That morning, my child and I prepared to go fishing in a swamp near the village. He had been excited since the night before, constantly asking about the fish we might catch. I just smiled and said, “We'll see, maybe we’ll get a big one.”
We brought simple equipment—a bamboo fishing rod, hooks, worm bait, and a pack of rice for our meal. The journey to the swamp wasn’t too far, but the path was muddy from last night's rain. My child jumped around, trying to avoid the puddles, laughing whenever his feet almost slipped.
When we arrived at the swamp, it was still quiet. Only the sounds of insects and occasional bird calls could be heard in the distance. The swamp water looked calm with small ripples on the surface. I found a comfortable spot by the water’s edge and taught my child how to attach the bait and cast the line. He tried several times—sometimes too far, sometimes too close—but eventually, he got the hang of it.
We sat and waited. At first, he was excited, but after a few minutes without any bites, he started to get restless. “Dad, why aren’t there any fish?” he asked. I chuckled and said, “Be patient, son. Fishing takes patience. The fish need time to get interested in the bait.”
Not long after, his fishing line suddenly tightened. He was startled and quickly pulled it, but too fast, causing the bait to slip away. “Almost got one!” I exclaimed. He looked disappointed, but I patted his shoulder, encouraging him to try again.
Several times he almost caught a fish until, finally, his hook snagged onto something heavy. “Dad, this is a real fish!” he said, eyes shining with excitement. With determination, he carefully reeled it in, and from the water emerged a fairly large snakehead fish. He laughed joyfully, proud of his catch.
After a few hours, we decided to go home. Along the way, he kept talking about his fishing experience, occasionally lifting the bucket with his catch, beaming with pride. I smiled, happy to see him enjoying the moment so much.
For some people, fishing might just be about catching fish. But for me, it’s more than that. It’s about togetherness, patience, and memories that my child will carry with him for a lifetime.
