Chapter 7: Fishing

We take Benjamin on his first boat fishing trip and watch a calm morning turn into a wild chase across the lake. A legendary fish named Charles flips the adventure into a lesson about patience, respect, and asking for help when you need it. 
• Benjamin’s excitement and morning routine with Mom and Dad 
• Sharing food with Mr Fox on the way down 
• Mr Cat sneaking into the supplies and joining the trip 
• A quick lesson on counting tens, hundreds, and thousands 
• Hooking a massive fish and getting dragged across the lake 
• Miss Eagle stepping in and introducing Charles the Great Fish 
• Apologizing, removing the hook, and getting directions to a better spot 
• Returning home with dinner fish and a final goodbye 

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Transcript

Benjamin Can’t Wait To Go

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Chapter seven fish Benjamin, the boy who lived on an island on a lake below a mountain, excitedly ran around his living room. His footsteps pitter pattered across the wooden floor slats, from one corner of the room to the other. Benjamin could no longer contain his energy. Today was a special day. Benjamin was going fishing with his dad, and not just fishing from the shore or from the small dock next to the lake, but from the boat. He smiled ear to ear, thinking about it. It was the first time he would be in the boat. Mom, is dad ready? he asked. Can I go in the boat now? He asked again, not waiting for his mother to answer. He yelled all the questions across the room to his mother in the kitchen. She replied, Benjamin, don't yell across the room. Come in here and ask me in person. Benjamin ran, and as he stopped, slid into the kitchen. His mother was at the stove stirring something in a black pot. Mom, is dad ready? Benjamin asked excitedly but politely. Yes, I'm ready, Benjamin's father said before his mom could answer. He sat Benjamin's sister, Adeline, down on the ground and stood up from the table. Benjamin leapt into the air and yelled hooray. His mother smiled at Benjamin's reaction. Come on, son, kiss mom bye, and let's put on your boots. Five minutes later they were walking down the front steps of the little house, down to the boat. The sun was not yet over the mountains, but the sky was getting brighter and brighter. Mr Red Fox scampered out of a bush and approached Benjamin. Benjamin reached into a bag and cut a small piece of ham for the fox. Thank you, Benjamin, Mr. Fox said, as he took the ham in his mouth and then returned to the bush. Benjamin's dad just looked at him and said nothing. The boat was tied to a tree on the lake's shore. It was a small brown wooden boat. It was well worn but well taken care of by Benjamin's father. The lake itself

A Ham Treat For Mr Fox

SPEAKER_00 2:26

was deep blue in the low morning light, and a thin wisp of vapor swirled in the gentle wind on the surface. Here, take these and put them in the boat, his father told him, and handed Benjamin a bundle of supplies. Benjamin jumped into the boat and laid the supplies in a small box. When he did, a cat meelled and jumped out of a hole in the box. Benjamin gasped in surprise, and exclaimed, Mr Cat. Hello, good morning, Benjamin. What are you doing? said Mr Cat. Well, we're fishing this morning, Benjamin answered. Mr Cat yawned and

Mr Cat Pops Out Of The Box

SPEAKER_00 3:01

stretched. Good, I could use a good fish, said Mr Cat. Benjamin's father climbed in the boat and moved some things around, and looked at the cat. Mr Cat better help catch a fish if he wants to eat one, he said. I'll do my best, Mr Cat replied. The sun just peaked over the mountains, and rays of sunshine turned the vapors into wispy pillars of gold. Okay, hold on you two, his father said, as he gave a great push from the shore, and then jumped into the boat. They slipped into deeper water, and Benjamin's father grabbed the oars and took them further and further into the lake. How many fish live in the lake, Dad? Benjamin asked. Thousands, I suppose, answered the father. How many are thousands? Benjamin asked again. Well, thousands are hundreds, answered the father. Oh, Benjamin said, but then asked another question. What are hundreds? His father replied, smiling. Hundreds are tens and tens, and before you ask, I've heard you count a ten multiple times. Benjamin

Learning Thousands While Rowing Out

SPEAKER_00 4:07

considered for a minute, and then asked another question. So if I count to ten a lot of times I get hundreds and thousands? The father smiled. Yes, exactly. Benjamin nodded, and was about to ask another question when Mr Kat said, What's that? Benjamin's father half stood and looked over the water. He squinted, cupping his hands over his eyes. Quick, Benjamin, get the fishing rod, his father said rapidly. Benjamin already had the rod in his hand. Now, cast right over there, his father said, pointing to a ripple in the water. Benjamin stood up and with a great effort flung the rod forward, with the line in the hook and the bait flying through the air to the exact spot where his dad was pointing. Benjamin was pleased with himself. The hook splashed into the lake. Nothing happened. Benjamin

