Skylar's P.O.V
I was walking and talking with Zuri when Gladys was about to announce something."Attention, campers!"Gladys shouted through her megaphone."Today is the 97th annual Camp Kikiwaka fishing contest."Gladys announced.Everyone clapped and cheered.
"So, hurry up and find yourself a partner.Something I wish I done years ago."Gladys said."Wow! Winning this contest would look great on my application."Tiffany said."Your application for college or for working at a bait and taco shop?"Zuri asked her.
"Hey, the Aville wants to see that your well rounded so right now, I'm all about that bass."Tiffany said.I looked at her weirdly."The team that catches the biggest fish gets to be excused from chores for one whole week."Gladys said.
Everyone clapped and cheered once more."Boooo!"Ravi said.We all looked at him."I actually enjoy chores.Alphabetizng the lost n' found is the highlight of my day."Ravi told us."Which is just sad, by the way."I said.
"If you find my hopes and dreams in there, let me know."Gladys said, looking like she was about to cry.Everyone walked away to go find their partners."Hey Ravi, Skylar, wanna come with me to get Big Whiskers?"Lou asked us.
"Sure, Lou."I replied."Yes!A thousand times yes!"Ravi exclaimed."I have tried every mustache growing ointment known to man!"Ravi said.I gave him a weird look."Oh, this is not about facial hair, is it?"Ravi asked her."No,"Lou said.R Ravi looked down at the ground in embarrassment.
"Big Whiskers is a catfish I've been trying to catch for 8 years."Lou said."Last time he got away, he took my finger with him."Lou told us, holding up her hand."You still have 5 fingers."I told her."I used to have 6."she said.
Me and Ravi gave her a shocked look."He actually did me a favor.I can wear gloves now!"Lou said happily."It would be nice to win at a camp related sport.Crushing the macrame tournament did not get me the street cred I hoped for."Ravi told us.
"Hey, Emma!Wanna partner up for the competition?"Xander asked."Absolutely!"she replied."Great.Ready to do some freshwater fishing?"He asked her."Freshwater, sparkling water, you name it.I'll even throw in a twist of lime."she said.
"Cool."he said, walking away."OMG!Xander just asked me out on a fishing date."Emma said to Lou."We get to spend all day in a canoe together.It'll be so romantic."she said, looking up in imagination.
"So, did you get Mr.Right to partner with?"Emma asked Lou."I teamed up with Ravi and Skylar."she said, motioning over to us.We waved at them."I am so sorry.And don't you think that a kid on the date is kinda gonna kill the mood?"Emma said.
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Ravi, Lou, and I were standing in the lake by the camp grounds.I had to put on overalls over what I was wearing.And I had to change into some rubber fishing boots.We got in the water."Um, before we begin, will you guys teach me how to use this fishing rod?"Ravi asked us.
"Absolutely! Here's your first lesson."Lou replied.She took the fishing rod and handed it to me and I threw it onto shore."Is the fish supposed to climb on shore and bite the hook? Because that is asking an awful lot."Ravi said.
"Nope.We're gonna fish the natural way."I told him."I refuse to take my clothes off!"Ravi said."What the-no!That's not why we're talking about."I told him."Were talking about hand fishing."Lou told him and I nodded.
"My grandpa, Clem, taught me.We had so much fun.He'd do a little happy dance with every fish he caught."Lou said, pulling us into it."Aww, he sounds adorable."Ravi said."And then he wrap his hand around it's neck and watch the lights go put in it's eyes."Lou finished darkly.
"He sounds like he should be in a secure facility."Ravi said, sounding scared.I nodded."With 24 hour watch."I added."Well, enough time wasting while our tootsies get all pruney.Time to catch that fish."Ravi said and I nodded."Oh, were gonna catch em'."Lou told him.
"He's close.I can smell him."Lou said.She started to smell the air.Ravi and I both smelled the air.All of us smelled the air.I don't smell Big Whiskers, but do smell a whole lot of things other than that.
"Are you sure that's Big Whiskers?"I asked her."Because I am pretty sure this camp shares a property line with a crematorium."Ravi said.I nodded."I see him.I spy with my little eye, a fish I will choke, and then watch die."Lou sung darkly.
"Wow.You just took a joyful childhood game and turned it ugly."I said."Big Whiskers!Welcome to my grip of death!"Lou said.She stuck her hand in the water and brought up a boot."At least you caught a sole."Ravi said.She looked at him.
"Because it is the part of a shoe.And the name of fish."Ravi informed her.He grabbed something from his overalls."Samosa?"He offered her."Just hand me a fly.I grabbed a fly and handed it to Ravi and he handed it to Lou.
"Good idea!If we want to win this competition, we should-,"Then Lou ate the fly."I did not see that coming."I said."Why, may I ask, did you just eat a fly?"Ravi asked her."To know your enemy, you must be like him.Before last year's contest, I took a bath in tarter sauce."Lou told us.
I gave her a look that said, "Really?"
