The Fisherman

If you had stumbled upon Fargustown, you would think that it was your typical small American town. And that's because it was. Everyone lived in a lovely home, with a lovely white picket fence, and two lovely children, complete with a lovely family dog. It was lovely.

August had just arrived, making Fargus Lake the main attraction in town. People hosted barbecues, children went swimming, and the men went fishing. The most notorious fisherman in town was Rusty Schiro.

The Schiro household was always the most talked-about piece of gossip in town. Visitors of 234 Anchovy Way were treated to slideshow after slideshow of Rusty's latest catches. The slideshows were evidence enough that Rusty was never home for long. He took every chance he got to go to Fargus Lake for a nice day of fishing, leaving poor Mrs. Pauline Schiro at home to entertain herself. The town gossip, Janine Estevez, would never shut up about Pauline.

"Oh, the poor dear is all alone in that big house again!"

"Do you think she could be having an affair?"

"How can she stand that fishy smell?"

"Oh, a loveless marriage. Tragic."

Despite Janine being an insufferable blabbermouth, the Schiros never knew that they were the topic of the latest juicy bit of gossip.

One August morning, Pauline Schiro woke up to find Rusty gathering his fishing supplies. This was a common sight.

"Hey, babe. Goin' to Fargus Lake. See ya tonight, okay?" Rusty said.

"Sure." Pauline replied dully.

Pauline sat up in bed as she listened to the front door open....and shut again. She sighed. She had been married for twenty years. Rusty had taken up fishing ten years ago. She didn't mind this hobby. However, this morning, her head was flooded with thoughts.

You mustn't worry, Pauline. It's good that he has something to occupy his time with, the Voice in her head told Pauline.

"Yes, that's true. I wouldn't want him to be bored," she replied to the Voice.

NO! the Voice suddenly became enraged. Why shouldn't he occupy his time with YOU?

"Oh, my! Well, I suppose you have a point," Pauline wondered.

You're DAMN right I do! the Voice shouted. Why the HELL should you sit here at home ALONE while HE gets to have fun?

"That's right! I think that I should go to the lake and talk to him," Pauline said.

And on that note, Pauline got dressed and headed out the door.

Rusty Schiro had just arrived at Fargus Lake when his neighbor, Gene Hudson, approached him.

"Hey, Rusty! How's it hangin'?"

"I'm fine, thanks. Bit of a hurry to get fishin', though. Somethin' ya need?" Rusty replied.

"Just thought I'd let you know that it's getting pretty foggy out there. Be careful, okay?" Gene told him, and walked off to his truck.

The next few hours were uneventful, though Rusty noticed a fog forming on the lake. The fog became a lot thicker.

I better take it slow, Rusty thought. However, a mere twenty seconds later, the boat crashed into a jagged rock. Water began to pour into his boat, and Rusty knew that it wouldn't be long before he started to sink. Unfortunately, he was nowhere near land now.

"I finally found you!" a woman's voice cut through the fog.

It sounded familiar. In the distance, Rusty could see Pauline sitting in a sailboat.

"Pauline?! What the...come closer! I need to get on your boat!"

"We need to talk!" Pauline said anxiously. "I don't like that you're away all the time!"

Huh? Rusty thought. "We can talk later! Just let me on the boat!"

"Okay." Pauline moved in the direction of Rusty's boat.

STOP! the Voice in Pauline's head screamed.

Pauline obeyed.

Don't you understand what that wretch has DONE to you?! He needs to be punished! the Voice shrieked.

"A punishment?" Pauline asked. "Hmm. Yes, a punishment does seem to be in order. But what?"

Leave him here to sink. He OBVIOUSLY prefers those damned fish over YOU, so let him STAY with them!

Pauline stared at Rusty, analyzing him. Then, with a quick glare, Pauline turned her boat towards land.