Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Cleaning Fish

"Daddy is that the one I caught? No, that one is not mine. Mine had more red on the sides and I think mine was bigger. Why are you cutting off the head? Does it hurt the fish?”
“No, B the fish is dead, it doesn’t have any feelings.”
“It’s kind of gross, cleaning fish.”
“Yes it is but it has to be done. Why don’t you go wash the fish off in that bucket of water?”
No, I think I will just watch you. Are we going to eat these fish for dinner?”
No, these will be smoked.”
“Oh……. What’s smoked?
“It is a way of making the fish good to eat and a lot of smoke is used in the process.”
“Oh….Why is the fishes eye open? Is the fish looking at us?”
“No, B the fish is dead, fish don’t have eye lids. They can’t close their eyes.”
“You mean their eyes are open all the time? How do they sleep?”
“Yip their eyes are open all the time. Hmmm….I don’t know how they sleep but they do.”
“Daddy, I think you are just making that up.”
"Well, B I might be. Well that is the last one. Are you going to help me wash them off?”
“Sure Daddy, but I think I will let you do the washing.”

21 comments:

S. Susan Deborah said...

Children dig up so much from within us and allow us to think and be on the vigil. As one grows up, this ability to question and marvel slowly fades away.

Liked this 'fishy' conversation.

How have you been GQ? Seems like a long time.

Joy always,
Susan

Arkansas Patti said...

Gosh, Susan said it all and better than I. Wonderful look into a child's curious mind.
I've missed you too.

Sylvia K said...

Ah, the little ones do have lots of questions, don't they? Love their curious minds! And it has been a while, hope you're doing well. We've all missed you! Hope you have a great day!

Sylvia

Asif said...

A very cute post. Wonderfully presented. Loved reading every line of it.

Children have this endless hunger to know, to discover. They want to know the answers for everything sometimes even for the things which there are no answers. :)

lol...at the lines ” Daddy, I think you are just making that up.” and “Sure Daddy, but I think I will let you do the washing.”

When I was having a similar type of conversation about fishes, my niece worriedly said, “Oh! Are we going to eat these now? I will never eat them. What will happen if she goes inside my stomach and swims?”

Betty said...

I'm with B. I think I'd let him do the washing, too. Good story.

Blunt Edges said...

Thinking about it, how does the fish sleep with it's eyes open? :o

Grayquill said...

Susan: Children’s questioning and curiosity does fade away but when one is observing the wonder if this innocence – it is a delight. Thanks for stopping by and your comment.

Arkansas Patti: That little one is now in her thirties – how did that happen?

Sylvia: The time we have little ones is way too short. And then a picture is found and the memory is once again fresh.

Asif: Your story is so funny. What a great memory. Yes, I have been asked questions from a child that has amazed me and you are right many times I had no answer.

Betty: Thanks, the cleaning of the fish is the dad’s job at least when they are young.

Blunt Edges: Maybe they don’t sleep – I am not a fish so I don’t really know.

Pat said...

I love the picture and love the story. Every child should know the depth of love you feel for your children.
I'm going though a time of remembering when my grandchildren were that small, and hearing in my mind those precious conversations. Now that my grandsons are 21 & 22 their conversations are not nearly so precious!

Dianne said...

oh my she's lovely
I love the part about 'Daddy I think you're just making that up'
My son used to ask me if I was making up an answer because I didn't really know or because I was tired of the questions :)

Hope sends you a big hug

If things work out for me and PotHead I will invite you to the wedding ;)

Holly Kay said...

You are so good at dialogues. I can hear her little voice asking these questions! What cute questions. The last two lines...so funny. What a treasure.

Debra said...

I've had some of the same questions about fishing as your sweet little miss B.

Wonderful sweet moment in time you captured here and I enjoyed it very much!

Blessings,
Debra

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I'm amused that the little one just prefers to watch. Amazing what you learn just watching. I love the way your words capture the moment.

Anita Jeyan said...

Actually, that fishes do not have eyelids is a new info 2 me :-)even i noticed that all fishes in my freezer have eyes open...I just thought it may have gotten startled by the fishing net..and loss of breath that its eyes were open during death.

Anonymous said...

Kids are sure smart! I almost feel like I knew little B. Have read so much about her on this blog. :)

We used to have an aquarium when I was a child. And this post reminded me of this conversation I had, with my younger neighbor, when one of the fish died.

Strange how I never noted that they don't close their eyes...

Amrita said...

I love this conversation . What a patient and loving Daddy. My Dad would have would not have talked like this.

Wendy said...

You are good at dialogues! This conversation hits home more with my 3 year old granddaughter, than with her 35 year old mother. Kids grow up so fast! Nice pic and trip down memory lane.

Wendy said...

Meant to say (her 35 year old mother, my daughter). It's hard to remember back that far, when my kids were small.

Grayquill said...

Pat: Those conversations – I have forgotten so many. Now and then my wife will recall one – how delightful those memories are but the flavor of their personality I do not forget. Whew.

Dianne: Pothead? What kind of a name is that? My visual is not a good at this moment. A totally receive all hugs – thanks Hope. Thanks for stopping by. Think about a new name for your man – there are too many people in the world like me who form negative opinions from first impressions :(

Holly Kay: You are the best! Always the encourager. Thank you!

Debra: Thank you! I hope all is well with you. Keep your chin up.

KleinsteMotte: Welcome – Thank you for your nice comment – I think we might be friends. I like you already. :-)

Anita: Gee willikers I wrote something helpful.Wonders never cease.

Choco: You had an aquarium and the fish died, hmmm….I suppose the cat got it. Or were fishing in the aquarium again. I did that once. – I caught something too.

Amrita: One of the fun things about talking with B when she was small, she never had a shortage of words – an extremely fun child to parent.

Wendy: Hi…You have a three year old granddaughter – Lucky! Thanks for the compliment and for stopping by. I hope to see you again.

Karthik said...

Such a delightful post, sir. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm still smiling. :)
Kids are sooooo good to be with.
By the way, is that you and your daughter in the pic? So cute. :)

Dianne said...

LOL about PotHead
and your last comment to me about connecting dots
I'd never marry a Pot Head RoadQuill - not to worry
I would however marry a liberal ;)

Unknown said...

I have been reading this post a long time ago but was not able to comment on it until today.... I am now using my school wireless service, which is better than my broadband at home.

So forgive me eh?

Children love to poke at fish, but rarely enjoy gutting them for dishes :)