My boating “conversation”… Not such a story, sorry…

My friend and I decided to go fishing on Sunday, a decision that I later regretted. I think if I had picked a better friend to go fishing with, I may not have had so many problems.

“I think we have everything we need,” my friend Marcus said as we loaded up his brand new Bayliner Element XL.

“This is one of the best boats on the market,” Marcus told me. “I am so glad I finally got that inheritance check from my dad’s will.”

He would not shut up about his dad’s will, and the fact that he got over one million dollars from his very rich, now dead, father.

“Are you ready to go now?” He asked me.

“Let’s go,” I said. “I am ready to have some fun.”

We both got inside the boat and I pushed away from the dock and we were ready find a place to fish.

I relaxed in my seat and let the wind blow through my hair. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew Marcus was pushing me and yelling my name.

“John, John,” He yelled. “Wake up. The motor stopped and I need your help.”

I sat up and rubbed my eyes for a minute before asking, “What do you mean the motor stopped,” I asked. “I thought it was a brand new boat.”

“It is,” Marcus said, but I could tell he was lying.

“I thought it was a brand new boat,” I said again.

He only looked at me this time. After a minute of silence he shrugged and said, “I bought it from a friend. He said it was brand new.”

“It seems he might have lied to you,” I said.

Without waiting for him to answer I went to the motor, which was blowing out gray and black smoke.
“What happened?” I asked as I made sure that the engine was not on fire.

“I was just driving out to a good spot and all of a sudden the engine died and then started smoking.”

“Do you have a fire extinguisher handy just in case?” I asked.

“Just in case what?” Marcus asked, as if he had no idea what a fire extinguisher was used for.

“In case your boat catches on fire.” I said.

“I never thought of that,” Marcus answered.

It was at that point I knew we were in trouble.

“I don’t know much about boats,” I said. “I think we need to call somebody.”

I pulled out my phone and saw that there were no bars.

“I think we have to wait for help now,” I said. “My phone has no bars.

Marcus pulled out his phone and looked. “I don’t have any bars either.”

“Well, then I say we have something to eat and try and relax until help gets here.” I said.

“Where is the cooler?” Marcus asked.

“What do you mean where is the cooler?” I asked. “I told you to grab it.”

“Oh, right,” Marcus said.

“You left it behind, didn’t you?” I asked.

Marcus nodded.

“Then maybe we can fish,” I said. “Where do you keep the rods?”

Marcus pulled up the rear seat and scratched his head. “Maybe they are under another seat.”

We looked under all seats but found no rods.

“So you forgot the food, and you forgot the rods?” I said. “What were we going to do on this boat anyway, have a staring contest?”

“I could have sworn I put the fishing rods in the boat this morning.” Marcus said.

“Then did they get up and walk away?” I asked. “Because they are not here.”

“Okay, well we have to wait for help now.” I said and sat down.

It was a minute later when I felt my feet getting wet.

I looked down and saw water puddling at my feet.

“We have a problem,” I said. “I think we are sinking.”

We scrambled around grabbing a couple of life jackets as the water in the boat continued to rise.

Fifteen minutes later we watched as the hull of the boat disappeared beneath the water.

“I think this has been the worst fishing trip of my life,” I told Marcus.

“I am going to kill my friend when I get out of this,” Marcus said.

I waited out the hours watching the sun make its slow descent towards the horizon. It was not until the sun started to sink out of view that I heard a motor.

Marcus and I started yelling and then we saw it. The boat came into view and we celebrated as it came near us.

“What happened to you guys?” A man asked. He reached down to me first and pulled me in. Then we both helped Marcus in the boat.

“How long have you guys been out here?” The man asked.

“Our boat sank about eight or ten hours ago,” I said.

“You have been out here all day?” The man asked.

“And I can’t wait to get home,” I said. “I am hungry.”

Marcus was quiet all the way to the dock. When we got off we both thanked the man for all of his help.

At our vehicles Marcus smiled at me and said. “We should do this again sometime.”

I was hungry, tired, and I felt like I would never be dry again. It was all his fault too. So before I turned and walked to my car, I punched him in the face.