Everyone piled in to the back of that man’s truck except for Ong noi. He got in the cab. Le thought it was great fun to be riding in the back of the truck. He was so excited, Munch had to keep a firm grip on him. Thahn Ho was on the other side of Le, holding on too. They exchanged a smile. The truck stopped half way through the old cotton field. Le was the first one to hit the ground and he took of running.

From the open window of the truck cab Ong noi said, “You stop now or we go home.”

Instantly, Le stopped. He turned and said meekly, “Yes Sir.” Still, while he waited every part of his body was jiggling with impatience.

Grace climbed out of the bed. She had brought her own pole and her own tackle. She walked with such elegance as she made her way to were Le was waiting. Tina did not have a pole or tackle. Munch noticed for the first time, that she was dressed rather nicely for a fishing trip. Only her shoes were old. Her outfit was pink shorts with a lace edged white top. Her eyes darted in the direction of the trailer. Something was up.

That man helped, Lisa down. Munch jumped down quick to help Thahn Ho. For an instant her hand was in his. Just before she let go she gave his hand a quick squeeze. Instant bliss hit Munch. Despite the crowd, this day did hold possibilities. Lolly climbed down herself. Her eyes were narrow as she watched her pa pull the tackle and poles out of the truck bed.

Ong noi got out with cane in hand. His face beamed as he looked at the gentle rows of the old field. The crumbling cotton rows were covered with new grass and bright green clover. For a moment, Ong noi stooped over and touch the earth. He closed his eyes. It looked like he was praying. Slowly, he stood up right. Thahn Ho took a hold of his elbow to help him. In that moment occurred to Munch that Ong noi would never be able to get down the steep bank to the stream. How was he going to fish?

That man said, “Munch would you get the lawn chairs. Lolly, help him please.” There were only four lawn chairs, and some blankets. Lolly took the lawn chairs and Munch grabbed the blankets.

When they all reached the stream’s upper bank, Grace had a hold of Le’s shirt. Her grip was so tight the kid wasn’t going anywhere.

For several moments, that man studied the stream bank. Munch could guess what he was thinking. Would he come up with a solution? A slight smile tugged at his lips as he said, “Mr. Phan, i think if you don’t mind riding piggy back, I can get you down by the water.”

Joy radiated in Ong noi’s smile. “What a wonderful solution! Yes, indeed, I can ride piggy back.”

Le immediately jumped up and down and said, “I want Crunchy to take me down piggy back.”

Ong noi scolded, “Your legs are fine. You walk on them.” He handed Le his cane.

Le bowed to his grandfather and said, “Yes Sir.”

A strange feeling swept through Munch as he watched that man kneel down on the ground so Ong noi could wrap his arms around his neck and climb on. With ease that man stood. He was much stronger than he looked. Slowly, steadily he made his way down the steep bank behind the girls and Le. By the stream, he knelt down again and Ong noi got off. The old man’s eyes went to the stream. The afternoon light flashed across the water. A few fish were visible. From where Munch stood, he could feel Ong noi’s deep gratitude.

Beside Munch, Thahn Ho said, “Mr. Phelps is a good man. Ong noi likes him.”

Begrudgingly, Munch agreed.

After the blankets were spread out and the chairs were set up, Ong noi was stationed down stream with Grace. It seemed Grace was a very serious fisherwoman. On the blanket Le sat wedged between Munch and Lolly. To Munch’s relief Lolly had taken charge of Le. All her experience with Mitzi had prepared her to deal with him. Thahn Ho was on the other side of Munch. She was so close he could smell her sweet clean smell. So close, but not close enough to touch. A little further upstream Lisa and Tina stood. Neither used the lawn chair beside them. Neither of them were the least bit interested in fishing, but they listened politely as that man showed them how to cast their poles. That man was doing his best to be a host, but it was costing him. It wasn’t even that hot and he was drenched in sweat. He handed the girls their poles, made some small talk, and it was VERY small. It honestly was starting to look like Lolly had chosen taking her friends fishing to torture her pa and it was working.

Too soon, Lee got bored with fishing. Thahn Ho pulled matchbox cars out of her jacket pocket. Le asked, “Crunchy, will you play cars with me?”

“Only if you don’t call me Crunchy.”

“Okay Michael.” Le gave him the most mischievous grin.

