Benjamin, a background character in the title story in Hunting Muskie: Rites of Passage, steps in today as guest blogger for Metaphors of Life Journal.
Hmmm, is it not a bit strange for a ghost to be the guest writer for Michael’s blog?
After all, I am already dead by the time the title story Hunting Muskie opens. But he says my viewpoint is unique because I know the history of the story’s main characters – my father Norman and older brother Tom – better than anyone else.
I guess I should start with Norman. Dad was a geologist – sorry, is a geologist. Dad always refuses to be referred to in the past tense in any context which should tell you a lot about him. He can be stubborn as the day is long – even more so since Mom died.
Dad was never much interested in organized religion. But there are a couple of things that he has made into his own religion.
The first one is the cottage at Rice Lake – or rather, Rice Lake itself and his cottage there. Dad has scrutinized everything there is to read about Rice Lake and the islands in it. He knows the history in minute detail going back a century or more. He schooled Tom and I on that history every time we were at the cottage as a family.
His other religion is fishing. Dad has devoted himself to it with a passion that borders on obsession. God help you if you go fishing with him and do not take it seriously. There is a perfect way to cast your line. The proper lures for every type of fish and the exact right way to work them. Even the one and only proper technique for setting the hook.
What can I say about my brother Tom? He and I were as different as night and day. Tom said I was more like Dad than I cared to admit. That might have been true. But Tom was much more what Dad expected in a son. He has a profession that met Dad’s approval. I always worked in construction and, no matter how well it paid, it did not quality as a profession to Dad.
Don’t get me wrong. I know Dad loves me. But he will never forgive for the foolhardy way I died and the fact that hit happened at his treasured cottage.
Now you know the back story to Hunting Muskie. The story itself takes place when Dad invites Tom to the cottage for a week of fishing. Actually, it was more of a summons than an invitation. It is obvious to Tom that Dad has something weighty on his mind. But you cannot make Dad talk about something until he is good and ready to do so.
Oh yes, there is a Muskie, the fish of ten thousand casts, to be caught. And some history that makes the battle extra special. But trust me, you do not have to be a fisherman to appreciate what that pivotal moment comes to mean.
Michael reminds me to tell you that Hunting Muskie is the title story in his short story collection. Do not get the mistaken impression that the whole book is about fishing. Apparently, there is juicy metaphor involved which probably will not surprise you!
~ Coming in October 2017: Hunting Muskie, Rites of Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet
~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of Until the Deep Water Stills: An Internet-enhanced Novel – “ double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.
~ Subscribe to Michael’s Metaphors of Life Journal aka Things That Make Me Go Hmmm at its internet home www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2. Instructions for subscribing are provided in the “Subscribe to this Blog: How To” instructions page in the right sidebar. If you are reading this post on another social networking site, come back regularly to my page for postings once a week.
Tags: Hunting Muskie · metaphor · Michael Robert Dyet · muskie · Rice LakeNo Comments