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They made camp for the night at a small creek. Nicolò sat down in the grass with a piece of the dry bread, which was close to being stale, while Yusuf was rummaging around in the bushes. At first, Nicolò thought Yusuf was collecting more wood for the fire, but when Yusuf emerged from the bushes, it was with only one big stick in his hand and a determinant look on his face.
Yusuf: "Don't worry, my friend. We are having fish for dinner instead of the dry bread tonight."
Yusuf took his saddlebag before he sat down in the grass. Then he found some string and his knife before peeling some of the bark off the stick.
Nicolò: "That would be nice with fish for dinner. It has been a long while since we last had a decent meal."
Yusuf: "I know. Therefore, I'm making a fishing rod so we can eat like kings tonight."
If you asked Nicolò, it was very cute the way Yusuf's tongue stuck out of his mouth while making his fishing rod.
Nicolò: "Have you done that before?" I mean, fishing."
Yusuf: "Can't say that. According to my father, it wasn't an appropriate hobby for the son of a rich man."
It was clear to Nicolò that Yusuf was mimicking his father with the last thing he said.
Yusuf: "But now that I'm a reborn man again, I thought fishing should be my new hobby."
Nicolò: "If you get the grasp around fishing, it could be a way of earning money later on for you."
Yusuf loved how supportive Nicolò always were of his ideas - both the good and the bad.
Nicolò: "As they say, there is plenty of fish in the ocean."
Yusuf looked at Nicolò.
Yusuf: "Do people really say that?"
Nicolò nodded.
Nicolò: "Both about fish and humans."
Yusuf: "I don't follow. Humans don't live in the ocean, so how can there be plenty of them in it?"
Nicolò: "As I understand it, it is something you say to someone who has their heart broken in an attempt to cheer them up."
Yusuf: "So, it is just like comparing apples with pears but with humans and fish?"
Nicolò: "I guess you can say that."
Yusuf held up his fishing rod with a proud smile.
Yusuf: "I think I'm ready to fish. What do you say?"
Nicolò looked at the fishing rod.
Nicolò: "Looks good. Now, all you need is a hook and some bait. Then you're ready to fish."
Yusuf: "I think I have something I can use for a hook, but do you have any suggestions on what I can use for bait?"
Nicolò: "Fish do like live bait. I think there are grasshoppers or other insects in the grass or the bushes."
Yusuf: "I know how to catch grasshoppers. I used to do that as a child before putting them under my sister's duvet."
Nicolò laughed.
Nicolò: "Typical what a little brother would do."
Yusuf: "Could you not tell my sister that? She used to hit me with the broom when I left a grasshopper in her bed."
Nicolò: "Poor little you."
Yusuf: "Thanks. It is nice when someone understands you... Wait a minute, did you also leave grasshoppers in someone's bed?"
Nicolò: "If that was the case, I might have left a mouse or two in someone's bed, but he had it coming. I hate bullies."
Yusuf: "I know you hate bullies, and I'm glad you did something about him."
Nicolò lay down in the grass.
Nicolò: "Thanks. While you try to catch some live bait, I'm going to take a nap."
Nicolò closed his eyes to the sound of Yusuf rummaging around in the grass and the bushes. It was Yusuf's triumphant shout that woke Nicolò.
Yusuf: "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Nicolò: "That's okay. I guess you were successful with catching some live bait."
Yusuf: "You can say that. I caught two grasshoppers, and I made a hook, so I'm ready to catch our dinner."
Yusuf picked up his fishing rod while Nicolò sat up and ruffled his long hair. Maybe it was about time for a haircut.
Nicolò: "Before you step out into the water, you should take off your shoes and roll up your pants. Unless you want wet clothes."
Yusuf looked down at himself before looking at Nicolò with a smile.
Yusuf: "You're onto something, as usual."
After doing what Nicolò had suggested, Yusuf stepped out into the creek. Seconds later, he let out a high-pitched whine.
Yusuf: "Damn, the water is cold."
Nicolò: "It's close to winter."
Yusuf: "Ah, that's why."
They smiled at each other. Then Yusuf scratched his beard.
Yusuf: "Uhm, Nicolò. You seem like someone who has fished before. How do I do it?"
Nicolò: "Find out which way the stream is going. Then, after putting the bait on the hook, throw the fishing line upstream."
Yusuf looked down at the water.
Yusuf muttering to himself: "Upstream, upstream, upstream."
