The Little Admiral

In this short story, a young Beauregard prepares for a fishing trip with a good friend.

## Story

Beauregard woke up to voices coming from another room. After a few moments of rubbing his eyes and stretching he looked over at the clock.

"It's ten o'clock already?!" he exclaimed, hurriedly putting some shoes on.

With a clear sense of urgency he ran down the hall and into the kitchen. Surprised by his excitement, Beauregard's mother, Camilla, questioned him.

"Oh! You're awake. What's the rush for honey?"

She held out a plate of eggs and bacon.

"Dad was suppose to take me out fishing with him and Mr. Gilbert today!" replied Beauregard, obviously annoyed.

Camilla was puzzled by this.

"I don't know what to tell you, he's out doing chores now," she said as she prepped a seat for him at the dinner table.

Sitting down Beauregard slouched in his seat and mopily ate his eggs. Across the table a half asleep Pipsqueak sat staring at his eggs. Even though his plate already had three slices of colby on it he was still shaking a bag of shredded cheddar cheese.

"Come on… come on…" He said. Not much cheese was coming out. "Whoa!"

Suddenly all the cheese spilled out onto his plate. He blinked at the mounded pile of cheese a few times before shrugging and gobbling it up. Beauregard face-palmed and made a disgusted face.

"Mom! We're out of cheddar…" Pipsqueak said with his mouth full.

Beauregard finished his breakfast as quickly as he could, rinsing his plate off and heading towards the door.

"If dad's busy can you take me mom?" he asked as he opened a closet.

A day fishing with her husband's friend was not Camilla's ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

"I'm sorry honey, but I have grocery shopping today. You might just have to wait until next week," she said.

Just then, the door creaked open and Herbert peaked his head in.

"Dad! I knew you were going to take me. Let's go!" Beauregard said as he tried to walk out the door.

Sadly it was shut right in front of him.

"I was just coming in for some breakfast. There's a lot of work I need to catch up on, I won't be able to take you today." Herbert said while walking over to the table. "I'm sorry buddy."

Dejected Beauregard sat down on a stool with his face in his hands.

"It's okay…" he whined.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Being the closest Beauregard volunteered.

"I'll get it."

He opened the door to reveal a smiling Eagle holding a tackle box and wearing a fishing hat. It was Ernest Gilbert, Herbert's pal and former sea captain. Beauregard immediately went in for a hug.

"Mr. Gilbert!" said Beauregard.

Ernest embraced him with one hand and waved to the rest of the family with the other.

"Hey there Ernie." Herbert said as he got up and shook his hand. "Didn't I tell you I couldn't make it today?"

Meanwhile Beauregard took the tackle box and began rummaging through it to find anything new.

"You see, I was really itching to get out there and do some fishing today. But I'm getting too old to prep the ol' girl by myself. I hoped I could get a little help." the senior Eagle said, patting Beauregard's head.

"I don't know…" said Herbert.

"Pleeease?" Beauregard and Gilbert said, almost in unison.

"Well…" Herbert said before stopping to ponder for a moment. "I suppose you're old enough to go without me."

"Yay!" said Beauregard as he ran out the door. "Thanks dad!"

"He's such a lively boy. Thanks for letting me have him for the day, Bert." Gilbert grabbed his tackle box as he said this.

"Yeah, yeah. Just stay outta trouble eh?"

"Heheh." Gilbert laughed halfway out the door. "No promises!"

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Beauregard Cheddarosier
* Camilla Cheddarosier
* Pipsqueak Cheddarosier
* Herbert Cheddarosier
* Ernest Gilbert