Fishing For Dragons

1953

Just in Time for the Dragon Boat Festival

“Fishing For Dragons”  –  A Children’s Book

By Bob Abrahamson, artwork by Janie Hoffer-Moen

Fishing for Dragons, © Bob Abrahamson, illustration by Janie Hoffer-Moen | Explore Superior

Fishing for Dragons, © Bob Abrahamson, illustration by Janie Hoffer-Moen

“Don’t you dare go past the big rock,” Billy’s dad yelled to him, as Billy walked along the beach.

“I won’t dad, I promise,” Billy replied to his father, as he dragged a long stick through the surf.

Not more than eight years old on that summer afternoon, Billy was fishing for dragons.

The youngest of three boys, Billy was born with a wild and often-times very overactive imagination.

Ever since he was old enough to talk, he was known around the neighborhood as the kid with the best stories.

His friends were often left in disbelief or amazement, as they listened to Billy tell his strange tales of green sea monsters and other creatures, lurking in the deep blue waters of Lake Superior.

Even during the earliest years at the beach with his family, Billy often sat all alone on the big rock, and closed his eyes.

In his mind, he could imagine sea creatures, swimming in the lake, just far enough below the surface, to keep from being seen.

He wasn’t sure where the thought of dragons and monsters ever came from; he just knew somehow, that they were out there.

Illustration © by Janie Hoffer-Moen | Explore Superior

Illustration © by Janie Hoffer-Moen

Billy dragged his long stick in the surf, hoping that a dragon might surface close to shore someday, to prove what he had always imagined.

Walking out a little deeper still, he went past the big rock, as he fished for one of the elusive creatures.

Not too much further past the big rock, he saw the lighthouse, with its red beacon, flashing a warning to the ships that passed by.

He had never been this far away from the safety of his parents before, but the red beacon now seemed to draw him closer and closer.

Billy climbed up onto the jagged-black rocks, that made a makeshift path out to the lighthouse at the end.

One by one, he slowly and carefully climbed over each one, thinking he would have a much better view of the lake from out there.

When he made it to the very last rock, he reached up, to climb onto the cement wall that surrounded the lighthouse.

Suddenly, his foot slipped on the wet rocks, and he fell into the cold-deep lake. He yelled for his mom and dad to help him, but he knew that he was too far away for anyone to hear him yelling.

Billy swam over towards the rocks, but they were all too slippery for him to grab on to.

Then, he noticed bubbles coming up from the bottom of the lake, not too far away from him. Not many at first, the bubbles grew larger, until they appeared to look more like a boiling cauldron. Almost like magic, a set of horns broke the surface, as a green dragon rose up from the depths of the lake. It glanced over at Billy with its huge eyes, and then slowly swam over towards him.

Then, as it got closer, it dove under Billy, and surfaced again, with Billy holding on to the dragon’s horns. Billy yelled out for joy, as the dragon brought him back over to the rocks by the lighthouse, and safety.

Always a firm believer, Billy sat on the dragon’s head for a few minutes, gently stroking its forehead. As he did, the dragon slowly tilted its head back, shooting red and yellow flames from its nostrils.

Billy laughed as he held on to the dragon’s horns, sensing an instant friendship with the dragon, that had just saved his life.

Then the dragon put its head down closer to the rocks, and let Billy climb off. And just as quickly as it had appeared on the surface, it submerged back into the depths of the lake, as Billy waved goodbye to his new friend.

Billy climbed back over the rocks, hoping that he wasn’t going to be in too much trouble for getting soaking wet; not to mention almost drowning. Knowing he would be grounded for years if his parents found out where he was, he figured it was better not to even mention it, or his friend.

As he walked past the big rock, he found another stick, and began dragging it in the surf, as he made his way back to where his family was swimming.

“Where were you?” his mom asked, as Billy threw his stick into the lake.

“I was sitting on the other side of the big rock, playing in the water,” Billy replied, hoping she wouldn’t make a big deal out of him being gone for so long.

“Well, we need to get home, you’re dad got called into work,” she said, as the five of them walked back to their blankets, and got dried off.

On the way back home, Billy was glad little was mentioned about his adventure, even wondering if he could trust either of his brothers with his secret. Thinking better of it, he decided to not say a word to anyone. After all, who would even begin to believe him.

Billy’s dad dropped off his family at home, before heading to work. After supper, Billy and his two older brothers played catch out in the yard, until it was time for bed.

The next morning, Billy joined his family at the breakfast table, just in time to hear his dad’s newsflash. During a coffee break at work, Billy’s dad was asked to be one of the oarsmen in the yearly dragon-boat races.

While Billy was known around his neighborhood as the kid with the best stories, his dad and his dragon-boat crew, were known as finishing last, every time they entered a race. Billy’s dad and his friends always put their hearts into the race, but it seemed it was never enough to win.

