uncle will was ordinarily the most taciturn of men , but once he had the boat positioned to his liking , some sixty or seventy yards offshore , lines set and bobbers floating on the water , he would crack a beer for himself and one for hal ( who rarely drank more than half of the one can uncle will would allow , always with the ritual admonition from uncle will that aunt ida must never be told because `` she 'd shoot me for a stranger if she knew i was givin you boys beer , do n't you know '' ) , and wax expansive .