Summer Adventures with Kate & JR Read Online Free PDF Page A

pretend to catch fish. Each time they pulled a fish out of the water, JR would catch an imaginary fish using his small toy fishing pole. But he didn’t have the patience for fishing; something along the bank would catch his eye, and off he would go to investigate.
    Today would be different. JR had a brand-new grownup fishing rod with a hook and a red-and-white cork. He was six now and ready to do some serious fishing. JR and his family left early in the morning to spend a long weekend with Grandpa Ron and Grandma Katie. They were his mother’s parents and they lived four hours from his home. JR and Kate were both excited about going. They talked about all the things they would do once they got to the farm.
    As the car entered the driveway, JR could see the pond glistening in the sun. The tall cattails along the bank moved gently in the breeze. Grandpa Ron’s ducks were swimming in the middle of the pond along with four ducklings. Two Canada geese were grazing along the bank and squawked at the car as it went by.
    As soon as the car stopped, JR hopped out and waved to his grandparents on the front porch. “Let’s go fishing!” he shouted.
    Soon everyone was out of the car and greeting one another with hugs. JR was growing impatient. He wanted to go fishing. Talking could wait. JR’s father reminded him that they needed to unpack the car before fishing. JR ran to the car, grabbed his fishing rod and backpack, and went inside the house.
    â€œHe sure is excited about fishing,” Grandpa Ron said. “I hope he catches a fish this time.”
    â€œI know. That’s all he has talked about on the way here,” replied Kate. She did not like to fish. She thought it was a waste of time, just sitting on the bank and waiting for a fish to bite the hook. She had better things to do.
    â€œLet’s get unpacked. Kate, take your backpack. Grandpa and I will bring in the rest of the luggage.”
    JR met his father and grandfather at the door. “When can we go fishing?”
    â€œAfter lunch. We need to dig worms and find some crickets for bait. I’ll check with the girls. We may have time before lunch to gather our supplies and bait,” replied Grandpa Ron.
    â€œSounds good to me. I need to stretch a bit after that long drive,” Dad said as he let out a yawn.
    Grandma Katie had picked fresh lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes from the garden to serve with her famous chicken salad that was topped with toasted pecans. Kate joined her mother and grandmother in the kitchen.
    â€œLunch will be ready in thirty minutes,” Grandma Katie told Grandpa, Dad, and JR. “Don’t get too dirty.”
    Soon the three were out the door, walking to the shed out back, where Grandpa Ron kept the fishing rods, bait buckets, and a fishing satchel that contained all kinds of interesting lures. Dad grabbed a shovel for digging, and off they went in search of crickets and worms. JR knew that crickets could be found under old boards and rocks, so he ran to the scrap wood pile.
    He carefully lifted a board, making sure there were no snakes, and gasped at all the crickets. Some started to jump away.
    â€œHurry with the bait jar! I found a lot of crickets!”
    Dad helped JR pick up the crickets and place them in the bait jar. The bait jar had tiny holes all around the side to let in air so that the crickets would not die. “I think you found enough crickets under this board to last all afternoon,” Grandpa Ron said. “Now let’s dig a few worms. We may need a different bait to keep the fish interested.”
    Dad brought the shovel to the compost pile near the garden. With one load from the shovel, JR was able to pull out many earthworms and place them in a bait jar with dirt. “This compost pile is full of earthworms, Grandpa Ron.”
    â€œThat’s the idea,” Grandpa said. “The earthworms help with the decomposition process, and that makes a healthy