Chapter Text
Flick pulled his ‘outdoor’ shoes on tying them both tight. He picked up his net and plastic terrarium which also held his notebook and pencils. “Hey mom I’m going out to catch some bugs.” Flick headed to the back door. “Alright sweetheart, stay safe and be home by dinner.” Flick’s mom called after him.
Flick raced out and to the nearby woods he was on route to his usual bug hunting spot. He was so excited he didn’t realize there was someone in front of him until they crashed into each other. Both of them fell to the ground and there was a loud snap. Flick scrambled off the other and checked to make sure he wasn’t injured. The other boy, a beaver with a mess of golden hair, sat up and groaned checking himself for injuries. “I’m so sorry!” Flick shouted and held out his hand to help them up.
Big blue eyes looked up at him making Flick feel even worse for running him over. The boy laughed and took Flick’s hand. “It’s okay” The boy stood and dusted himself off. “Are you okay?” He asked Flick looking him up and down for any cuts. “No I’m fine...” “That’s good! I must’ve softened your fall.” The boy laughed and Flick looked down at his feet in embarrassment. That’s when Flick realized what had made that snap noise when they fell.
“My net!” Flick picked up the nets two halves in distraught. “Wait don't worry!” Flick turned to the boy who rushed to his backpack. He dug through it for a few seconds before pulling out a roll of tape and held it up in victory. “I have some tape! We can fix it!” His smile was infectious and Flick smiled back. Flick held the net as the boy wrapped in a generous amount of tape.
“My name's CJ by the way.” The boy spoke up as he finished wrapping the net in tape. “What’s yours?”
“Oh it’s Flick.” He stared down at his net. “Thanks for fixing my net.”
“It’s no problem at all. What are you doing out here anyways?”
“Oh, I was going out to look for bugs. I wanted to draw them and...” Flick’s voice was getting quieter by the second causing CJ to lean in closer to hear him only making Flick get quieter faster.
“You draw bugs? That’s kinda weird.” Flick deflated at CJ’s words. “But like weird in a cool way! Can I see some of your drawings?”
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
“Well they’re not really that great…”
“What? NO, I’m sure they’re great!”
“If you say so…” Flick pulled his notebook out of the terrarium: flipping through pages until he got to his more recent drawings then handing it over to CJ. CJ looked at the drawings in amazement. “These are awesome!” CJ flipped the page to view more. Flick played with the hem of his shirt a bit embarrassed.
“Really? I don’t think they’re all that good.” Flick muttered.
“What, but they are so good. I wish I could draw like this! Maybe I should practice more?” CJ laughed and something about it made Flick laugh too.
“What were you doing out here anyway, CJ?”
“Oh! Me and my dad just moved in and I heard there was a nearby creek and I wanted to see if there were any fishes down here. So far my journey hasn’t been very successful.”
“I know where the fish usually hang out is.”
“REALLY?” Flick jumped a bit at CJ’s sudden loudness. “Can you show it to me, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!” Those big blue eyes were pleading with Flick. Flick pushed CJ away from him. “Fine just stop with all the ‘please-es’ okay?”
“You got it boss!" CJ made a zipping motion across his lips. Flick shook his head and picked up his stuff and began leading CJ to the spot.
As they traveled down the creek, it got wider and deeper. Tree roots jutting out of the ground. “Be careful not to trip.” Flick warned as CJ carefully raced past Flick and to the water to see if he could see any fish. The fish weren’t that interesting and quite small but that didn’t seem to bother CJ as he stared at them in awe.
“Are the fish really that interesting?” Flick asked a little confused, he never found fish all that interesting.
“Of course they are! They can swim up streams, breathe underwater and they taste good!” CJ laughed and it made Flick laugh too.
“Well I guess you’re right but these fish probably don’t taste good.”
“Yeah. Besides, they're way too small.”
The two spit up temporarily as Flick searched for bugs and CJ watched the fish swimming occasionally trying to touch one. Flick caught a few common butterflies and placed them in the terrarium for temporary housing while he drew them. Flick sat by CJ on the edge of the creek and drew. CJ watched Flick draw amazed by how good he was. Flick tried his best to get all the little details and despite not having any color they looked pretty good. He wasn’t able to capture a lot of the tiny details but they would have to do. Flick released the butterflies when he was done with the drawing.