Honestly making roads in the soft earth was more entertaining than fishing. In fact it was what Munch used to do when his daddy took him fishing. The sun was bright on the water and the air was sweet and warm. A gentle wind caught Thahn Ho’s hair and blew it softly across Munch’s face. She said, “Sorry.” He wasn’t the least bit sorry. Vividly he remembered their first and only kiss. How he longed to be that close to her again. She pulled a pony tail holder from her pocket and bound up her hair. For half a second, Munch saw Lolly eye Thahn Ho’s hair. It was then that the sunlight fell through the trees and landed on Lolly’s bald head. Quickly, she looked away. The shape of her head was something Munch found beautiful and unique and yet, he knew though she accepted the terms of alopecia, it didn’t mean she was completely reconciled to the losses. Was she wishing for hair at this moment? It was a question he would not ask.

There was a movement in the trees across the stream. Probably a rabbit. Munch didn’t pay it any mind until he saw Tina glance up and then stare. Munch zeroed in and studied the trees across the stream. Were those the tips of black flip flops? He prayed not.

Tina said, “I need to go to the bathroom and I don’t pee outside.”

That man asked, “Would you like me to drive you up to the house?”

Tina cut her eyes down stream to Grace. Grace had a fish on her line and was slowly reeling it in. “Uh, thanks but no. I’ll walk.” Silently, she climbed up the bank and Munch could swear she took off at a run when she reached the crest. Almost simultaneously the ‘rabbit’ took off too. It had to be Max. His dad’s house was a good distance from the farm. How the hell had he gotten out here? Whatever time he and Tina stole was going to be brief. As soon as Grace saw that her sister was missing it was literally gonna hit the fan. When it did, this day was officially going to be over. Dammit Max!

That man asked Lisa, “So you think you got a handle on it?”

”Yes, thank you.” She cast a furtive glance in Grace’s direction. Grace now had her fish in the net. Lisa looked away. While Lisa and Grace were on civil terms, the air between them remained laced with tension. Big dummy that he was, Jake still had a crush on Grace. Lisa did not blame Grace for the break up, but it didn’t mean she was over Jake. Or was she? Munch had no idea.

Once Grace got her fish out of the water, removed the hook, and put it on the string, she sat back down in her lawn chair with a smile on her face. A good ten minutes passed before Grace looked upstream. The smile left her face. Her eyes made a quick assessment of the group. When it registered her sister was not among them, she stood and asked, “Where is Tina?”

That man said, “She went up to the house.” The doofus blushed and didn’t add anything about her going to the bathroom.

The next question Grace asked was purely rhetorical, “Did she say she was going to the restroom?”

That man nodded.

“I better go check on her.” Without another word, Grace’s long legs raced up the steep bank. The sound of her swift feet pounding on the earth was like muted thunder. A storm was about to blow in, that was for sure.

That man asked, “Should I be concerned?”

Lolly said, “Only if you are Tina.”

That man stood there looking confused. Lolly told him, “Don’t worry Pa. Its a sister thing. Just let it be.”

Munch could tell he wasn’t convinced, but he also looked like he had no desire to get in the middle of whatever was going on between the sisters. Thahn Ho leaned a little closer to Munch. They looked at each other. Both knew their day was about to be ruined.

All of them, even that man waited in silence. The only one who went on with his fishing was Ong noi.

After about five tense minutes Grace’s voice rose loud and clear, “Tina Marie you best show yourself or I’m calling Daddy!” Sound carried in the country. There was not any traffic noise to mute it. It was hard to tell how close or how far away Grace was.

Tina shouted, “I’m right here!”

Grace yelled, “Where?”

Tina’s response could not be heard. All the sudden the sound of a loud clap or slap rang in the air.

In a hurt voice, Tina said, “You Bitch!”

The horn of the Mama’s Volkswagen started beeping loud and long. The girls were yelling.

That man took off at a run. Lolly and Lisa followed. Munch, Ong noi, Thahn Ho and Le remained.

Ong noi said, “Come, sit. Let the trouble sort itself out. In this situation there is nothing any of us can add or help.”

Le protested, “But, I want to see the fight!”

“You, cháu trai, will have plenty of opportunities to see fights. Now sit, or we will leave.”

It did not occur to Le, but it did to Munch, that the only way for Ong noi to leave was if that man carried him up the bank.

The horn honking had stopped but there was more yelling in the distance. Grace and Tina both had amazing lungs. Beside Munch, a tremble went through Thahn Ho’s body. Her hand reached for his. He laced his fingers through hers. Softly she whispered, “I don’t like it when people fight.” Munch could feel her fear.

Le climbed into Ong noi’s lap, the angry noise seemed to upset him too. Ong noi acted as if nothing was going on beyond their sight. Calmly, he told Le how to hold the pole. Thahn Ho leaned her head against Munch’s shoulder. He breathed in the smell of her oat and honey shampoo.

The shouting continued for quite awhile, but Le, Munch and Thahn Ho sat quietly in the circle of serenity Ong noi had created around them.