Country Bumpkins: #1 in a series "Catfish Creek"

On the way to Catfish Creek….

He was walkin ahead of me down that winding, dirt road that ran down toward the creek, cane pole in one hand and a can of big fat worms in the other. He was movin’ along mighty fast for a youngin of ten. I reckon he was purty anxious to reach the fishing hole.

Mind you, I didn’t mind movin’ along fast on the way to the fishin' hole but I had a lot of important thoughts runnin’ through my mind that there mornin’.

As I watched my boy high tailin’ it down that old dirt road, I reckon I was realizin’ I needed to start teachin’ Troy Junior what the really important lessons of life are. Yes, sir, I had to be sure my boy was headin’ in the right direction.

“Hey there Junior, wait up a spell. Them fish ain’t goin no wheres before we get down yonder to the creek. I thought maybe we could have a real man to man talk about the most important fishin a man can do”.

“Pa, whatcha talkin about? Ya’ll done taught me how to fish like a man. What do ya think this long pole’s for that I’m done tote’n in my hand?

“Son, fishin for food is one kind of fishing we men folk have to do to take care of our family’s stomachs but I want to tell you about how we men have to do another kind of fishing”.

“You recall how I been readin’ the Bible book to you ever night of your life and tellin you all them stories about Moses and Abraham and all those other men who loved God? Do you remember how the man called Jesus came down to save us all from our sins but he wanted some men to come along with him to teach about how He was here to teach all them folks how God wanted them to stop sin’n and worship’n them statues? “

“Yeah Pa, I sure do remember them stories but what does that have to do with me learnin’ to fish? I done learned how to bait my hook and toss my line out to catch a fish. What ya’ll talkin’ about?”

“Well, Junior, that man Jesus still wants us to come along with him and teach all the folks we know how God wants em to quit sin’n and read His Bible so they can be saved and end up in Heaven with Him one of these here days. So I reckon the best way to explain how we can do it, is to say it like it were a day of fishing, but we’d be fishing for men. Instead of studyin how to toss out that there fishin’ line to catch a fish we would be study’n the bible so we could toss out all we know about Jesus and just haul them folks into church so’s they could just fill them selves up on the Love and joy God promises us in the Good book.”

“Ah shucks Pa, I done know bout that. I been tellin my pals all about them stories you been readin to me.”

“Well, then I just reckon we can call ourselves Fishers of Men for The Lord and today I just been tossin out that there Bible to reel you in real good, Junior!”

”Ok Pa, I done took your bait bout that old Good Book. Now ya’ll want to mosey on down to Cat Fish Creek and see if some old catfish might want to take a bite of this big ol fat worm on my line?’

“ Reckon that’s a purty good idea, son.