The Big Fish

Sam is eight. He lives near a lake with his grandpa. Grandpa is old, but he is strong. He has a small green boat.

Today is Saturday. Sam and Grandpa are out on the lake in the boat. Sam has a new red fishing pole.

Grandpa has a big lunch in his bag.

The sun is hot. The water is blue and quiet. Sam waits and waits, but there are no fish.

Later, they have lunch in the boat. There are still no fish.

Then, suddenly, the pole bends. Something is pulling hard!

"Grandpa! A fish!" Sam shouts.

"Is it big?" Grandpa asks.

"Yes! It's really big!"

Sam pulls, and Grandpa pulls. The fish is strong. The boat rocks from side to side. Sam is very excited.

Finally, they pull it out of the water. It isn't a fish. It is an old brown boot!

Grandpa laughs, and Sam laughs too.

But there is water in the boot, and there is a small fish in the water. It is very little and very cute.

"Grandpa, it's just a baby," Sam says.

"You're right," Grandpa says. "It's too small to keep."

Sam puts the little fish back in the lake. It swims away fast.

Grandpa looks at the old boot. "This is a good boot," he says. "It's a perfect home for my flowers."

Now the boot is in his garden, with red flowers in it. Sam has a name for it: The Big Fish.