Morning Catch ~ by Jeanette Cheezum of Harbinger*33

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS BECOME HER, and of course, come from her. You realize, dear reader . . . this could be non-fiction, glistening and rippling like white caps on the side of the bow. Come along for the ride, with one of all writers’ favourite writers, the sparkling Jeanette Cheezum. She's shipped out an old fave over the sleeping shoreline for your soft sway of enjoyment . . .

Magnificent Ladies

and Charming Gents

*** NOW PLAYING ***
*** AT THE BIJOU ***

Morning Catch
~ an excerpt from the Very First Novel of Jeanette Cheezum

It seemed like the alarm went off as soon as Alyse fell asleep. She jumped up, not wanting George and his father to wait for her.

The shoreline appeared to be sleeping. She guessed the fisherman were the only ones up around here at this time of the morning.

While they were pulling up near the old boat, a huge man staggered out of the fish camp.

“You rid’n out with us, Ma’am?”

“Yes sir.” She watched his huge hands as he loaded some gear onto the boat.

“White Lightning’s our right hand man,” George said.

Lightning chuckled.

The air smelled fresh today, and the sun would be peeking out before too long.

White Lightning was giving orders to the men that only they understood.

“Would you ride on the top of the cabin? You can see everything and be out of our way,” George said.

The lines were in and the boat was drifting away from the dock. Apparently, the current was strong in this area. She hurried to get settled. It looked like the dock was moving away from them. Alyse could see George watching her and once she was seated, he shifted the engine to full throttle. She felt pride in her young husband and his daddy. Obviously, they loved their work. They cleared the channel from under the bridge that went over the inlet and led out into the Chesapeake Bay.

The white caps rippled along the sides of the bow. George pointed at a large school of fish. He gave her a wink and directed the boat toward their pound nets.

“Sometimes we see porpoises out here and once we even caught a sea cow in the nets. We managed to free her and watch her swim away.”

Then the boat seemed to stall. George had cut the engine down so they could pull the nets. The crew slipped on slickers, aprons, hats and gloves and took their positions.

The pound nets were held fast by poles, which sometimes had to be replaced after storms. Seagulls appeared from nowhere and circled the nets awaiting a feast.

Every movement was synchronized in order to do things rapidly.

The sun was beaming down, their shoulders glistening with sweat. George was in the middle of everything.

“He’s a natural.” Jerry bragged “That boy has fish slime in his veins.”

Alyse looked at the beautiful view. Gliding through the water, she looked for porpoise. Then, as if it were magic, the shore popped up from nowhere. She loved it out here.

Young boys were at the dock with gaffing hooks waiting to assist George and his crew.

“As soon as we unload the fish, they need to be sorted, weighed and iced down. Then we take them to the distributor.”

“We got quite a good catch today. I counted eighteen boxes,” she said.

Jerry was busy loading the truck. "It's every man's dream that his son will take over his business someday."

(c) Jeanette Cheezum

What do you say about one you revere, one you hold dear . . . and one, no matter what, will always provide cheer? That’s our Jeanette and I’m surmising it’s not surprising we all, fellow writers in this Web*City world of zines scenes and write’sites tend to feel about this most genteel talented lady’s appeal. (though she has been known to cackle at a good joke)

One of the very first aboard the Harbinger*33, (claiming the best statement room of course), Jeanette instantly became Goddess Mother of Brilliant Authors to us all. We crew-knew this specifically because she had Harry and Paul nail the brass plaque she pulled out of her valise right onto her teak door's allure. Who is ever going to argue with Jeanette? She’s wise, she’s witty, she never rolls her eyes because she explained that’s not really possible. So we look up to her and look appreciatively to the special spirit she brings always to starboard side.

This southern belle rings true as a charter member of the Hampton Roads Writers of Virginia, a veteran of boatloads of published online writing’sites and E-zines’scenes, prominent in two of Smith Magazine’s memoir books and Six Sentences 6SV2 . . . as well of course a stunning attraction within the upcoming book and promotion-publishing sensation, Harbinger*33.

We raise high the mains'l to you Jeanette . . . with that glisten o'er white caps and e'er a hearty "AHOY MATIE!" Honoured we are that your inspirations are aboard Harbinger*33, sailing to its publishing journey of manifesting destinies.

~ Thanks be given; Fair Winds, Favourable Seas

~ Absolutely*Kate and readers enchanted by your flair