"I got one!" The next thirty seconds were complete chaos. The fish escaped. The fishing rod nearly ended up in the lake. Eli somehow managed to tangle both lines simultaneously. And yet his laughter echoed across the water.
Bright. Unrestrained. Happy. I found myself laughing too. For the first time in days. Maybe weeks. And suddenly I realized something. The fish didn't matter. Not even slightly.
A week later, I received an emergency call from Eli. At least, that was how he presented it.
"The bike is dead." I blinked.
"The bike?"
"The front wheel is making weird noises." The seriousness in his voice suggested we were discussing a medical crisis. Not a bicycle. I suppressed a smile.
"When did this happen?"
"Today."
"Have you asked your mother?"
"She said I should ask you.