Thinking that it was more a question of too much weight in the boat, Billy’s father was told that they needed a smaller person to sit in the front of their dragon boat, and keep the beat on their drum. The man that Billy’s dad worked for agreed that it was a good idea, hoping he could get back some of the money he spent every year, as their sponsor.

With a thousand dollars prize money, Billy thought about what his dad had said; for about five whole seconds.

“I can do it dad” Billy said, his father almost choking on his orange juice.

“You can do what?” his father replied, as he wiped off the juice that was dripping down his chin.

“I can play the dragon drum, you know I can keep a steady beat,” Billy shouted, as his father looked across the table at his wife.

Billy took a bite of his toast, sat back in his chair, and closed his eyes. He could see himself sitting on the bow of their dragon boat, and pounding out a firm-steady rhythm, as he led their boat to their first win. Thinking back over the years, he wondered if perhaps watching his father’s boat race every year, was the reason for his love and belief in dragons.

Billy opened his eyes, and took another bite of his toast, looking at his dad for an answer.

“It couldn’t hurt any honey,” Billy’s mom said, as she started clearing the table.

“Why not!” his dad bellowed out; as he finished drinking the last of his juice.

Billy smiled, knowing that now, he would be the youngest person in the dragon boat race, only two weeks away.

Billy’s dad brought the dragon drum home from work that afternoon, and explained its importance in the race. Billy sat patiently, as if he was listening to his father, while in his mind, he was on the boat, leading his team, to a triumphant victory.

For the next two weeks, he sat in his room, or out in their backyard, as he practiced his rhythm, almost driving his family crazy.

When race day came, Billy and his family headed down to the lake, and met the other team members. Almost more like a family, his father’s boss and the other oarsmen patted him on his head, as he took his place in the front of the dragon boat.

As he sat down, he looked at the other boats they would be racing against. He saw beautifully-painted dragon boats, full of very muscular men, and tanned women. Billy looked at his crew, all of them much older, and certainly not as strong looking as the people in the other boats. Still, he was excited, as he began to slowly pound on his drum, while all of the boats took their places at the starting line.

Moments later, the race official’s gun went off, as each team dug their oars into the calm lake. Instantly, their team fell into last place, as the other six dragon boats quickly pulled ahead of them.

Billy banged loudly on his drum as they fought to catch up. Thinking he needed to turn towards the bow of their boat instead of facing his team, he swung his legs around, and held the drum between his legs, never missing a beat.

He listened as all of the drums echoed across the lake, much like the heartbeats of dragons.

He pounded faster now, hoping his team could keep up with his beat. Within a minute, their boat passed three other boats, and was now in fourth place.

As they fought to catch up to the third-place boat, bubbles began to appear in front of Billy. Once again, the blue water churned and boiled, as his friend appeared. Billy stood up in the front of the boat, and smiled at the dragon, as it swam just in front of their boat.

“Let’s chase the dragon,” Billy yelled, as he pounded on his drum even faster now. His team-mates kept up with his beat, passing the third-place boat with ease.

Billy kept his eyes focused on the green dragon, as it cut through the water, looking back at times, as if it was setting the pace. A minute later, they were in second place, with one more boat left to pass.

Billy pounded even harder on his drum, as their boat headed towards the finish line. When the dragon crossed the finish line, it turned and reared its head, as it shot flames into the air. As Billy sensed victory, he pounded faster still on his drum, until his arms ached.

With only inches to spare, they crossed the finish line, for their very first win.

Billy’s team yelled and congratulated each other on their victory. As they did, Billy sat quietly on the bow of their boat, and looked up at his friend. The dragon looked down at Billy, before once again, silently slipping under the water.

Billy turned around, and looked over at his dad, who was smiling from ear to ear. Everyone shook Billy’s hand, calling him an inspiration, and thanked him for the great job he did.

As they began rowing back to the starting area, Billy wanted to tell them all, who the real inspiration was. Then again, he thought he would save his amazing story for the neighborhood kids.

After all, who would ever believe a little boy, that loved fishing for dragons.

All rights reserved, © 2015 By Robert M. Abrahamson

Bob Abrahamson | Explore Superior

Bob Abrahamson

About the author: Bob Abrahamson is a retired registered nurse, and the author of “Luck of the Draw-The Mataafa Story and Reflections.”  A Superior native, and graduate of both Superior Senior High and WTC, he enjoys likes animals, photography, playing his guitar, and writing. He is also the proud grandfather of Anthony Roy Christiansen.

Janie Hoffer-Moen | Explore Superior

Janie Hoffer-Moen

About the artist: Janie Hoffer-Moen is a painter and illustrator at Hofferstudio. She can be reached at hofferstudio@yahoo.com.

Abrahamson & Hoffer-Moen are hoping to publish this story. Once they locate a publisher to work with, Hoffer-Moen will create more illustrations to go with the printed version of “Fishing For Dragons.”




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