The Perfect Cast

by T. K. Chapin

  “I’m just from a different generation I suppose…” Roy said softly. “We pray here and thank God for our meals.”

  Henry bowed his head and folded his hands. “Okay.”

  “Go ahead and do the honors.”

  “I’d rather not Grandpa.”

  “Okay then.” Roy lowered his head. “Dear Heavenly Father, Bless the food we are about to eat. May it help nourish our bodies and replenish our strength. We pray that Tiffany makes it safely back to Seattle on her drive. Thank you Lord for bringing Jess and Henry here safely and I pray our summer is one of learning and discovering Your presence in our lives. In Your heavenly name we pray, Amen.”

  “Amen,” Henry said. Picking up his fork he began cutting back into his meat and potatoes. “So delicious!”

  “I’m glad you like it.” Glancing over to the doorway of the kitchen, Roy wondered what Jess would do for dinner. Running through his mind, he thought what he might have that would be vegetarian friendly. “Can she eat eggs?”

  “She can, but she isn’t a fan of doing so. She’s really strange about the vegetarian thing. I think she does it because of her friend Kelsey. They became friends a while back.”

  “I see.”

  After finishing his plate of steak and potatoes, Roy put his plate into the sink before pulling out three eggs from the fridge. Filling a small pot half-way with water, he set it on the stove and set the timer for 20 minutes. Putting the eggs in, he sat back down at the kitchen table.

  “What are you doing?” Henry asked glancing at the stove.

  “Boiling eggs.”

  “Don’t you put in the eggs after it starts boiling?”

  “Nope. Just set a timer for 20 minutes and put them in right away. They come out perfectly boiled every time.”

  “Cool.” Henry finished his steak and potatoes but spent a while just pushing his barbequed veggies around trying to avoid them. “Do I need to eat these?”

  “Yep.”

  “But why? I don’t like them…”

  “Sometimes the things we don’t like are the things we need the most.”

  Chapter 9 ~ Jess

  Waking to the buzzing of her alarm clock, Jess muted it immediately and sat up. Glancing out the curtain, she saw the sun had gone down and the night’s starry sky was out. She found the night to be a peaceful and calm presence. Since it was night, that meant most people were sleeping; and back in Seattle, it meant it was time to go hit Shiko’s downtown, the local punk rock venue. Slipping out of bed, she tip-toed down the stairs, while holding onto the railing to brace herself to avoid another fall.

  Walking into the kitchen, the moonlight shone through the window and lit the room almost entirely. Going to the fridge, she opened it and saw a bowl of eggs with a note. Peering at the note, she saw it was from her grandpa.

  Jess,

  I boiled you some eggs since you don’t eat meat.

  Love,

  Gpa

  She sighed heavily. Pushing it aside, she pulled out the orange juice carton and took a swig of it as she turned around. Wiping her mouth with her jacket sleeve, she spotted a loaf of bread over on the counter next to the toaster. Putting a couple pieces of bread down, she retrieved peanut butter from the cupboard.

  Glancing out the window of the kitchen, she looked up at the moon and thought about her dad. She wondered if he might be looking at the moon at the same time. She was curious where he was and what he was doing, and if he missed her as much as she missed him. The toaster popped her bread up, breaking her concentration.

  Checking her phone, she saw it was time to get over to Thompson Road. Slapping peanut butter on both pieces of toast, she quickly ate them and downed a glass of milk from the fridge to wash it all down.

  Turning off onto Thompson Road, she was not surprised when the road went from pavement to dirt. Leaning over the steering wheel to see better through the windshield, she watched as she drove slowly looking for Copper’s Cove. Turning a corner, she came to an open gravel spot where vehicles were lined up in a line. This must be it. Pulling up next to a tricked-out Honda, she parked her grandpa’s truck. Unable to stop looking at it as she got out, she said, “This is quite the ride for some country kid.”

  “I know, right?” Levi said from behind her.

  “Ugh… What do you want?” she asked turning around.

  “I’m just here hanging out with my friends. What are you doing eyeballing my car?”

