The Long Odd Package

It’s Summer Vacation! Bob and Alice are packing to visit the seashore with Mama, Daddy, Uncle Jack and Aunt Evelyn. They own a bungalow there. Uncle Jack and Mama went ahead with everyone’s trunks to open the bungalow. Today, Bob and Alice will meet Daddy at the train station for their trip there. Aunt Evelyn will come later.

Bob and Alice are in their bedrooms packing a few last-minute things in a suitcase each.

“Hurry, children,” calls Aunt Evelyn from downstairs. “So, you can eat before we leave for the train station.”

“Will we meet Daddy there?” Alice asks as she comes downstairs and into the kitchen.

“Yes,” says Aunt Evelyn.

“When will you come, Aunt Evelyn?” asks Bob coming into the kitchen behind Alice.

“Tomorrow, maybe,” says Aunt Evelyn. “Now, hurry up. I don’t want your Daddy to worry.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the children say together, eating their breakfast quickly. An hour later, Aunt Evelyn and the children reach the train station where they see Daddy standing. He is carrying a long odd package in his arms. Bob and Alice rush to greet him, pausing just slightly at the sight of the package. After hugging him, Alice asks, “Daddy, what’s in the package?”

“It’s a surprise for later,” Daddy says.

“When will we see inside?” asks Bob.

“When we see Mama,” says Daddy with a smile. “Come children, I have our tickets for the train.” Aunt Evelyn hugged each one before they climbed onto the train. They get seats in the coach car, Daddy puts their suitcases and the long package on a rack above the seats. Bob and Alice are near the window, and Daddy is on the aisle. The children enjoy watching the countryside change from hills and valleys to flat fields and towns close together.

At lunch time, they eat in the Dining car. Returning to their seats, Bob takes the window, Alice gets the middle seat leaning against Daddy’s shoulder on the aisle and falls asleep. When the train slows down again, Daddy wakes Alice and with Bob, get their suitcases and the long odd package down. Climbing off the train, Alice sees Uncle Jack, she waves and calls greeting, followed by Bob and Daddy. Uncle Jack smiles big and waves, too. He leads them to his car.

“Where’s Mama,” asks Alice.

“At the bungalow, she is waiting for you,” says Uncle Jack. “Come on, let’s go.” They put their suitcases and the long odd package in the trunk. Minutes later they reach the two-story bungalow and greet Mama. Finally, Daddy opens the package – there are four fishing rods inside! “I thought it will be fun to go fishing,” says Daddy.

Uncle Jack says with a smile, “I’ll be right back with a boat.” True to his word, he returns in minutes with a small motorboat. Inside are three life vests, which Daddy, Bob and Alice put on, Uncle Jack is already wearing his. When everyone is aboard and sitting, Uncle Jack backs the boat from the beach and goes out until the water changes color from light to dark, showing the changes in depth. He drops the anchor.

In a bucket on the floor of the boat is bait. Uncle Jack puts some on the hooks of each line attach to each pole, then Daddy shows the children how to ‘cast’ or throw the hook away from the boat. Soon all the hooks and bait are in the water, they wait for a tug on the fishing line that means a fish is eating the bait. The first tug is on Alice’s pole, then Bob, Daddy and Uncle Jack’s. When each of them have caught two fish each, they go back to the shore.

Daddy, Bob and Alice climb out, take off their life vests and put them back in the boat. Bob and Alice carry the fishing poles. Daddy is carrying the fish on a chain. Uncle Jack leaves to return the boat. At the bungalow, Mama is excited to see all the fish caught. While Daddy cleans them on the back porch, Mama listens as Bob and Alice describe the fishing and the train ride to the seashore. Then Mama cooks some of the fish for dinner, the rest will be breakfast in the morning. When Uncle Jack returns, they sit down and eat.

Thus, ends the first day of Bob and Alice’s summer vacation, they can’t wait to see what happens next!

The End.