A young girl and boy are on their first fishing expedition with their strict father who prizes obedience to his words more than anything else. The father is preparing his rod and reel while his two children prepare their short poles. They stand not far from the edge of a huge rock above a fast flowing stream.

The obedient daughter patiently waits further coaching from her father. Not the son! He anxiously casts before getting his father’s final instructions and approval. Off balance, he begins to lose footing from his slippery perch. The fisherman leaps to his feet and grabs the boy by the collar before he falls to be swept away by the stream’s swift current.

In The Lake That Stole Children, angry at his son’s disobedience, the fisherman bellows at the boy so loudly that even birds in the forest flee from their tree nests: “See what can happen when you ignore your father!” The daughter and son are told they must continue to practice casting their lures close to shore.

The son resents this boring directive. He wants to cast out into the stream's center so he can catch big fish like his master-fly-fisherman father is doing. Silent and discouraged, both daughter and son continue practicing.

After seeing how discouraged her young son was, later that night when both children are in bed, the children's mother tells her husband he is too stern with their son. She feels the boy needs more love than harsh discipline.

The young boy cannot sleep. The night cries of the river are beckoning. He steals away to the fishing rock carrying his father’s prized rod, reel, and fishing pail. At the rock, he casts far into the gushing stream’s center.

Article Author: Regis Schilken

Regis Schilken's stories reflect his search for meaning in a very human but frightening way. Three of his books have been published: The Oculi Incident, The Island Off Stony Point, and a third, You Know When was just recently released. …

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