Caelan should have learned this as a child. He should have gone fishing with his dad and brothers on Lake Pattaconk. He should have learned how to swim in the Sycamore Hills pool. His childhood shouldn't have been focused on recognizing root rot in the orchard or memorizing the year's almanac to know exactly when the winter weather would be upon them. Caelan didn't like thinking that his childhood had been stolen from him, but he did mourn the childhood he wished he had.<br/><br/>Dusty was beginning to take on that teaching role that his father should have been for him. He showed him how to fire a gun to protect himself and was now dutifully showing him how to fish to feed himself. Caelan stood beside Dusty as he demonstrated how to cast the line. He tried to commit the instructions to memory. It would be another activity to practice on the off weeks while Dusty was away. Caelan didn't want to waste Dusty's time. It would be nothing less than beneficial for him.<br/><br/>Caelan held the rod firmly in his hands. He stared out at the water, focusing on the string of fishing line while the sun made it glimmer. He was anticipating the tug of a fish caught on the hook. Caelan didn't want to miss a single indicator, not after Dusty had given him more pointers than he thought his brain could handle.<br/><br/>"I stick to myself for the most part." Caelan answered, his eyes still on the water. "I have a friend out of town. Maybe around where you live." He glanced over at Dusty and shrugged before returning his attention. "Her name is Helene. She is 83 years old and has lived on the bayou her entire life." Caelan smiled fondly. "We met shortly after my friend passed from the sickness. I was out wandering, upset and intending to leave the city, and had just found my dirt bike. Granted, I've never ridden one before." He chuckled.<br/><br/>"Long story short, I wiped out and tore up my arm." There were a few scars on his arm, but it was nowhere near as bad as it could have been without her. "Helene happened to be out picking blackberries and took me back to her house and patched me up. I've been going to her house every couple weeks since then. She tells me stories and I enjoy the company."<br/><br/>"You live on a houseboat? What is that like?" Caelan knew the general concept of a yacht and the typical ski and sailboats. "What's it look like? I've never seen one, I don't think."