Ron sat on the dock of the old lake, if you could call it that. Mom was always trying to convince Dad that the old swimming pond was a mosquito nest, and that Dad should find a way to fill it in. But Dad was way too lazy for all of that. His days doing much more than laboring on the tractor were behind him. It was mostly Ron's cousins and a few of the Mexicans that worked the hard part of the farm during the summer time. With Dad's supervision of course.

"Wanna swim?" Bradford asked. "Or, I know! I Know! We can go fishing!" he said, eyes wide with possibility, but also discomfort over which one to choose.

Ron smiled.  "Lets fish first and then we can go swimming."  Ron had his own reel, a birthday gift from his Grandma a few years ago, and his dad kept some of his own older ones in the garage which Bradford could use.  Ron doubted that the pond had any fish in it anyway, having never caught one himself, but putting a fishing line in the water always made for a fine afternoon.  If they were really lucky, they might catch a frog and then he and Ron could put it into a Mason jar and use it to scare Mom.

They'd tried to scare Dawn with one once but, although she was scared of most other things, she didn't seem afraid of frogs.  In fact, she'd been the one to dump it out of its jar and then she'd stuck it into her pocket and carried it to Mom herself.  Of course, Mom had jumped and screamed when she saw it.  She always did at small critters.

Bradford rubbed his eyes, shielding them from the bright sun.

"Good idea" He agreed, and then with more excitement.

"We can catch a fish and then swim like fish!"

He opened the tackle box.

Ron looked at the reel that his Grandma gave him. It's thin, whispy surface glistened in the hot sun. Many a fish had been caught with this rod. There was no reason to assume that today would be any different. After all, Bradford and him and done quite a job a few weeks back, grabbing a good share of porgy fish before the sun went down and Mom's voice could be heard calling and echoing out in the open plains to come home.

OOC: Ron gets +2 to the upcoming fishing roll


"Blood worms then?" Bradford asked, excited by the idea of using the nasty buggers to catch some fish.

Ron nodded and his smile widened as well at the prospect as well.  "Yeah!"  He looked around to see if anyone else was coming.  It was unlikely, but sometimes other kids came by as well to hang out and fish or to swim.  If enough kids showed up, they might be able to get a decent game of Army Man or War together.

[OOC:  Sorry, missed this one!  Did you want me to make a roll to fish?  And if so, what would you like me to roll?]

As Bradford hooked the bloodworm onto the end of the fishing Rod, Ron took a quick glance around. At the far end of the dock, he saw Billy Clemens and Joshua Taub setting up their own fishing spot.

It wasn't that Ron didn't have good interactions with Billy and Joshua. It was just that sometimes you could never predict if Billy was going to use any moment to make something a competition. And since they were both best friends, when Billy got to being mean or angry or competitive, Joshua was right behind him all of the way.

This far out in the country, finding kids to play with was hard on free days. If you made a trip out to the lake to go fishing, that was likely the only destination you could reach all day. Unless there was a barbecue or a wedding or some special occasion, the farms around Ron were sufficiently far enough away to make each venture out to play an excursion in and of itself.

Still, the lake was as good a place as any to meet up with kids accidentally, and this deck, known for catching good star fish, was one of the more popular ones.

OOC: Not yet. I'll let you know when. No worries. This is just a memory thread.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:06, Sat 10 Sept 2016.

Ron waved towards Billy and Joshua, being sure to make it a brief wave of acknowledgement and greeting, rather than a call for the other two boys to join them.  Ron felt like making this a relaxing day.  He'd finished all of his chores early and had even made a few bucks spreading straw on Mr. Shannon's land to protect that new grass he'd just put in.

Working for Mr. Shannon was usually easy work.  You did a little bit of work, but spent most of the time listening to Mr. Shannon tell stories about his service in World War 2.  His wife would even bring out a pitcher of iced tea and put it on the table under the shade umbrella in his back yard.  Mr. Shannon had been an officer on a ship in the Pacific Ocean and told really good stories about fighting the Japanese.  He called them "Japs", but when Ron had been re-telling one of the stories, his Mom had scolded him for saying it, so he only said it when she wasn't around.

Dad was actually out working, having found a few days work fixing a bulldozer at one of the construction sites in town and Mom had shooed him out of the house for making a mess while she and Dawn were cleaning and dusting.  He'd puttered around in the yard for a while until Bradford had showed up wanting to go fishing.  They'd invited Dawn, but she'd been "busy" helping Mom clean.  Which mostly seemed to involve following Mom around and making small messes that Mom had to add to her cleaning so far as Ron could tell.

So, while Army Man or War would be a fun way to spend the rest of the day, with Billy and Joshua around it would become a lot more competitive than Ron would have cared for today.  All of this went through Ron's head as he hooked his own bloodworm and cast his line into the pond.

Joshua smiled an oily smile back at Ron from across the dock. It reminded Ron of the time that Joshua and Billy had played 'hit cars with pine cones.' Somehow, Ron got the sense that his Mom really didn't care for Joshua and didn't want Ron hanging out with the boy.

"Oh. Those two." Bradford said in a tone that seemed to indicate displeasure.

