"Sounds like something big," Craig whispered. They stood rock-still, waiting. listening. "I think it left." The rustle of bushes off the path had stopped. "We better get home."

"Yeah, I guess."

They hit the road in a couple minutes' walk and each boy went off in a different direction. Jimmy looked back a couple times, waved and grinned. As soon as Craig was out of sight, he stopped. He set the bucket down. The fish stopped swimming and looked up at him.

"Well?" it said. "I have a family that's worrying about me right now."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'm taking you back." He picked up the bucket and headed back into the woods singing Sweet Caroline to keep his mind off the noises they'd heard. The fish sang along.