As the boys an I were waiting our turn to imerse new friends first boat in the Cooper, I got to talking with a salty from Sea Island GA. As we were taking about fishing, shrimping, ladys or the lack there of, etc., we were also taking in the interesting sights and quite vulger sounds of the folks entering and exiting the launch. <br /><br />Amoung which was a small child of about 6 who was getting a ear full from his dear dad about how to help launch their craft. One of the things his dear dad asked repeatedly of the young tike was if the plug has been installed as required and as he instructed many times before he back the craft down the ramp. It had not, but the dad just took it in stride and showed the boy again how to handle the plug. <br /><br />This brought to mind a story from the old salt. Always looking to be intertained, I listened intently to his recollection of an incident when he was just a small weed of about 6. <br /><br />He remarked that as a child, he always wondered why a boat floats. When he inquired with his "old man" (a god fearing man) he told him that God held it above the waves. The ones who believed would alway remain dry with fair saling weather. The ones who did not would sink and perish below the waves.<br /><br />Being the funny child as he was, and always one to test the waters, he thought it would be a "gas" if he made the boat weigh more to see how much god could hold. Knowing about boat plugs, he decided to remove the one in his dads craft to allow the water to trickle in. After several moments of looking over the side, it did not appear that God was suffering due to the extra weight. He jumped up and down and has his younger brothe to do so as well. He added stuff from the dock, but the boat did not seem to get heavy. God did not appear and ask him to stop and he and his brother were just getting wet. <br /><br />His mind wondered and his siblings went to do other things. Apparently, his mind wandered toward food as it did on a regular bases. Thinking (or not) that he would get a snack and come back later, he left the boat as it was and went to to snack. He did not tell me of the snack, but one must assume it was a tasty one. <br /><br />Later, his father frantically asked "who took the craft". Upon further inspection, the craft was not taken, it was under, but still tied to the dock. When questioned, he told his father that "it must have been a non-believer who steped aboard for a moment and caused it to sink. Perhaps his younger brother as he never paid any attention to the preacher and aways cried about going to church. The mind of a child I though, what a wonderful thing. <br /><br />After the truth came out, he remarked that he father was more specific when he asked questions about how things worked. You see, while God may be holding up your boat philosophically, having the plug in is a more physical way to keep the craft afloat when God is bussy with other matters. <br /><br />Funny guy my new friend.
