CHAPTER 9
Daniel stared at the huge fish. A chill ran up his spine.
He suddenly felt really sad. It was almost like his grandpa had died again. Daniel knew it was a strange way to feel, but he couldn’t help it.
“I’m sorry, Larry,” Daniel mumbled to the fish.
“What?” Brian asked. “What did you just say, Daniel?”
“Oh, nothing,” Daniel said. “Never mind. Let’s just go find the aisle that has the macaroni and cheese.”
Daniel’s heart thumped as he and Brian picked out their dinners. As they were about to check out, Daniel stopped. “Hang on,” he said to Brian. “There’s one more thing we need.”
Daniel led Brian back to the fish case. The butcher behind the counter asked, “Can I help you?”
Daniel pointed at the huge fish and said, “I’ll take that one.”
“The whole thing?” the butcher asked, frowning.
Daniel nodded.
The butcher shrugged. “All right, kid,” he said. “Whatever you say.”
A few minutes later, Daniel and Brian were on their way back to Brian’s. They were carrying the huge fish between them.
“Daniel, are we going to eat this fish?” Brian asked.
Daniel didn’t reply right away. He thought about what Grandpa Carl had said. “Larry is not someone’s trophy, and he’s definitely not someone’s dinner.”
“No,” Daniel told Brian. “We can’t eat him. And I’m going to make sure no one does.”