Sun. July 17th

FISHER-GIRL

Bonjour Grann,

I'm using what Grandpapa taught me about the animals and plants. When I can, I'll start eating fresh food to see if I start feeling better. And I'll start thinking about the foods I see around me. I think the food at Marvella is tainted. What else can explain my illnesses and unhinged thinking and weird writings?


Grann, I'm wholeheartedly thankful for the food I've been given; still, I think I should gather my own food for now.

After today's catch, I know I can succeed. Milo told me, "You fish like a rookie!" Even so, Milo was always better than me at everything, he's older; but I can forgive him, he tried to save me. I know he misses me too, as much as I miss him, it must be so; he tried to save me.


I'd like to think Milo would be proud of me like Grandpapa. I caught a sockeye and two smaller pink salmon by simply casting my line off the basalt cliffs on the east side of my island and using the rockfish I was catching earlier as bait; and keeping the bait moving in the water as Grandpapa taught me.

I threw most of the rockfish back in the ocean because I was worried about getting sick. Grandpapa said, "They're bottom-feeders, Tommy; they absorb pollution from the ocean bottom!"

But I kept the salmon and the proper-size lingcod, and halibut I caught, as Grandpapa said, "For the halibut!"

And I thoroughly cleaned all the guts, skins and heads from the fish. I'll make sure I completely cure the fish I don't cook and eat. And I'll check the crab and shrimp pots tomorrow morning. But I don't expect much action.


As a side note: I think I've kept good track of the days of the month. We had a full buck moon on Friday, which was two days ago. I'm keeping busy with work; distractions make the sadness and loneliness less sad and lonely at night.

Sleep well tonight, Grann.