“Hey Flick?” CJ’s voice startled him for a second as CJ was being very quiet. “You’re very good at drawing.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you think you could draw something else, like for me?”
“Like what?” Flick had an idea where this conversation was going.
“A fish?” CJ smiled silently pleading for Flick to agree.
“Okay,” CJ got very excited, “but you have to catch one and contain it but you can’t use my net or my terrarium.” Flick would do the drawing whether or not CJ got a fish on his own but he wanted to see what CJ would do.
CJ stayed silent for a minute thinking it over. “Fine! I’m going to get a fish and then you're gonna have to draw me a picture of it!” CJ decreed and Flick couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m sure you will.” Flick stood up and picked up his terrarium to catch new bugs to draw.
CJ stared down at the fish swimming in the creek and assessed the situation. He needed to get a fish and all he had was his bag, some snacks, and a garden trowel. The fish would spook and swim away if he tried to grab one. He thought hard about this. Then it hit him!
He pulled the garden trowel out of his back and began digging out a hole by the side of the creek far enough it didn’t merge with the water but close enough that it filled with water naturally. He grabbed a nearby rock that was quite big and dug a path lead from the creek to his hole small enough the rock could be used to block it off. Now to do the truly messy part. At least CJ would get all the dirt off of himself.
Taking one cautionary step in the creek he shivered as it was a bit cold but he wouldn’t give up now. All he had to do was get a fish in his trap then seal it off simple enough.
When Flick returned he was greeted with CJ splashing through the water trying to corral the fish. Flick laughed and shouted out at CJ only to spook him and cause CJ to lose his footing and fall completely into the creek. Flick was shocked and worried for a second before CJ emerged from the water spitting some out of his mouth.
“You caught me off guard! I almost had them!” CJ shouted and Flick could only laugh. CJ pushed his hair out of his face before going back to his mission. Flick sat nearby to draw his new catch but was far enough that he didn’t get splashed.
Flick was almost done with his drawing when CJ’s voice rango out. “I GOT IT I CAUGHT THE FISH!” CJ did a little victory dance in celebration. Flick set his notebook down to see if CJ really did do it. In the hole CJ dug there was in fact a fish.
“Now you owe me a drawing!” CJ’s declared victorious.
“I guess I do. How about you go try to dry off while I finish up this drawing?” CJ nodded and walked to go sit in the sun.
Flick finished his other drawing rather quickly and let the bug go before sitting next to the hole that held the fish. It was kinda difficult but Flick would try his best. CJ once more dry grabbed a few snacks and offered some to Flick. Flick wasn’t really proud of the drawing as drawing fish wasn’t something he really did. CJ didn’t seem to even notice he just thought it looked amazing. The pair decided to just sit and talk to each other. CJ had only recently moved into the neighborhood, he was in the same grade as Flick.
“Maybe I’ll be put in the same class as you and we could hang out more!” CJ could barely contain his excitement. Flick nodded, it would be nice to have friends at school. Flick was usually alone because most saw his liking for bugs as weird.
“That would be nice.” Flick looked up at the sky and realized how late it had gotten. “Oh I have to get back home for dinner. I’ll see you later CJ.”
“I guess I should go home too.” CJ folded his drawing from flick up and put it in his bag. “Bye Flick.”
“Bye CJ.” They waved and both headed their separate ways; neither could wait to hang out together again.
CJ opened the back door to his house. “Hey papa I’m home!” CJ announced slamming the door behind him. “Welcome home sport. Did you have fun?” Chip walked over to CJ to hug him.
“Yeah, I made a new friend! His name is Flick and he’s really good at drawing and he really likes bugs.” CJ hugged his father.
“That’s good and all but why are your clothes soaking wet?” Chip asked, sounding concerned.
“Oh, I was chasing fish!” Chip laughed and ruffled CJ’s hair.
“That’s great. How about you change and I’ll order us some food. What do you want?”
“PIZZA!” CJ shouted as he ran to his room to change.
Chip laughed. “Pizza it is then!” He called after his son.