FernFolio

Five year-old Kitaq awakens early, and eagerly awaits the arrival of Apa, his grandfather.  He hopes that today Apa will take him fishing in the ice.  When Apa comes, the young boy assures his grandfather that he is big enough to walk all the way to the fishing holes and all the way back, and not complain when he feet get cold or tired.
Together Kitaq and his grandfather walk the long path to the river, and lower their fishing poles through the ice hole into the water below.  To his excitement, Kitaq catches three large fish before the sun begins to set at the end of a brief Arctic winter’s day, and he and his Apa must begin the long walk home.  Though the child flags a bit at the end of the journey, Apa is proud of his youngest grandson, and recalls with pleasure his first ice fishing expedition, over sixty years before.
When they arrive at the house, Kitaq’s mother is waiting.  She and the rest of the family will prepare fish soup with the catch and serve it as part of a celebration an important rite of passage, for Kitaq has demonstrated that he can help to feed his family.
FernFolio Editor