"Is Grandpa here yet?" Marinette came from downstairs into the kitchen. "Why? Why is Grandpa coming?" Cat asked her.
"Well, once a year, Dad takes a day off and goes fishing with Grandpa." Fishing, huh? Cat loved salmon, especially when Mari's mom made it.
Tom came in, wiping his hands on his apron. "Grandpa here yet, you two?" Tom asked. "No. He should be here any minute."
Knock! Knock! "Grandpa!" Mari opened the door to find her grandfather, Rolland Dupain standing there. "Hello, dear. Hello, Cat Noir."
"I want to go fishing too!" Cat blurted out. Okay, he knew nothing about fishing. But, hey he wanted a fish right?
Grandpa laughed. "Have you fished before?" Cat went a bit red. "No. But I know I can learn." "Tell you what my boy. If you catch a fish, I'll buy you a ice cream from Andre's. If I win, a want a new rolling pin."
Cat couldn't resist a bet. "Deal," he said. "Have fun guys," Marinette said. She handed Cat the picnic basket her mother had made up this morning. She reached up to kiss Cat's cheek. "You be a good Kitty."
The sky was a perfect picture blue as Tom, Grandpa, and Cat walked down to the river Seine. Finding their spot Tom got out there tackle box.
"Here is your pole," Tom said, handing it to Cat. Cat inspected it. The stick (er, pole) curved in the middle and bent a bit. Its nice, but its a stick compared to my baton. Why is even as a umbrella feature.
Cat's thoughts were interrupted as Tom thrust a worm in his face. "Ugh! What is that?" Cat said, cringing away from it. Grandpa laughed. "Fishing bait. Aren't you a certain bait for my granddaughter?" Okay, the old man had a point. Cat was quite a catch, and he loved dating Marinette. Still, Grandpa could work on his jokes. "I'm the master of puns," Cat said, grinning. "So, put your worm on the hook. Unless your scared?"
Cat could see Grandpa was just teasing. He grabbed the worm, and it wriggled around. "I'm no scared y-Cat."
He poked his tongue out of the side of his mouth. The worm was slippery. Just pretend its one of your rubber ducks, Cat told himself. Cat liked to play with his rubber ducks in the tub, and like the worm could be very slippery.
Finally, he got the thing wiggling on the hook. Cat looked at Tom. "What do I do now?" "Now cast your line out."
Okay, that didn't look hard. Cat cast his line and it plopped down in the water close were the men were standing.
"Try again," Tom was encouraging. "That's not how its done," Grandpa grumbled. Cat took a deep breath. Flick! Plop!
Now he was fishing! "Now, we wait." Cat wondered if fishing was actually a lesson in patience. He and Tom talked about the bakery while Grandpa held his pole in one hand, and snoozed in the sun.
Cat felt his line tug gently. "I think I got one!" Cat said. "Okay, carefully. Reel it in," Tom said. Cat could see the fish jumping out in the water.
Suddenly, sloosph! Cat was pulled into the water. He climbed out of the water, feeling a little sorry for himself. Good thing Mari wasn't here to see that.
A spot of red caught Cat's eye, and he rubbed himself dry with a towel, he caught sight of Ladybug. Great, way to impress Milady by falling into the water. Cat pretended he hadn't seen her. Ladybug settled down on her perch.
Cat was determined to catch a fish, especially now when he had such a captive audience.
Cat found another worm, and soon he had cast his line once again.
It really was a nice day. Warm and sunny. Cat dried as he waited for another fish to bite, he stared into the water.
"Here fishy-fishy," Cat called. His tail twitched back and forth. Where was his fish? Hmm. His hand was a little tired from holding the fishing pole. I know, Cat thought. I can hold it with my tail!
Cat grinned as he put his pole in his tail. Ah, so much better! He closed his eyes enjoying the warm sun.
"Help me!" Cat was pulled into the water a second time, bouncing along the water. Oh why was fishing this hard? "I don't even like water!" Cat meowed pitifully. The fish slipped the line, throwing up some water into Cat's face. The fish seemed to say, HA! I won that round!
"Maybe fishing isn't your thing," Tom said to Cat as he handed the towel to Cat for the second time. Okay, so maybe he did want to give up.
But, salmon! One of his favorite dishes! Mama Cheng (which was what Cat called Mari's mom) made it with cornbread and fresh greens. No, he had to get his fish.
This time, he concentrated hard holding the fishing line in his paw. Soon, he had another bite, but this time he used his muscles!
The fish jumped and jerked, but Cat knew he could win. Soon, the fish tired and Tom carefully helped Cat reel it in.
Grandpa smiled from underneath his fishing cap. "Now that's how its done!" Cat grinned. "So, do I get my ice cream now?" He licked his lips hopefully.
"Well, son. You did win the bet!"
Cat proudly showed Andre his fish. "Good job, Cat Noir! Now here's your reward!"
Andre scooped some ice cream into a cone. He handed it to Cat Noir. "Enjoy!"
Cat looked at his ice cream. The first layer was a lighter blue. That was cotton candy, the color reminded him of Tom.
The second layer was was white and brown. Rocky Road, Cat thought, smiling at Grandpa. Grandpa could seem tough on the outside, but a softie on the inside.
The last layer was his very own. Pistachio, just like his green eyes which while catching the fish had gleamed in determination.
Mari kissed him when he got back, telling him she was so proud of him. As Cat took a nap, waiting for dinner he thought of something.
He was happy to have caught his first fish, but spending time with Papa Dupain and Grandpa Rolland was a memory he'd laugh and remember the rest of his life.