Can you help my son?
Classmate is a divorced single mom raising a boy. The daddy is in another state and wont be bothering them again for a good while. Let us just say she and the boy have endured a lot.
Before Grandpa passed this little boy would watch Grandpa and marvel at all his stuff someday this will be yours . Only problem his daddy stole it all and pawned it- it seems.
So we went to Academy Sports, yikes, this stuff has gone up! Its not like Grandpas damn an 8 year old sure knows how to tug a heartstring.
I told his mom I couldnt and wouldnt buy what was on display. The Mitchell is made in China, and no longer resembles the ones of yesteryear. Zebco 33, the all time classic, not made in Tulsa anymore either. I showed him the Shimanos, one similar to a spinning reel I have had for 10 years& not now, maybe later, this is for my B-day and Grandpa and I share the same B-day date . He would have to hang his head now wouldnt he?
Where are the red ones like that one?
He wanted a Red Ambassador by Garcia.
We go to their house and he leaves only to return to show me some old Field & Stream magazines, my mind drifts back to the issues I have from 1955, the year I was born. Sure enough he shows me what Grandpa had; his eyes told me the stories.
Mom has monies from her dads estate, the boy has monies too just he doesnt understand it all yet.
Can you help my son? It is not about the money it is about&
I know .
Can this be fixed, it was Grandpas. He had it in his room with his fishing stuff . A small metal electric fan, cloth covered cord was handed to me. Two sets of eyes asking for help.
I made a call to a buddy of mine that is the authorized repair service for most brand name reels, told him the story and what I needed. Let me see what I can do .
In the meantime I introduced the boy to the art of cane poles, braided line and all. Grandpa used to fish like this, this is harder than it looks . Kid was having fun, that was the main thing.
My buddy called and I called the mom, she met me and almost cried, through moist eyes she looked at the rods, reels and even some old lures, we took it all.
Two of the red Ambassadors, an extra spool for each; mounted on the old Shakespeare casting rods, new cork handles will season just fine. Mitchell Spinning reel with the leather washers, on an old Pfluger rod. The Penn spinning reel of all metal, matching Penn rod. Zebco 33, with the matching rod. Metal tackle box, with new cork inserts for the trays, and the bottom, and some old wood top water lures. He had even found an Old Shrade fishing knife, a kid has to have one of those.
As pre- arranged, I would put this stuff in the spare bedroom while she took him for a haircut.
I just happened to pull in *ahem* as they returned; he went into the spare bedroom, to put up a Fishing magazine he had bought, and to bring back out the old ones to show me again.
Mom!!
Well we were waiting for that yell of surprise. Sitting on the desk was Grandpas fan blowing a gentle breeze. The kid did not know what to look at first, he managed to handle it all, give mom a hug, whispering something, and then he hugged me.
So while mom sat in a patio chair I showed him how to use that Ambassador level wind, we also practiced removing birds nests . New terms like thumbing were learned that day too.
Mom went in to get me coffee; upon returning- she hugged me and said he wanted to know if was okay to give me a hug, being as I am a guy and all back in the house earlier. Then mom asked, Why is there a bucket in my backyard?
Plop
Mom- I did it, and I didnt even birds nest.