"Ron, we gotta catch a good fish today. I think we can catch some of the trout that Mr. Shannon says looked like the fish the Japs ate." He placed the bloodworm on the hook and cast his own line out.

"If you could catch anything today...I mean anything, what would it be?" Bradford asked, tugging at the line.

OOC: Ron Rolls Dexterity + Animal Ken + equipment (2)

Ron thought for a moment before remembering one of the many magazines that his Dad had stacked up next to the recliner.  He thought it was called "Salt Water Sportsman" or something like that and one of them had shown a man standing next to a big fish with a long, sharp nose.  "I'd like to catch a Marlin, I guess.  It's a big fish that lives in the ocean, and it's got a long nose like a swordfish.  I guess a swordfish would be pretty neat too."

[OOC:  Today: Ron King rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((10(+9),1,2,7,5,8)).]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Wed 14 Sept 2016.

Bradford nodded as Ron cast the line out just like he had seen in the fishing magazine. Then, there was a 'plunk' sound, followed by what felt like a bite of some kind. Ron gently tugged on the line, only to feel more resistance. At first, he thought it must be a really big fish.

But then, he felt that familiar tug, followed by the rod bending far--way to far. With no movement at all, this clearly meant the worst had happened---a snag.

"Looks like you hit a snag." Bradford said, thinking the same thing. "I'll get it."

He started to wade out into the water, knees deep into it, hands fishing around for Ron's line. He grabbed a hold of it and started to pull slowly, just like Ron had done a dozen times before so that the line didn't snap.

Ron could see the end of his fishing line release and felt the weight of the snag go away. He looked up and saw what it was:

A bottle.

Bradford was holding a clear bottle. And something was inside. He uncorked it, pulling out a piece of paper. Then Bradford's large eyes grew even more magnified behind his large glasses.

"It's a message..." he said in a slow voice that sounded worried. He waded back towards Ron and handed over the note, which was written on a large piece of paper.

Ron felt a shiver down his spine and glared at Bradford for a moment, thinking maybe that he was playing a trick on him.  Seeing that Bradford looked worried, he dismissed that thought.  While he definitely wasn't stupid, Ron wasn't always a quick thinker, so he pondered the note for a few moments.  He glared again, but this time in the direction of Joshua and Billy.  "It's probably just those jerks playing some stupid prank on us, Bradford.  Don't worry about it."  Still, he folded the note up and put it into his pants pocket, the same one that he kept his pocket knife in.

"Wathcha got there!?" Joshua Taub asked, having snuck up on the dock behind both Ron and Bradford.

"I seen ya' foldin' somethin' up!" Josh announced.

"Yeah, he was foldin' something up Joshua. I saw him do it." Billy added, helpfully.

Ron scowled again and turned to the other two boys.  "None o' your business."  Ron's comment was directed at both boys.  "It was just a cool bottle that the line brought up."  Ron's original thought that the message was some sort of trick the other two boys were playing didn't jive with their questions, so there had to be another answer about where the message had come from, but Ron couldn't think of anything.

"Lemme see!" Joshua said and he advanced, cutting the distance rather quickly. His arms were extended, clearly meaning to shove them inside Ron's clothes, get at the letter.

Billy began to shout out directions to Joshua, aiding his friend.

"It's in his left pocket!"

"No it not! Get out of here you guys!" Bradford shouted. And soon everyone was shouting. The quiet dock soon began a loud yelling-fest.

Ron clapped his hand over the pocket that he'd stuck the paper in and took a step or two back.  "Back off, you two!  We don't wanna fight, but we'll kick your ass if we gotta!"  Ron took up a good position to fight if he had to.  He knew that he wasn't the best fighter in school, but he was strong and tough and had been in a few scrapes.

"Just 'cause you work outside here don't make you stronger than anyone else Ron. We also work on our own farms, plus we pull hours on Mr. Shannon's farm. You ain't as special or as tough as you make out to be." Joshua quipped. He wasn't advancing anymore, and instead had reverted to barbed words.

"Plus I seen your Dad and he's fat." Joshua added.

"Real fat. And lazy." Billy added, helpfully.

Ron reddened and shouted.  "You take that back!  My dad ain't lazy!  He got hurt and can't work like he used to is all!"  Ron balled his fists and took a step forward.  "Now, take it back and get outta here or I'm gonna beat the crap outta both of you!"

[OOC:  It looks like Ron will be trying to Intimidate them.  What is my roll?]

Ron felt hot anger rush up his neck and into his cheeks.

OOC: Ron Rolls Strength + Intimidation

Ron glared at both boys and took another step forward.  "I said, take it back and get the Hell outta here!"


[OOC:  Today: Ron King rolled 2 successes using 2d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((9,9)).]

Joshua took several steps back, moving quickly, feet shuffling on the dock.

"Hey, it was just a joke." He said, sounding like Ron was overacting. His hands came up, palms facing Ron in a gesture of surrender. He didn't apologize, or take anything back. His tone suggested that Ron's reaction was misplaced, but it didn't feel misplaced at the time. And what Joshua said really didn't feel like a joke initially. In fact, it still didn't feel that way.