When Yusuf was sure he had found the upstream he took one of the grasshoppers in his pocket and placed it on the hook. After taking a deep breath, Yusuf threw the fishing line, but because he was afraid of getting hit in the face, he ducked his head and didn't see where the fishing line went.
Nicolò: "Uhmm, Yusuf?"
Yusuf: "Yeah?"
Nicolò: "Did you close your eyes when you threw the fishing line?"
Yusuf looked over at Nicolò and saw that instead of the water, Yusuf had hit Nicolò with the fishing line. Yusuf quickly ran over to Nicolò to check on him. Yusuf kneeled in front of Nicolò, and after being sure that he still was in one piece, Yusuf took a deep breath of relief.
Yusuf: "I'm so sorry, Nicolò. Can you forgive me?"
Nicolò: "Nothing happened. And hi, congratulations on your first catch."
Yusuf laughed.
Yusuf: "Thanks, I think but this is not what I planned."
Yusuf looked disappointed down at the fishing rod in his hands. It made Nicolò place his hand over Yusuf's hand.
Nicolò: "All people stumble in their first attempt. The trick is to get up and try again. That's how humans learn to walk. And I know you can do this, Yusuf."
Yusuf: "Thanks for your trust in me, Nicolò."
Nicolò: "You had trust in me when I doubted if I could ride the camel. And it was because of that trust I was able to get up on the camel."
They smiled at each other.
Nicolò: "Now, go try again. This time, you'll catch something else than a human."
Yusuf: "Good, I'm going to do this."
Yusuf got up and walked back to the creek, where he did the same things as Nicolò had said before. Nicolò watched Yusuf standing in the creek for a time. How Nicolò loved watching Yusuf move. It was like watching a sleek cat move, and it was a beautiful sight. Suddenly, Yusuf yelped really loudly as he grabbed his right foot, resulting in that he ended up in the creek on his ass. Nicolò couldn't stop laughing when he saw the crab dangling from Yusuf's big toe.
Yusuf: "Yeah, you're laughing because it isn't your big toe who is under attack. Damn, it hurts."
Nicolò had to hold around his ribs, which were hurting from laughing.
Yusuf: "When you're done laughing, some help, please."
Nicolò: "It was you who wanted to learn how to fish, so you have to deal with it yourself. Call it a learning experience."
Yusuf watched Nicolò roll around in the grass, laughing. It was the first time Yusuf had seen Nicolò laugh like that, and it was a wonderful sight. Then Yusuf took around his foot and after some tries, he got the crab off his big toe. After looking at the crab, Yusuf got out of the water and joined Nicolò in the grass.
Nicolò: "Glad you survived your first fishing trip."
Yusuf: "Very funny."
Yusuf looked at the crab and its claws.
Nicolò: "Sorry that I laughed, but seeing you battling the crab was very funny."
It was there Yusuf started to laugh. He also had to hold around his ribs because they hurt from laughing.
Yusuf: "I hope we can laugh more like this in the future. It feels good to laugh with a friend."
Nicolò: "It does, yes."
Nicolò looked at the crab.
Nicolò: "So, what is your plan with your first catch?"
Yusuf: "The crab wasn't my first catch; that was you."
Nicolò: "That is the truth."
Yusuf put the crab down on the ground, and it made its way back to the creek.
Yusuf: "It won the fight today, but tomorrow is a different case."
Nicolò: "Glad you aren't giving up on fishing. And now you know your big toe is a better bait than the grasshopper."
Yusuf: "It's good that I find you funny."
Nicolò smiled as Yusuf stood up.
Yusuf: "Now, exuse me. I'm going to find some dry clothes, and then I'll find us some dinner who isn't out to kill my big toe."
When Yusuf returned, Nicolò placed his hand on Yusuf's arm.
Nicolò: "Are we good? I didn't mean to laugh at you before."
Yusuf placed his hand over Nicolò's hand.
Yusuf: "We're good, Nico. And you have given me a new goal to strive after in life: to make you laugh like you did before again."
Yusuf smiled at Nicolò.
Yusuf: "I promised you we would eat like kings tonight, and I'm keeping that promise. Look for me if I'm not back when the sun sets."
While Yusuf was gone, Nicolò thought they needed to speak about the unsaid things between them, but he also knew they weren't ready for it yet. One of the good things about their new life was that they had time on their side. When Yusuf returned again, he had found mushrooms and made a stew out of them. Once again, Yusuf had kept his promise to Nicolò that they would eat like kings tonight. It was one of the things Nicolò loved the most about Yusuf: whenever Yusuf gave Nicolò a promise, he would always try his best to keep it.