feature story fishing at the lake

Growing up can you every remember catching bugs or animals and taking them back home to show your parents. And when you got to the door of your house with excitement you just hope and wish for your parents to say yes you can keep the critter as a pet. But deep down inside you just knew what the outcome could possibly be. Either No!! And get that out of my house because it no supposed to be a pet or yes but make sure you take good care of it otherwise it’s going to be let free.
It all starts the summer of freshman year when my little brother Javonte and I decided to go fishing. We were sitting on the dock with our poles cast in the middle of Thomas Lake waiting for the nibble or even the jerking line and pole. Having little conversations about family and school and how big the fish was that I had caught the last time at the same spot we were at. About three hours or so we caught few descent size crappies and two largemouth bass. Being bored we decided to start throwing our bait in the lake which was corn in a can. After about ten minutes or so fish were gathering around the area just waiting to race to get the next piece of corn thrown in the water. My brother had an idea he said “put a bunch of corn on your hook and then toss it in the lake at the same time you throw all the pieces of corn in”. So we started doing what he had just mentioned and caught even more crappies then we could imagine. Catching at least fifteen fish all together we decided to repeat throwing the corn in and watching the fish viscously attack the pieces of corn as if they have not ate in day’s even months.
Out of nowhere we saw a turtles swimming towards the spot where we had been throwing the corn. The turtles eating the corn that was either floating around or left from the fish. All four turtles were different shapes and sizes but all looked like the same species known as the Painted Turtle. This is commonly found in lakes in Minnesota. After seeing how close they were to the dock javonte and I decided to try to lure the turtle even closer so we could possibly catch them to. The smallest turtle was the size of a half dollar coin and was very gullible to the trick I had set. so I took some extra fishing line off my pole maybe about four feet of line then I decided to put a hook on the end of the line with corn and threw it toward the small turtle. As the turtle noticed the corn I would pull the sting closer and the turtle would follow. Until javonte threw more corn in and spooked the turtle making it swim back into open water. So I attempt to try to get its attention again by throwing the same fishing line and hook with bait on it in front of the turtle. Luckily not scaring the turtle it aggressively turns towards the bait and is once again approaching the dock. Now the turtle is about a foot away maybe even seven or eight inches I grabbed it out the water and handed it to my brother and told him we had to show mom.
So we dumped out the bucket with the fish we had recently caught back into the water. Filled the bucket back up and put the small turtle in and watched it swim. Javonte said “we should put a big rock in the bucket so if the turtle gets tired it can rest on top of the rock" and I replied "ok go find one". About a good five minutes javonte comes back with the rock and sets it in the bucket as he watches the turtle climb on the rock. Randomly javonte shouts finder’s keepers and claims the turtle is his even though I had caught him. I look at him and say I don’t care ill just catch another one and start throwing more corn and wait to see if another small turtle comes. Right before we looked in the water just to make sure we didn’t miss another turtle.
As we decided to walk to another dock on the lake we discovered a spot with a bunch of rocks sticking out the water with all sorts of turtle’s sun bathing on the rocks out of the water. So we repeatedly starting throwing corn in the water near the rocks so we could possible catch another. At first we startled the turtles and made all of them jump back into the water from the rocks. But as soon as they figured out we were tossing corn in they began to swim closer to us. About an hour later another tiny little turtle swims up and tries to eat the corn. But the corn was too big for its mouth because this time the turtle was the size of a quarter. So I used the same fishing line and hook with bait on it to try to lure the turtle closer. Before I knew it the turtle was approaching shore and begins to get out of the water so I grabbed it and cheered with Javonte because we both now had turtles.
Walking home my brother and I start to discuss what our mother is going to say and if we are going to be able to keep the turtle as a pet. As soon as we get home my mom asks “how was fishing and did you catch anything big” and the reply from both of us was yeah and then we show her the little turtles we had caught. We decided to name them at this point to. My brother named his Turtle Wortle and I named mine Chicken Little because he was small and always ran away from you. Then Javonte asked could we keep it because we have an empty fish tank with no fish and my mom said yes. After being nervous about if my mom would let us keeping the turtle my mom asked “what are you going to feed them. My Brother and I paused and thought about it we decided to feed it lettuce and fruit because we could tear it into small pieces.
Few years later the turtles are about the size of a grown mans palm and they eat anything and everything that is appealing to them. We decided to put a kiddy pool on our porch deck at our house. In the backyard in the pool there was a hug log with a bunch of food for the turtles floating around. So after we set up everything we decided to put the turtles out in the pool so they can get some fresh air. My mom told my little brother and sister to watch the turtles because one on them always got on the log and jump out. We had just got the Play station three and were all excited and everyone wanted to watch my uncle and I play as this was going on my two younger sibling forgot about watching the turtles. Both of them were in the house a good twenty minutes before we heard my mom say “where is chicken little”. So we all ran outside and looked to see if we could find Chicken Little. It was my mom, my siblings, my uncle and grandma and I looking desperately for my turtle everywhere. We looked in the lawn, in the shed and even under the deck which was full of bugs and mud. After about twenty minutes I gave up. I said to my siblings you two can never do anything right and “it’s all your fault” as I began to play the game again. My brother and sister both begin to cry and tell my mom what I said in a sad voice. Being the oldest I got in trouble for blaming my siblings because they should be responsible for my pet. Even though I don’t have a turtle anymore I still have memories of the day I caught Chicken Little.