only some of us can eat inside The rest have to eat outside Nobody wants to sit outside today in this freezing weather Inside the Catfish King we have to wait because we are a very large party and Sunday is one of the busiest days But I don’t mind The air is warm and rich with the smell of delicious fried catfish Our whole family is piled into the corner of the waiting area sitting on benches and chatting T J says Lil Bit give me your coat and I’ll go hang it up I look at T J but I don’t hand him my coat I want to keep it on It’s my favorite dress coat I think I’ll keep this on I tell him Give T J your coat please We don’t eat with our coats on says Momma T J holds out his hand I slowly take off my coat and give it to him He walks over and hangs up the coats and then sits by our cousin Lilly T J and Lilly are talking about what they’re going to order Lilly says I want tartar sauce with mine Tartar sauce ruins a piece of tasty catfish says T J In fact the best way to eat catfish is plain They move on to talking about the homework they have to do for school tomorrow Meanwhile I stand by Lilly’s younger sister Lucy My cousin Lucy and I walk over to look at the community bulletin board by the door Some people have posted signs on it looking for lost pets and items There are also flyers advertising things for sale and sharing local events I see a flyer for the upcoming holiday parade It’s only the beginning of December so the parade is still almost four weeks away Below that flyer is another one that catches my eye Hey look at that flyer with a giant blue cat on it I say Now I’m not talking about the kind of cat that has four legs and says meow I mean the
swimming kind with long Granddaddy Whiskers that likes to tuck into the mud of a riverbed It’s a catfish It’s a fishing contest I say Winter is the best time to catch big blue cats in Texas Lucy reads The Winter Catfish Classic Team Fishing Contest will be held on Arrowhead Lake in two weeks The team with the catch that weighs the most wins The prize is a brand new boat and a chance to meet Rick Allen Rick Allen is a famous fishing celebrity Everyone knows all about him He even has his own show on TV T J s ears perk up and he stops talking with Lilly He walks over and looks at the sign I’m going to enter that contest and win he says Dad you can be on my team Daddy walks over and says I’m in Sounds like a good time son Now my ears perk up because I was thinking of entering the contest too I lean close to Lucy I really want to enter the contest I whisper But T J just asked Daddy
Maybe you could ask my daddy instead Lucy suggests You could be a fishing queen I nod my head Maybe I say But there might be someone else I can ask Just then the hostess calls our party As we head on over to our table I can’t help thinking how exciting this fishing contest is But until I can get some advice from a master fisherman I’m going to keep my entry a big ol secret Fishing Queen has a nice ring to it and you know how I love to be a queen Some catfish can sting Make sure an experienced adult fisherman or fisherwoman handles Fishing Tip 1 a catfish
On Monday when I get home after school Momma has a snack ready for me in the kitchen Could this be a to-go snack I ask I guess so Momma replies What are you up to now I really need to go to Nanny and Pa’s farm I tell her Momma says Why can’t it wait until the weekend sugar Could I tell you in the car on the way I reply It gets dark awfully early now and I need to visit Pa today Momma agrees I am all ready to go I am wearing my warmest pink down jacket Y’all know pink is my favorite color We head out to the van What is it you need to talk to Pa about Momma asks as we drive I have a secret that I need to discuss with him I tell her Momma asks Is he helping you build something for a project No ma’am I say
