I Kissed the Fish

By Ruth Bradford and Debby Emel

There are no such things as paved roads or nice, clean sidewalks in rural villages in Alaska. Most people who visit Alaska see Anchorage, Fairbanks, or maybe even isolated Juneau, the capital city. Those cities are neat, concrete bound, proper lower-forty-eight-type cities. But they arent the real Alaska. The villages with mud and mosquitoes in the summer, snow and ice in the winter, fishing and hunting out the front door practicallythose villages make up the real deal, the last frontier, Alaska.

The people living in the villagesresourceful Native Americans, proud Eskimos, Aleuts, and Gussaks (which is what people of the land call Anglos and all others from the lower forty-eight)meet the challenges of the far north. That is Alaska! The people work together to deal with the cold, winter darkness, summers long days, and most importantly, the intensified human emotions involving survival.

Larry and I lived and taught in Aniak, Alaska, that this story is based on. We fished, skied, snow-mobiled, threw a cup of coffee in the air when it was fifty degrees below zero, experienced the Kuskokwim River going through the pangs of break-up, and every few years: a flood, in which we got water in our basement. Life in rural Alaska is, at times, challenging. But the people make every moment rewarding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503590373

Ruth Bradford

Author, Ruth Bradford and her husband, Larry, are retired teachers. They have visited FHL over a period of 4 years, getting to know and love Lorraine, Celing, and the kids. This book is intended to share the blessing and bring glory to our Lord Jesus.

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Copyright © 2015 by Ruth Bradford.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead or events, is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 08/17/2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE SAND BOX - AUGUST

SPILLED MILK

DIRTY LAUNDRY – SEPTEMBER

TYRAN

CHIEF UGLY BEAR

CHIPPER - OCTOBER

TURKEY AND WORMS – NOVEMBER

BIRTHDAYS AND CHRISTMAS IN ANCHORAGE – DECEMBER

ADVENTURE IN THE MALL

FIRST AID - JANUARY

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

SO MUCH FOR ROMANCE! - FEBRUARY

BREAK-UP – APRIL

READIN’ MAKES YOU UGLY!

NO VOICE AT ALL?

A FISH AND A BEAR - JUNE

I KISSED THE FISH

PREFACE

There are no such things as paved roads, or nice clean sidewalks in rural villages in Alaska. Most people who visit Alaska see Anchorage, Fairbanks, or maybe even isolated Juneau, the capital city. Those cities are neat, concrete bound, proper lower-forty-eight type cities. But they aren’t the real Alaska. The villages with mud and mosquitoes in the summer, snow and ice in the winter, fishing and hunting out the front door practically…those villages make up the real deal…the last frontier, Alaska.

The people living in the villages- resourceful Native Americans, proud Eskimos, Aleuts, and ‘Gussaks’ (which is what people of the land call Anglos and all others from the lower 48)- meet the challenges of the far north. That is Alaska! The people work together to deal with the cold, winter darkness, summer’s long days, and most importantly, the intensified human emotions involving survival.

Larry and I lived and taught in Aniak, Alaska, the setting of the story. We fished, skied, snow-mobiled, threw a cup of coffee in the air when it was 50 degrees below zero, experienced the Kuskokwim River going through the pangs of break-up, and every few years: a flood, in which we got water in our basement. Life in rural Alaska is, at times, challenging. But the people make every moment rewarding.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I Kissed the Fish and the short stories about Little Larry, would not be possible without my husband, Larry. He is my inspiration. His humor and creative inspiration, saved the day, when I hit tough spots. Larry is a science teacher and his problem-solving skills are phenomenal.

Debby Emel is my relentless editor. Debby brings out quality and a second sight into my words. She also did many of the illustrations for The Little Larry Storybook.

I would like to thank Jim and Debi Stem. He pastored the little brown church in Aniak, flew his small plane to help others, took us fishing, and berry-picking, and accepted us on their team to reach others for Jesus.

A special thanks goes to our children: Rochelle Matter (for her pictures of Dimond Center in Anchorage), Rocky, Ruben and Stella for living the adventure with us.

Most of all, I thank our Lord Jesus Christ, for offering His love, mercy, and undeserved Grace.