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"Here, fishy fishy!Here, fishy fishy!"Lou said creepily.Me and Ravi were sitting on some rocks on shore.She gasped when she saw something beneath her.Probably more junk she thought was Big Whiskers.
"Got ya, punk!"she exclaimed.She took her hands underwater and pulled up half of a rubber pipe.She groaned in frustration."Big Whiskers!Why won't you let me choke you out?"she asked to no one in particular.She threw it on the shore and some of the water flopped on me and Ravi.
"On the bright side, you have collected enough items to make a lovely rummage sale."Ravi told her."I'm pretty sure all she cares about is chocking the living daylights out of Big Whiskers."I told him.
"I know your there, Big Whiskers.Laughing at me.Well, I can laugh, too."she said creepily.Then, she started to laugh creepily."Maybe we should take a little break!"Ravi called out to her."Because the fish is clearly broken you."I said though clenched teeth.Ravi nodded.
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After a few minutes, we still haven't caught Big Whiskers."That's it.I give up!I gave that fish the best years of my life!And it was all for nothing!"Lou said.I shook my head in disappointment.Ravi put his hand on her shoulder.
"Lou.Here is some advice from someone who knows quite a bit about failure:Perhaps catching the fish is not what is most important.Maybe the quest is what matters most."Ravi told her."Yeah, Ravi's right.It's not about the destination.It's about the journey along the way."I said to her.
"Nope.Really wanted to catch that fish."Lou told us."Oh!Maybe a snack will cheer you up.Fly?"he offered to Lou."No more flies for me.I don't deserve em'."Lou said.g"I'll just take a samosa."Lou said, having her hand out.Ravo took one out of his overalls and handed it to Lou.
She took a bite out of it and then dropped it in the water in disappointment and sadness.Then, something grabbed onto her hand.It was Big Whiskers!"Big Whiskers!"Lou exclaimed happily.
"I need help!"Lou said.I grabbed the other end of Big Whiskers.Wow, they don't call him Big Whiskers for nothing.When I grabbed the other end, it accidentally hit Ravi in the stomach."I did it!I finally got em'!"Lou yelled."In yo' fish face, Big Whiskers!"I said.
"You won!You finally bested your nemesis!"Ravi told her."You're right.I did.I won."Lou said.We let go of him and put back in the water."Bye, Big Whiskers!"I called out to him."Hope you live a long fish life!"I said."Why in the catfish crackers did you two do that?"Ravi asked us, obviously confused.
"Well, I just realized I've had of fun chasing Big Whiskers over the years."Lou told him."Yeah, like you said, it's the quest that matters."I said."Who cares about the stinkin' quest?I was going to win a non-math related contest!That bottom feeder was my ticket to the top!"Ravi complained.I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Ravi, it was the right thing to do."I told him."I guess so."Ravi said."Who knew samosas were his favorite snack?"I shrugged."All these years I've been eating flies for nothin'."Lou said.
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All of the kids were gathering on the great lawn to determine the winner of the fishing competition."Attention, campers!Time to announce the the winner of the Camp Kikiwaka fishing contest!"Gladys announced.
Everyone was clapping and cheering."We've got this contest won.We had the best catch."Zuri said."I had a great catch, too.But, I lost him.He had big, green eyes and a huge smile and can play guitar like an angel."Emma said and she walked away."Wow.What keep kind of mutant fish are in that lake?"Ravi asked.I shrugged.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for,"She started to say."I don't give a flying fish who wins this competition because I'm gonna die alone and sad with no one to love me."she said sadly."Great.Now I don't even remember what I was talking about.Oh, right. The competition."she remembered.
"Tiffany and Zuri.You won.Whoopee."Gladys said with no enthusiasm, giving them the trophy.We all clapped for them."We won!"Zuri said happily."Yes!"Tiffany said and they high fived."Why don't the winners come over for a photo op with the prize winning catch?"Gladys told them, leading them over to the fish they caught.Wow, that's a big one.
"Frames will be available for purchase for 19.95."Gladys told them.They were about to take the picture, but a whole bunch of vegetables came out of the fish.We all gasped."Wow.This fish is so thoughtful.It stuffed itself!"Zuri tried to cover up.
"You both cheated!"I said, taking away their trophy."We're so sorry, Gladys!Please, please, don't tell my mom!"Tiffany pleaded to her."Well, I was just gonna disqualify you, but calling your mom is a better idea.Thanks."Gladys said.
"Noooooooooo!"Tiffany shouted."Gladys, please.It was my idea to cheat.If your going to tell someone's mom, tell mine."Zuri told her."Well, it's no fun if you want me to do it.Your both disqualified and punished."Gladys told them.
"Yayyyyy!"They both cheered and hugged."You guys are weirdos."she said and walked away.
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Tiffany and Zuri's punishment for cheating was to clean up the mess hall.When it got dark out, we all went to bed.
Finally finished!Now on to Can You Hear Me Now?Sorry for the sucky ending.I didn't even try.😑😶