The Hooked Fish Drags The Boat

SPEAKER_00 5:01

looked confused over at his dad. His dad whispered, wait, just wait. Then, just like that, a big fish burst out of the water and swallowed the bait and the hook hull. The fish went into the air and fell with a big splash back into the lake. You got 'em, yelled Mr. Cat. Before Benjamin could say anything, the fish almost yanked the rod right out of his hand. The fish was trying to get away. Benjamin fell but did not let go of the rod. The fish kept pulling, and Benjamin was almost yanked out of the boat, but his dad, just in time, grabbed him and the rod. Hold on. Benjamin, you may have just caught the biggest fish I've ever seen, his father said. The fish was pulling so hard that the boat started to move through the water. At first it was slow, but it did not take long for the boat to pick up speed, leaving a small wake as it went. The great fish leapt from the lake into the air and landed back into the lake with another large splash. Benjamin thought the fish may have been bigger than the boat. His dad whispered, Good gracious. Benjamin and his dad held on to the line for hours as the great fish dragged the boat across the lake. Exhausted, Benjamin thought about letting go, but when he looked at his dad, Benjamin saw that he was pouring sweat. Benjamin decided he could hold on just a little longer. He did not know where they were on the lake, having never been on the boat, he'd only seen certain parts of the lake from around the island. Benjamin did not see their house or their trees when he looked behind him. And when Benjamin looked up, he saw something circling above. It was Miss Eagle. He yelled up to her. Miss Eagle She circled down gracefully and landed on the boat. Well, what do we have here today? Miss Eagle asked. Benjamin answered. We caught a fish. Mr Cat added, a rather large fish. Miss Eagle laughed before saying, You've met Charles. Benjamin's dad asked, Charles? Miss Eagle replied,

Miss Eagle Introduces Charles

SPEAKER_00 7:02

Yes, Charles the Great Fish. My grandfather told stories of him when I was a little chick. If you'd like, I wouldn't mind flying over and telling him to slow down. Benjamin's father, Benjamin, and Mr Cat were speechless. Um that'd be wonderful, Benjamin's father said. All right. Miss Eagle gave a flap of her wings, and she was off. Benjamin could just hear Miss Eagle say, If you don't mind, could you slow down and talk with the gentleman and the cat in the boat that you're dragging around the lake? And just like that, the boat slowed down and then stopped. And the fish, Benjamin could see, started swimming towards the boat. As the fish drew closer to the boat, Benjamin saw big bulbous eyes on a square, flat head with big round grey scales poking up out of the water. The fish dipped below the water for a moment and then popped up right next to the boat and said, You're making my breakfast very entertaining this morning. Can you please get this hook out of my mouth? Benjamin's father reached down and gently slipped the hook from the fish's mouth and said, Well, uh we're sorry. My name is Charles. Your apology is accepted. If you would like some more normal fish, I'd be happy to point you in the right direction. The fish almost gurgled as he spoke. Benjamin's dad said, Well, uh if you don't mind, and again, sorry about your breakfast this morning. The Big Frisk replied, No problem whatsoever. Your father and grandfather caught me several times before, and let me go. So now it's your turn. If you want some excellent fishing, return the way you came about five hundred yards, and then turn left into the little cove surrounded by large black pine trees. You can't miss it. Now, good day. See you again soon. Charles slipped back into the water and with a great flap of his fin shot off to the deeper parts of the lake. A few hours later, Benjamin, his father, and Mr. Cat returned home to the island. His father drove the oars deep into the water, and with a few vigorous strokes they were on the sandy shore again. Benjamin's father jumped out, heaved the boat up a little further onto the shore, before pulling Benjamin out. Benjamin, take out that bucket of fish, his dad said. Mr Kat hopped out and followed them to the front porch where his little sister Adeline was playing with an apple.

Back Home With Fish For Dinner

SPEAKER_00 9:31

Benjamin yelled, We caught lots of fish and almost caught a giant fish. His name was Charles. His mother smiled as she glanced at his father, who nodded. Rubbing Benjamin's curly hair, she said, That's wonderful. How wonderful. Why don't you give me those fish and I'll prepare them for dinner tonight? I'm gonna go wash up. Benjamin's father handed the bucket of fish up to his mother. And then he turned and picked Benjamin up, and walked up the steps onto the porch and towards the kitchen. Just as Benjamin reached the door, he turned and saw a big splash in the lake behind them, and he said, Good night, Charles. Thanks for listening.