Flint River Reflections 3

 One day we went bass fishing on the Flint River in Clayton County Georgia near home.  When dad, brothers, and I got to our family spot, my cousin Lynn and his dad, Uncle LeRoy, were already there.  I had a beginner’s short rod with a slow ugly reel that probably would not have even held a bass if I caught one.  I had to manually pull the line out and cast it as if it were a cane pole.  Lynn on the other hand had a new rod and reel set that made casting easy. 

 Well Lynn caught a fish.  Oh it was only a little blue gill, but the jealous fires raged in my gizzard!  When he caught the second fish I lost it.  I started yelling at him and pushed, causing a response.  Now you need to understand Lynn and I fighting seldom caused an eyebrow to be raised.  I pushed him and beat me up was the pattern.  This time he stumbled on a root and I jumped on top screaming about his new rod. 

 Let me now shorten this retelling of the story by simply saying that I never knew my dad could move so fast and that “He” won the fight!  Later when I could sit down he told me that just because someone else has something does not give me a right to have the same thing.  Come to find out, Lynn had worked some over at granddaddy’s to earn enough to buy the rod.  I was also reminded that when he (granddaddy) had asked me the week before if I was interested there was an excuse and no thanks on my part.

 An hour later after he had caught a few more fish and I hadn’t Lynn gave me his rod for a few casts.  He also hit the drag release on mine and started casting all too well.  He caught a bass.  I caught a stump. 

 Though the word “Covet” was never used by my dad he taught me the commandment “Thou shalt not covet” that day bass fishing on the Flint River in Clayton County Georgia.

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