It was June 22nd and George Leroy Marlin was not thinking about Christmas. With a name like Marlin, you can bet he was thinking about fishing. Not deep-sea fishing, though. The family finances wouldn’t extend to that, or a bass boat, or even a fishing license, truth be told. This is why George Leroy was not thinking about Christmas. He was thinking about what he was going to say to the game warden scrambling down the bank of his favorite and most secret fishing hole.
The game warden slid down the last few feet of scree to the bottom. He regained his footing and said, “George Leroy, you know I got to ask you for your fishing license.
“Warden, you know I ain’t got one,” George answered. “I just got to catch dinner for the family.”
The warden sighed. “You know you can’t fish here without a license.”
“C’mon, Warden, can’t you let it go this once? I ain’t takin’ more than three or four, just enough for me and Marlene and the kids.”
“Not this time, George Leroy. It’s always the same old story. Steal hungry or steal full, it’s still stealing. I gotta take you in.”
So on June 22nd, instead of getting half a dozen catfish to fry up for supper, Marlene got a call from the jail.
“Sugar, I’m sorry. I’m not going to be home with supper tonight. Warden thinks I got to talk over the license situation with the judge.”
Slightly hysterical squawking poured out of the receiver, peppered with some choice cuss words. “Now, honey, it’ll be straightened out by tomorrow.” More squawking. “Darlin’, you know you can make a great supper no matter what we don’t got. You’re that good.” The squawking died down to a coo as the two exchanged endearments and hung up.
George Leroy enjoyed a jailhouse supper that was a good deal tastier than most of the meals Marlene fixed him at home. He had been stretching the truth when he encouraged Marlene about her cooking. The only thing she could cook was fish. She cooked fish well enough to explain George Leroy’s reluctance to give up fishing just because he couldn’t afford a license. George Leroy was reluctant to give up fishing period; he like it better than working, any day. Sometimes he wondered if he was a lazy, lying thief, but most of the time he saw himself as a misunderstood man who was meant to spend his life with a fishing pole in his hand.
After a breakfast that rivaled all of Marlene’s efforts except cereal, George Leroy tucked in his shirt and went before the judge.
“How do, Judge Conyers,” he said, respectfully removing his fishing hat.
“Good morning, Mr. Marlin,” the judge answered. “You are charged with fishing without a license. Failure to show an officer your license is a Class C misdemeanor of the Parks and Wildlife Code. How do you plead?”
“Your Honor, you know I need that fish to feed my family. You know I ain’t got money for a license.”
“Were you, or were you not fishing without a license, Mr. Marlin?”
“I ain’t got no license, but I dare anybody to say I was fishing!” George Leroy puffed out his chest defiantly.
The judge sighed. “You’re pleading ‘Not Guilty,’ then?”
“You bet I am, Judge!” George replied.
“George Leroy,” the judge said, “This is serious. You can be fined as much as $500.”
“It might as well be a million, Judge, ’cause I ain’t got that kind of money, besides the fact I wasn’t fishin’.”
Judge Conyers lowered his reading glasses from the top of his shiny bald head to the end of his nose and pored over the game warden’s report.
“Says here you had a pole and a can of bait.”
“Layin’ on the shore. I wasn’t fishin’.”
“But you were going to fish,” the judge insisted testily. “Besides, the warden asked you for your license and you didn’t have one.”
“Why would I need a license if I wasn’t fishin’? You answer me that, Judge.”
“But you were going to fish.” Judge Conyers’ face began to turn an alarming shade of magenta.
Leroy folded his arms across his chest and said, “Can’t prove it.”
“Then you’re going to trial! Bail is set at $200.” The judge relieved his feelings with a sharp rap of his gavel.
“Two hundred dollars?! Where’re me and Marlene gonna get $200?! How long before the trial? This ain’t fair! I wasn’t fishin’!” George Leroy protested as he was led away to the cell that looked like it was going to be his home away from home. But not for long, surely.
Excellent storytelling! The story drew me in from the beginning and captivated me to the end.
George’s was comical and so misunderstood. Hopefully, he’ll be able to win his case and make it home to Marlene.
I look forward to reading more of your stories as well as part 2 of George’s story.
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Omega! I look forward to sharing the rest of George Leroy’s story with you!
Well, George Leroy’s already pulled me in by his clever manipulation of the truth! Can’t wait to see where things go from here. Your writing paints a vivid picture of the “dance” some folks have to do to get by. Look forward to more of the story!
Great story! Looking forward to reading what happens next. @andreanourse
Wow. You are an amazing story teller! Poor George lol and how true the story is. People really do go to jail for not having a fishing license. I’ll keep an eye out for part 2! I really liked this! George’s voice came through loud and clear which is also amazing ♥️ Keep up the great work!!
Angelia, when I first wrote this, I thought I might be stretching the truth about someone going to jail for fishing without a license. Good to know George Leroy’s plight is believable!
