's only barely trying but they both know this is less about fishing and more about keeping good company...while treading water for aquatics.]

Alligators don't stop for a bullet.

[Well, that's what he thinks based on stories anyway. Freddy's never had to wrestle one, being California born and bred.]

Next time I catch you pick then. How about that?

[Could be that Freddy's perception of size is how severely skewed or something. Larry waves off his gesturing.

The company is good. And it's damn easy going here on the water. Larry leans a little to turn up the hand radio. CCR is playing.]

Gators don't stop for a bullet because it's a bullet. If you get em in the belly it may take a few shots.

[Say what?]

You shot gators before? [Maybe now's not the time to tell stories about gator pickings, seeing as how one could very well be lurking in these waters. What if it understands English and can talk too?]

[If we're gonna suppose a an alligator comes up out of the water and starts a conversation it may as well sing a mean jazz tenor and play the trumpet or something.]

I knew a guy, [Larry reels in his line slowly, slowly. Nope, nothing. He casts it back out.] his name's Billy he did business in the Everglades. According to him once the lizard starts rushing at you, unload for all you got because that motherfucker won't wanna let you go.

........ [.........]

No shit? You're bullshittin' me.

[The kid starts laughing. A lot. Look it's hard not to at the idea of Larry doing business in Florida with some guy who clearly has experienced rushing gators.]

That's fuckin' somethin' I gotta tell ya.

No shit. [Larry moves his cigarette to the other side of his mouth. Nice to see that someone thinks that this shit is funny. Bama didn't like no gators.]

I didn't see it myself, but the way he was talking about it. [Nods, smiling like an idiot because the kid's loving it so damn much.] The way he was talking it was bigger than that one. [He lifts his cigarette to point at an empty spot behind Freddy's head.]

[He's still laughing as if you couldn't tell, Dimick.]

Oh man that's worse than a fuckin' dog--what?

[Wait what?? Green eyes go wide, so wide you can almost call them doe-eyed. Freddy turns around to look.]

[Oh. He could. Larry is chuckling to himself now for another reason. And for a split second he almost feels guilty. Almost. The moment Freddy's head is turned he gives him a soft backhand to the back of his head.]

[Seeing nothing there he's about to turn back around and scowl at Larry when he feels the thump to the back of his head. Fff.]

Hah hah real funny.

Musta moved away too fast or something.

[Yeah, okay. Okay. He was foolin'. The only negative aspect about this little fishing trip is that they're for the most part out in the open. Because he'd like nothing more than to kiss and make up if Freddy's gonna take it so hard.]

[He points at Larry. The kid's not taking it hard, just taking it like a kid.]

You're really tryin' to rock the boat.

No I'm not.

[Now is a good time to reel in his line a little.]

I just thought I saw a gator. Figured it'd be worth telling you. [Shrug.] So where'd you hear this alligators don't stop for bullets shit?

[Is it from a comic book?]

Uh huh. [Freddy reclines again, pack of smokes out now so he can light one up.]

We had a guy visiting from New York once. [He doesn't need to say NYPD does he?] Talkin' about the sewers there, I'm pretty sure he was full of shit but it was a good story.

[Here, he'll let Freddy use his lighter then it's a peace pipe.]

I dunno how anything could survive down there. Alligators or turtles, even bums it's filthy in the subway.

The same way people survive in the river I guess.

[Which isn't much of an answer. He'll take that peace pipe thanks. Puff.]

This kinda water doesn't look too dirty.

[There is still that prospect of swimming in his head.]

I say we try peddling out someplace else. The fish aren't here.

[See how he's so eager to pick up his paddles? Larry just reels his line in and then reclines in the boat.]

[Freddy follows Larry's cue and reels his own line in before moving to sit next to him...so they don't paddle the boat in a circle. See the kid knows a little thing or two about semi-rural activities. Fresno was close enough to the mountains for it...or something.]

Where to?

[He asks around his cig while taking up an oar.]

I dunno. Let's try the next street.

[Arm to arm? Larry can watch Freddy's move. And they can be close. That's nice. Okay, he'll take up the other oar.

Dion and the Belmonts are wondering why over the radio.]

Maybe the gators kept em away.

[He could resist.]

If we're gonna talk about gators you know this place is a fuckin' island. What about sharks?

[Arm to arm. If Larry's got his blazer off and his sleeves rolled well, wouldn't that be a nice warming sight?]

All this can't be salt water.

[At least it don't smell like saltwater.]

You tell me if you see any fins.

[His sleeves are rolled up actually. Though for some reason he's keeping his white button up on. We all know he wears a shirt under that.

Row, row they go.]

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