  “This is your car?”

  “Sure is.”

  “Wow. I didn’t think anyone out in the country could have a decent ride.” Levi glanced over her shoulder at the truck and smiled. “Oh shut it,” she said pushing his shoulder lightly as she passed by him going into the woods.

  “Do you know where you are going?” he asked from behind her.

  “No.” She stopped and turned. “Where is everyone?”

  “Come with me, I’ll show you…” Levi led the way into the woods. Walking through the woods, Levi held a branch up so she could pass under it. “I didn’t expect to see you out here. You’re pretty new to town.”

  “I met a girl named Elly at the convenience store; she told me about it.”

  “Elly told you?”

  “Is that surprising or something?”

  “Yeah, for Elly it is.” Levi gave Jess his hand and helped her over a downed tree. When their hands touched, she felt something inside her ignite. She released his hand quickly, as she was fearful of the spark. I can’t feel something for this guy. She couldn’t help herself from noticing the roughness in his hands. It felt nothing like the clammy and smooth skin of the boys back in Seattle. It was something different, and she liked it, though she didn’t want to.

  Finally arriving at Copper’s Cove, Jess saw Elly standing over on the other side of the bonfire. She felt awkward and out of place in her ‘My Goodness’ hoodie, an indie punk rock band sweatshirt. Maneuvering through the crowd, she noticed that instead of chains, piercings and tattoos, she saw jeans, cowboy boots and flannel shirts. Getting around the bonfire and to Elly, she felt more comfortable. She was at least somewhat normal compared to the cowboys and country kids.

  “Hey, I made it,” Jess said with a smile.

  “That you did.” Elly looked her up and down and then glanced over at the girl next to her. “Brittany this is…” She seemed to have forgotten her name.

  “Jess.”

  “Jess, that’s right. And Jess, this is Brittany.” Elly peered past her and over at Levi. “You and Levi have something going on?”

  “No,” she replied quickly. “He helped me get here from the side of the road… you didn’t really mention I had to trek out through the woods.”

  Elly laughed. “Figured you’d follow the sounds, but you managed to find a guide. A nice one might I add.”

  “I’m not interested in Levi.” Jess turned and looked at him. “He’s a farm boy and I’m a city girl. We already got into a fight at my Grandpa’s place.”

  “Wait, that means you’re Hinley’s granddaughter?” Elly asked surprised. Jess nodded. “Your grandpa is a class A jerk.”

  “I know,” Jess replied. Curious she asked, “I know why he is one… he’s my Grandpa, but why do you think that?”

  “It’s not just me, it’s everyone. He’s known around Chattaroy as the cheapskate. He underpays his workers… well, Levi that is, at least that’s what Levi’s brothers all say. Also, whenever he goes to the Chattaroy feed store, he tries to bargain down the price of anything he buys. I cringe when I see him walk into the convenience store.”

  Jess shook her head as she looked over at Levi. She felt bad her grandpa had a reputation around Chattaroy as a cheapskate, and she hoped it didn’t rub off on her poorly. “Can you keep it on the down low about me being his granddaughter?”

  “I won’t say anything, but I don’t know about Levi keeping quiet.” Elly looked over at Levi, and Jess looked to see him and a couple guys laughing while they looked at Jess and sipped on what she e
xpected to be beer in red disposable cups. He’s probably already telling people, ugh! She felt mortified and wanted to leave immediately.

  “I’m going to go,” Jess said. Leaving the girls behind, she quickly headed for the woods. As she made her way back through the crowd, Levi stepped in front of her.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Home,” Jess said, side-stepping him and continuing into the woods.

  “You just got here… you should stay and hang out.” Levi followed after her into the woods.

  “Please stop following me!” she shouted back at him.

  “Jess, what’s the problem?” Levi asked, trying to catch up to her.

  Annoyed, she stopped and could smell beer coming from his direction. The smell of beer infuriated her, and she couldn’t stand anyone who insisted on drinking it to have a good time. Looking into his glossy, red eyes, she shook her head in disappointment before continuing out of the woods.