C:\Users\Ruth\Desktop\Little Larry\I kissed the fish pi\Larry sandbox 001.jpg

Larry played in the sand every chance he got, so he always came in, looking more like a sandman than a boy.

THE SAND BOX - AUGUST

August in Alaska wasn’t so bad. Sure, it rained a lot and you had to put up with the mud. Mud! Mud everywhere!

Twelve-year old, David Bransford lived with his family in Aniak, a village three hundred air-miles west of Anchorage, on the Kuskokwim River. Three hundred miles doesn’t seem so far by lower forty-eight standards, but the only way to get in and out was by plane, unless you went by river in the summer. Then, you could float all the way to the Bering Sea.

David had lived in the village since he was five. Aniak was home, and except for trips to Oregon and New Mexico to see grandparents every other summer his family pretty much stayed in the village. David’s dad taught science in the village school. His mom wrote stories and articles, mostly about plants and animals of the far north. She freelanced, which means she sent stories and articles to whatever magazine caught her interest.

Life wasn’t too bad, even without malls or McDonald’s. Not so bad, that is, until his little brother, Larry, joined the family, four years ago! Then David’s life took a serious turn for the worse, in his opinion.

Well, not right away. Larry wasn’t too bad as a baby. He was kind of cute and wiggly. Even as a toddler, he was okay, you know - trying to walk, bumping into stuff, learning to talk, all that sort of thing.

But…since he turned four, his cute little brother Larry, became totally impossible to live with, at least from David’s point of view. He climbed all over David’s once-organized shelves, broke his balsa-wood airplane models, and in general, made a total disaster of their shared bedroom, like a cockroach in a candy shop. And that wasn’t all. Now David had become the baby-sitter.

In short, his little brother, Larry, had made a total wreck of the life David once knew. Never mind that the Sunday school teacher said, Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor,’ and yes, David, that means your little brother.

Rats, David thought, I wish Gramps and Gram lived here. I’d move in with them, so I could be an only child again.

David, in his own opinion, was neat, well-organized, had a normal sense of humor, and was generally a nice guy, as far as most twelve-year old boys go. ‘A place for everything, and everything in its place’ was his motto.

Normal. Right?

Hi, Mom! David closed the door with a click, and neatly hung his coat on the hook in the entryway. He kicked aside Larry’s red-billed cap that lay in the middle of the floor. He carried his backpack into his bedroom - well, his half of the bedroom.

Since the ‘monster’ turned four, David used to fight with Larry all the time to clean up, until one day David got a piece of chalk from Dad and actually drew a line down the middle of the room. Larry was lucky that the door was right in the middle or David would cheerfully have made Larry pay just to go in or out. Anything of Larry’s that crossed onto David’s side… BEWARE! It was destined to disappear forever.

Not only was Larry as loud and obnoxious as a hyena, but he was as messy as a shrew (mouse-like creatures, who lived in the north), dragging everything into his nest. David shuddered at the thought, and then angrily kicked a pile of dirty clothes onto Larry’s side of the room.

He gritted his teeth, muttering, I’ve got to talk to Dad about adding on another bedroom. Or maybe Dad can order one of those insulated doghouses and Larry can live in it. Then Mom can just shovel his mess outside! David flicked dust off his newest model airplane, the Silver Streak.

Hey, David, is that you? Mom hollered from the computer desk where she was working on an article about the Four Spot Skimmer dragonfly, the new state insect symbol.

David walked into the computer room, which was Mom’s office.

I didn’t hear you come in. She stretched like a cat, her long blond braid falling over her shoulder. I’ve been concentrating on the dragonfly so long, I lost track of time. She shuffled over to David in her pink slippers and gave him a big hug. So how was school? Anything new?

Well, yeah, there’s a new girl in my class. Her name is Katie. Mom, is it possible for someone to have hair the same color as carrots?

Of course. You don’t see it very often, but it is special. Does she have freckles, too?

David looked at his mom with his brow wrinkled, How did you know? Did you see her already?

No, but the redheads I’ve seen always seem to have freckles, Mom added, thoughtfully. Now, how about your classes?