Billy's eyes grew wide, the expression of someone who felt like things had gone too far.

Ron glared at the two boys.  "Don't you even joke about my dad ever again, or I'm gonna put my fist in both of your faces.  Now, go fish someplace else!"  Ron stood on the dock staring at the two boys, fists still balled up, to make sure they got the hint to get lost.

"You don't own this dock!" Joshua said, but his voice lacked the conviction of his statement and already he was shrinking away, his hand reaching down to grab the tackle box that was just a few feet away sitting on one of the dock's old, rotted boards.

"Come on Joshua." Billy said in a meek voice. "Let's get out of here. There are better places to fish on the other side of the lake, near Ms. Wilson's house."

As the two boys left, Ron turned to see that Bradford was right next to him the whole time. "I think you really scared 'em Ron!" he said.

"I think they'll be shivverin' in their Mommas' army boots for a while!" he added.

"They had no right to talk about your Dad like that." He said, tone becoming somewhat serious. "I don't like Joshua none. Actually, sometimes I think Billy can be OK when he isn't around Joshua."

Ron smiled, but mostly for Bradford's sake.  He didn't like to lose his temper like that, especially since Bradford was right.  Joshua was a giant jerk, but Billy wasn't half bad sometimes.  "I don't really feel like fishing right now.  I think I'm gonna go swimming for a little bit."  Ron pulled off his shirt and moved to the edge of the dock.  "You can come if you want or keep fishing."  He smiled and laughed.  "If you do, don't try to hook me!"

"Naw" Bradford said, tossing his rod onto the deck where it clattered. "We don't need to fish right now."


He took off his own shirt, revealing a torso that was pale and skinny, ribs exposed.

"Let's race!" he challenged, and he took his glasses off. Bradford's eyes looked beady without them, and the moved back and forth in small, minuscule motions like rat eyes, sensitive to the light.

Bradford got it the water, ready to race.

OOC: Ron Rolls Dexterity + Athletics + 1 Specialty Swimming

Ron hopped in the water, but as he did so his foot sunk deep into the mud at the bottom of the lake.  He didn't fall, but slipped and almost lost his balance, possibly leading to Bradford having a decent head start on him.

[OOC:  , Today: Ron King rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((2,8,3,4,3,4)).]

22:17, Today: Storyteller, on behalf of Bradford Stork, rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((5,2,10(+8),2)).

Wha-ploosh!

Bradford jumped in the water and headed out towards the buoy in the middle of the lake. They had done it a thousand times, especially on hot days like this in the summer. The water was cold but in a few seconds it felt refreshing.

Ron raced after Bradford, trying to catch up after his own less-than-amazing start.  The buoy was just the mid-point and once they tagged it they would swim back.  Bradford had a head start, but Ron was confident that he could catch up to the other boy at some point in the race.

OOC: Ron Rolls Dexterity + Athletics + 1 Specialty Swimming


Ron took a deep breath and went underwater. He felt a tingling sensation on his nose, and he blew out some bubbles and it went away. He opened her eyes and looked around. It was always funny how hair floated around like it was seaweed.

Ron's Mom had always been enchanted by the thought that she could fly underwater the same way birds did in the sky. That's what she told Ron about swimming in this very lake and how she felt when she was a kid.  Ron kicked with his legs and went forward, the sediment at the bottom of the lake creating whirlwinds with every movement. A couple of fish became aware of his presence and swam away frightened. Ron could feel the fresh water slide by him as he swam after Bradford towards the buoy.

Now that he was free of the clinging mud, Ron was easily able to push through the water.  As he saw the fish swimming away, he couldn't help but keep an eye out for a goldfish, like from the note that they'd discovered.

[OOC:  Today: Ron King rolled 5 successes using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((10(+9),9,9,1,5,10(+6))).]

22:46, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((5,4,1,8)).

"You...win....again." Bradford said as he doggy paddled up to the buoy. It was just as Ron had thought. He was a better swimmer than most, and had gotten off to a slow start with the mud.

As he was in the water Bradford asked.

"Whose Ralph?" It was clear that he too was thinking about the letter.

"I mean..." he waited a second to catch his breath. "Who do you think he his? Or was?"

Ron thought for a few moments.  "The note says that he was a boy like us, but he got turned into a goldfish.  It said his name was Ralph, but I don't know any kids named Ralph.  At least not any kids younger than us."  He scowled.  "It's probably just some sort of stupid joke by somebody.  But maybe we should keep an eye out for goldfish, just in case."

"Alright." Bradford agreed, not really satisfied. But what could he do? The proof was in the note. And it was strange. But there weren't any Goldfish here.
They would just have to keep a look out.

"Hey, let's get back to the dock before those two come back. I want to make sure our stuff is OK."

Ron nodded and headed back towards where he and Bradford had left their stuff.  He didn't think that the two other boys would mess with their stuff, but Bradford's comments made him not-so-sure as he would be otherwise.

The two boy made their way back to the dock. When they got there, everything was fine, Joshua and his friend having been scared off earlier by Ron. The two boys enjoyed the rest of the day by the lake.

OOC: End Thread