This kind of story is not usually my cup of tea. But I have to admit, I was pulled in by the dialogue and wondering how our man George was going to “worm” out of this. Very much the type of story my grandfather would’ve told (another wily individual w/ Southern roots…).
Great story! 🙂 I love the voice. Can’t wait for the rest of it!
@lala412
(A fellow Texan)
Beautiful writing… gave a nice small town feel and I felt sorry for George for being caught until he got a breakfast better than what Marlene makes 😊. I’m intrigued as to how George will get himself out of trouble and how all this will tie to Christmas. @fishpen3
Excellent writing! Can’t wait for more!!!
Hilarious. I favorite part is how stealing hungry or full is the same. Lol
I loved reading this! “a man who was ment to spend his life with a fishing pole in his hand.” Thank you for this line, my grandfather was too a man who would spend every waking moment fishing if he could. You took me back to my childhood standing on banks watching endless casts float across the sky and land into the rushing current with a plunk. I used to catch earthworms in the gardens and toss them into that very bait can, and must say I havent thought about that in years. 💕
Wonderful story & thank you for taking me back down memory lane! Looking forward to see how George gets himself out of this pickle!
@J_LReynolds
Loved it! The slang reminds me of growing up in W VA… took me to the side of the river with my dad. He couldn’t afford a license either. I suspect George Marlin liked the banter with the game warden… and the food at the jail a little more than the banter and food at home.
Wow, Sherry! You are such a talented writer. You have a knack for making characters come to life. I can see George vividly in my mind’s eye. I look forward to finding out what happens next. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world!
Thank you, Shari! it’s music to my ears that George Leroy is real and believable.
What a character George Leroy is! Clever name for his wife – Marlene Marlin. Haha!
I love the promise of the story arc right from the get-go. It’s June, but we already know that getting home for the holidays is going to be a nail=biter. And I love the showing-not-telling that gives us some early insight into George Leroy’s character and the lies he’s willing to tell to try to get along. This story took me back to Texas with just some simple dialect that rings true: “How do.” I’m looking forward to following this. What a fun idea to do a serialization. Thanks for sharing, Sharon! @CatMallette
I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! Thank you for taking the time to tell me what the story evokes for you. This is meat and drink for a writer!
It’s a beautiful piece and I think this is a great writer with an even brighter future, k_mcKerrington
I’m so intrigued about how this will turn into a Christmas story! I enjoyed George’s sense of humor and the way everyone in town knew each other so well. @LaurieLucking
It’s fun to know I’m keeping you guessing! Just you wait!
I loved your story. Poor, old George can’t catch a break! I’m looking forward to the next chapter.
Stay tuned! The next installment will be posted tomorrow!
Poorb George Leroy!! He’s clever. Looking forward to seeing how he gets out of this.
I read this chapter to my mom and she loved it!
Glad you and your mom are enjoying it!
Looking forward to each of these installments! Thanks for sharing your words with the world!
@stephmichele3
Such a great format to share! I just found it, and will follow along! I am enjoying “getting to know you” through all your links. I am from Texas also, and am finessing my first attempt at a novel. I love your voice. @CarmanKafie (my first name is Kafie)
Glad you’re having fun with this, Kafie! I sure am! Speaking of voice, James Scott Bell has a great book on it, VOICE: THE SECRET POWER OF GREAT WRITING.
Oh Sharon—this is priceless! I gasped out loud at the mention of the game warden—I’m an only child of and avid outdoorsman and it brought back a few memories when my dad forgot to get a liscense for me 😉 But Marlene’s cooking made me laugh out loud! Can’t wait to read the rest!
This story seems to be bringing back good memories for several readers. This is something I really love about being a writer!
I’m hooked! Love it!
@lorriehdomin
George hooked me! Pun intended, but it’s true. Great story. Can’t wait to read where this goes. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVED the phone interchange between Marlene and Leroy. “Slightly hysterical squawking poured out of the receiver, peppered with some choice cuss words.” I laughed out loud when I read this.
Now to find out if he is to enjoy weeks of tasty prison meals or go back to Marlene’s mediocre cooking. 🙂
Great job!!!!!!
Sarah
@_thislittlebyrd
(We were already following each other and I fully support you!)
It’s music to my ears that I made you laugh!
I love the voice here! I literally laughed out loud over Marlene’s cooking. I can sympathize, Marlene! Although, I can’t cook fish either haha
-Gabi
(Temporarily displaced fellow Texan 🙂 @GabrielleAsh4 on Twitter)
Love this! And what a great idea to give us a chapter a week until Christmas! Can’t wait to read the next one!
Lovely voice. Are you basing Marlene after me? 😂
Thank you for the compliment. I’m always interested in my readers’ experience of my stories. It sounds like you can relate to Marlene. Tell me why!