"Catch and release?" I nodded solemnly, suddenly nervous and curious at the same time.
“That really bothers me”, Denver went on. “I just can’t figure it out. ‘Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take it and show it off to everybody that’ll look. Then we eat what we catch…in other words, we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water.”
He paused again, and the silence between us stretched a full minute. Then “Did you hear what I said?”
I nodded, afraid to speak, afraid to offend.
Denver looked away, searching the blue autumn sky, then locked onto me again with that drill-bit stare. “So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”
The world seemed to halt in midstride and fall silent around us like one of those freeze-frame scenes on TV. I could hear my heart pounding and imagined Denver could see it popping my breast pocket up and down. I returned Denver’s gaze with what I hoped was a receptive expression and hung on.
Suddenly his eyes gentled and he spoke more softly than before: “But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”
This brought me to tears! There are so many places in this book where love, forgiveness, mending, and trust are described. Many times throughout the book I was brought to tears. This is a wonderful story of tremendous compassion and love, and it will touch your heart. I would definitely buy this book as well as recommend it to others!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com
Hello Cheryl....Any writing that can move a reader to tears has got to be good. The written word can be so powerful. Thanks for your review of this book! Susan
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite books ever in the whole world.
ReplyDeleteSusan and Libby, Thank you so much for your comments. You both are such sweet, sweet ladies. I love you both as a Sister in Christ. :)
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