Release. And Release.

It’s official. We have a 9-year old. She was just eight! In fact, I swear she was just born!!

Okay. Okay. I’ve calmed down now. It’s just that she is growing so fast.

She has her own opinion on things now… her own style, she has the sarcasm down for sure, but thankfully, she still has the sweet heart that she has always had.

Saturday after her birthday party, we headed out to the lake to spend the night per Kiera’s request. She wanted to hang out with family, fish, and play games.

We stopped at a store on the way out to get some bait. “Want to go in with me, Kiera and pick out our bait?” Aaron asked.

I waited in the truck while they ventured inside. A few minutes later, Aaron and Kiera came out with Kiera clutching a bag full of minnows. Knowing what was going to happen, I started to laugh before they had even opened the truck door.

Aaron took the bag from Kiera and opened her door. She climbed in, buckled up, and Aaron handed the bag back to her. “Now, hold it tight. Don’t move them around a lot.” He instructed before closing the back door.

I turned in my seat and watched as she gazed into the bag at all the minnows swimming around.

Aaron climbed in the truck, buckled up and glanced in his rear view mirror at Kiera. “Don’t fall in love with them.” He stated.

I stifled a laugh.

“Too late.” Kiera replied.

It was only a few miles later, before Kiera piped up again. “Can I release one when we get to the lake?” She asked.

Her Daddy glanced at her in the rearview mirror. I’m pretty sure she looked back at him with big, pleading, doe eyes.

“We can release one when we get there.” He replied. Then he mumbled, “not that he won’t get eaten.” Somehow, I managed to again stifle my laughter.

After making it to the lake, I helped her by grabbing one minnow and releasing it into the water. We then fashioned a minnow bucket, dumped the remains minnows in and dropped it into the water.

As Aaron slipped a minnow on the hook, I distracted Kiera. She took her pole to the water’s edge and tossed her line in like a pro. She and I sat on the edge of the bank, feet dangling out over the water. She cuddled into my side and we quietly sat that way for almost five minutes.

Then she began to reel her line in. “I’m just going to check on him.” Kiera said, referring to her minnow.

Pulling her line out of the water, she lifted the pole so she could see him. “Did Dad put the hook through his mouth?” She asked appalled.

“Well, sort of. It’s through a hole that he has.” I explained.

She didn’t respond, but gently dropped her line back in the water. We watched the bobber for a few short minutes before she began to reel her line back in.

She glanced sidelong at me but I remained quiet. When her hook and minnow were in sight, she lifted it and gently set the minnow, hook and all inside the makeshift minnow bucket.

“Look.” She stated. “He is so much happier now that he is with his family.”

How do you respond to that?

We sat quietly for a couple of minutes, watching her minnow swim with the rest.

I inwardly sighed… knowing what I was going to do. “Honey. Would you like me to take him off the hook and let him go?” I asked.

Turning to me, she smiled. “Yes, please.”

We pulled the line up and I gently took the minnow off the hook and released him into the water. Amazingly enough… he swam off. “Would you like a worm on your hook now?” I asked.

She replied in the affirmative and I sent her over to Daddy to get a worm.

“What happened to your minnow?” He asked her, glancing over to me.

“Ya…about that… we set him free.” I grudgingly replied.

He laughed, rolled his eyes, and put a worm on Kiera’s hook. “Here you go, sweetie.” He stated.

Completely happy, she tossed her line in the lake and a few short minutes later was rewarded with the first catch of the day.

I have to say every day is an adventure with this child, but I can almost guarantee there is never a dull moment when we take her fishing.

Rowonna McNeely works as the Communications Manager for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Aaron are regular volunteers in the community, and have their hands full with their daughter, Kiera, along with three dogs and one cat.

Thank you for sharing in our weekly journeys. If you have missed any of our past stories, check out our blog page at www.lifea2k.net or drop us a line at lifea2k@yahoo.com.