  “You should really stay and have some fun…” he said without pursuing her.

  Jess stopped and went back to him. “Sitting around a fire and drinking while people talk about all the previous times they drank isn’t my idea of fun. And you reek of booze hardcore.”

  “My friend spilled his drink on me. I don’t drink.”

  “Well… I saw you back there laughing and telling your friends I was Roy’s granddaughter. Thanks for ruining my reputation before I even had a chance to make one.”

  Levi shook his head and headed back to the bonfire.

  “Just going to walk away?” Jess challenged him. Levi stopped and came back up to her.

  “You don’t understand me or know me at all. Stop trying to assume you do. My friends and I were not laughing at you.”

  “Then what were you laughing at?”

  “We were laughing at Brittany. She and my friend Todd were making out in Hessen’s field and she set her hand back behind her into a pile of manure… but what am I even doing? I don’t need to explain myself to you. Goodbye, city brat.” Levi shook his head and returned back through the woods towards the bonfire.

  Dismayed, Jess continued on her way back to the truck, but not without beating herself down over what Levi had said. She had assumed the worst in him and everything she thought about him was entirely wrong. And now, he didn’t want anything to do with her. She left the gathering in a hurry and didn’t have a chance to make any new friends; it was an entire waste of her time.

  Finding her way back to the truck, she discovered the handle was jammed. Jess kicked the door and let out a scream. “You worked fine when I came here! C’mon!” Out of the corner of her eye, a handsome boy was walking out from the woods and tipped his cowboy hat at her.

  “Miss.”

  “Hey…” she said with a slight blush. He was well built and had a nice pair of jeans and a white shirt on. “What’s your name?”

  “Clint.” Walking up to the truck, Clint pulled up on the handle and opened it for her with ease. “Could I interest you in dinner at the Wagon Wheel tomorrow night?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Please let me take you out,” Clint said raising her hand to his lips and kissing it softly. Gasping at his kiss on her hand, she decided one date couldn’t hurt. After all, it’s not every day a hunk asked her out.

  “Okay, I’m Jess by the way… How’s seven o’clock then?”

  “Great. I’ll pick you up. Where you staying?”

  Jess didn’t want to reveal she was Roy’s granddaughter. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “I would prefer to pick you up, but if you insist, I’ll see you then.” Clint nodded to her and proceeded down the row of cars and out of sight. Her anger and frustration over the Levi incident quickly vanished as thoughts of Clint took root in her mind instead. She got back into her truck and headed back to the farm, dreaming how her date would go.

  Chapter 10 ~ Roy

  “Henry,” Roy whispered tapping him on the shoulder. Henry rubbed his eyes open as he turned over. “It’s time to get bait.”

  Henry quickly sat up. “Like worms?”

  “Yep. Night crawlers, specifically. Come on.” Roy delicately walked out of the room and went back downstairs. He was being careful not to wake Jess from sleeping in the room right across the hallway from Henry. Going out onto the covered patio, Roy put his boots on and grabbed the two flashlights that sat on top of the wood box near the patio door.

  Yawning as he opened the door, Henry came out and Roy handed him a flashlight. “Where do we put the worms, Grandpa?”

  “Almost forgot.” Henry followed Roy back into the house and into the kitchen. He fetched a couple plastic containers and handed one to Henry. Going back outside, they each grabbed gardening trowels and began hunting for worms.

  “I’ll take the side with the chicken coop, you take the side near the hill that goes down to the creek,” Roy said. Henry agreed with a nod and began looking in the yard for worms.

  Roy crossed the sidewalk that led up to the farmhouse and into the grass on the side he was hunting for worms on. Pushing the trowel down into the earth, he pulled up a chunk of dirt and grass. He set the trowel to the side and un-clumped the dirt to find worms. Finding some worms, he placed some of the dirt into the container with them. Putting what was left of the dirt back into the hole he had created, he picked up his trowel and continued hunting for worms.

  Daybreak wasn’t too far off and it was time to head out to go fishing. Standing upright, Roy’s back was hurting from bending over in the grass. Grabbing onto his lower back, he watched Henry continue his search for worms. To be young again, Roy thought to himself with a smile.

