The second time I helped the guys load their gear into the boat, unstrap and get launched, I began to get the idea they hadn’t learned anything from the morning before. When I saw them coming the third time, I knew I was right.
We were next in line to launch onto the Tenn-Tom Waterway just north of the ICC campus when everything bogged down. The rig in front of us finally got lined up with the ramp after a considerable number of backs and forwards and, just as I thought they were finally set, they parked, got out and started fumbling with gear.
The Old Man breathed a heavy sigh, but I took pity on them and jumped out to help speed things along. The Old Man kept his seat behind the wheel while I hustled to help move ice chests, rods, tackle boxes and assorted other gear from the bed of their pickup truck into their boat, a job they should have completed before getting in line for the ramp. They thanked me many times and I assumed they’d seen their error and wouldn’t do it again. Then, the next morning, they did it again.
“Hey, there’s our helpful friend!” they said cheerfully as I strode toward them. They were somehow unfazed by the murderous looks being shot their way from drivers in the line of trucks that steadily continued to grow.
When they were finally gone for the second time and we had our own boat in the water, I told the Old Man I thought the guys hadn’t learned much from the morning before.
“What gave you that idea?” he asked. I crested the wave of sarcasm and kept the rest of my thoughts on the matter to myself.
The next morning, the Old Man had us rolling out of the driveway 20 minutes earlier than before. We were pulling away from the ramp when I saw Captain Oblivious and his mate roll up and begin piddling around, nothing transferred and nothing learned.
“Making a mistake one time is no big deal,” the Old Man said. “Doing the same thing a second time is just thoughtless. If it happens after that, it’s not a mistake, it’s a choice.”
“Reckon the folks waiting behind them will be quick to help them out today?” I asked with a smile.
“I’m pretty sure whatever they do,” he said, “they’ll make sure they finally get the message.”
Kevin Tate is a freelance writer. Email [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