Okay, let’s see, in math, we’re still on easy review stuff. In Social Studies, we’re doing maps of the United States. English, yuk, and, oh yeah, I have to do a paper, using nothing but the dictionary. I have to look up five words I never heard of before and write them into a paragraph. David looked at the ceiling. I hate writing. Uh, Mom, you like to write… His smile was so big, he looked like a Cheshire Cat. He continued …and you’re soooo good with words, how about writing for me? Yeah? Huh? PLEASSSSSSE! He got down on one knee, begging.

Nice try, Buster, but no way! School is for YOU to learn all these wonderful big words, using the dictionary. What a fun assignment! I might even help you find some intriguing words to use! She ruffled his short, brown hair.

No, thanks, you’d pick some crazy words I couldn’t even pronounce. He grinned and tried to ruffle her hair, but she grabbed his arms, and twisted him around so he couldn’t get away.

Actually, you’re safe on that score. I’ve got to finish this dragonfly article. I’m hoping to catch one with my camera tomorrow, She said, changing the subject.

Make yourself useful or something. I haven’t had two minutes together to finish this. Larry has needed attention all day, because of the rain. He just went outside a few minutes ago, because the rain seemed to let up. Please, David. She smiled and took David’s face in her hands. I just need twenty minutes. She kissed his nose, Please, go outside and bring Larry in. Fix a couple PB and J sandwiches and pour some milk. I’m sure he’s probably starving by now."

Sure, Mom. What’s the brat been doing? David asked.

You know, playing cars. She gave him a wink.

In the sandbox! they said at the same time and laughed.

Larry played in the sand every chance he got, so he always came in, looking more like a sandman than a boy. It had become a family joke.

Where else? Mom laughed, then turned her attention again to the computer, like a nail to a magnet. And if you would, please turn on the shower for him.

Ah, Mom, David wrinkled his nose and said, do I have to? I’m clean and the brat will track in mud.

Are you arguing with me? Her eyebrows arched and she fixed him with ‘the look!’ Then she smiled and said, Sweet heart, don’t call Larry a brat! You weren’t so very different when you were four.

I don’t remember ever being like Larry. David shook his head. I’ll go get the brat… I mean…my brother. He grinned comically, waggling his eyebrows. If I get him in the shower, will you clean up the sand trail he’ll leave all over? Please, Mom, huh?

Sure, she ruffled his hair again. It will mean a lot to me. It will give me a chance to finish up my article! She blew him a kiss. Now, go!

Okay, okay. David headed out the back door, letting the screen door bang, in protest.

Don’t bang the screen! Mom’s words came too late.

Sure enough, Larry had a mountain of sand built in the middle of the sand box. He was busy, bulldozing roads around and around. Rrrrrrr, beep, beep, beep, backin’ up! Larry screeched, rumbled, and honked as he pushed sand with his yellow and black bulldozer.

Just as I thought, you’re a mess. Do you have to make so much noise? growled David.

Hi, David. Look at my roads! Larry smiled and held up the bulldozer. You want to help me?

David walked over and sat on one of the boards that was unsuccessfully trying to keep the sand inside the box. He picked up a small hot rod with flames painted on the sides. Hey, man, I remember this car. It used to be mine!

Larry stopped his work on the road to stare at David. You used to play cars?

David said, Sure, I gave you some of these. See this blue pickup? It used to be my favorite! He pushed it up Larry’s sand road.

Cool. I don’t ‘member you playing in the sandbox. You want to come help me with this road?

Nah, I’m fourteen now! David dropped the pickup. Do you think I’m a baby like you? Besides, Mom said it’s time to come in.

I’m not a baby! Larry yelled.

You are a baby, and I said it’s time to go in! David grabbed Larry’s wrist and pulled.

I don’t want to go in! Larry stuck out his lip and pulled away.

Mom said so. Come on. David pulled harder, Look, you little brat. Cooperate! Larry struggled until his hand slipped out of David’s grasp. No? Fine, then I’ll eat your peanut butter and jam sandwich. David turned away and started toward the back door.

Larry stood up, clutching the dozer, Will you make me a PB and J? His lip trembled.

Maybe.

"Okay. I’ll