  “We better get going, boy.”

  “Okay, Grandpa!” Henry replied running over to him. “I got quite a few worms!” he said showing Roy his container. “I’m going to catch a giant fish with these worms! Do you think the fish will like them?”

  “Good job… I’m sure they will love them.” Roy and Henry went back into the house to grab their supplies for the trip. After they had loaded the fishing poles and tackle box into the back of his suburban, all that was left was to hook up the boat. Roy backed up the suburban into the barn and hooked it all up.

  “Grandpa! Is it ready? Can we go now?” Henry asked, as Roy climbed back into the suburban.

  “We’re good to go,” Roy replied. As they began driving down the driveway, Levi showed up on foot. Stopping on the bridge, Roy rolled down his window.

  “Good morning Sir,” Levi said.

  Henry leaned over Roy’s lap. “Hi Levi! We are going to go fishing. We dug up our own worms earlier. Look!” Henry opened his container of worms and showed Levi across Roy’s lap.

  “Wow! Those are pretty impressive.” Levi laughed. Glancing at Roy, he continued, “Makes sense now why you had me checking the boat out the other day and made sure it was suitable for the water. On a different note, do you think Betsy will be giving birth today?”

  Roy peered out the windshield as he thought about it. “She could pop any time. Heck, she could have had the calf last week when we caught her hiding up around the corner of the hill.”

  Levi nodded and looked up the driveway towards the barn. “I best be getting to the feeding of the animals. Good luck on the fishing trip!”

  “Thanks. Take care,” Roy said, with a nod.

  “Bye!” Henry shouted.

  Roy pulled out onto Elk Chattaroy Road, and they were on their way out to Suncrest, where Long Lake was located, which to Roy was his favorite spot to fish. The sun was barely coming up, and Roy had his window down, letting in all the cold crisp air of the summer morning. The early parts of the day had always been his favorite. The quietness and peace filled his soul with joy.

  Pulling into the Suncrest Park, Roy and Henry launched the boat into the water. Getting out onto the calm early morning lake was just what Roy loved. Humming along the waters slowly, they made their way down Long Lake to a quiet little spot up around the large bend in the river. I
t was Roy’s favorite fishing spot that he’d always gone to every time he came to fish.

  Turning off the boat, Roy helped Henry get a worm on the hook. Henry looked away as Roy jammed the worm onto the hook. Noticing Henry’s discomfort, Roy asked, “Did you not fish much with your Dad?”

  “It’s always been more of a ‘him and Jess’ type of thing.” Roy nodded as he cast Henry’s line out into the water and set up his own pole. “Grandpa… Why don’t you like my Dad?”

  “I never said that.”

  “Oh… well I thought you didn’t like him.”

  Henry was right; Roy didn’t like Brandon one iota. Ever since the day Roy met him eighteen years ago, he’d had a bad feeling about the guy. He had always been out of town on special business trips, yet never would talk about them to anyone. When asked, Brandon would explain little and always said it had to do with servicing clients. Brandon was a medical supplies salesman for EchoLife, a large national company that was based out of Spokane and serviced over a hundred different countries.

  “It’s just complicated.” Roy cast out his line and looked over at Henry. “Your Dad is a mysterious man. I never got to know him very well.”

  Henry seemed to ignore Roy’s words and redirected his attention back to fishing. “How long does it take to catch one? I think I should have one caught by now.” Henry began to reel in his line a little.

  Roy smiled and patted Henry on the back. “Takes time… you going to gut the fish if you catch one?”

  “Eww! No way!” Henry squirmed in his seat. “I’ll let you do that.” Henry smiled at him and then turned his attention back to the water.

  Being out on the lake reminded him of Lucille. When she was alive, she’d come along with him mostly to keep him company and would just sit quietly while she read a book. Sharing silence was something that Roy and Lucille had to learn to do over the years. It was similar to catching fish or a successful marriage; it took time, patience and the willingness not to give up.