No fishing, written by Ash Phoenix.

You've been asking questions, and I suppose you deserve answers.

So I've spoken to your mother, and she agrees it's about time you know about the lake.

About why we don't let you play there.

So way back your uncle John and I used to spend most of our summers in and around that lake.

And times were different back then, my parents, your granny and grandpa's, they weren't ignorant

or bad parents, they just weren't quite as aware of dangers and risk as we are now.

You know, TV news and the internet changed a lot.

They used to send me into town to pay bills and buy groceries when I was about half your age.

Half your age and tottering down that side of the main road with bags of fruit and veggies.

Would you believe that?

I was about as old as you now though, and it happened.

Uncle John was only five, and he had this gorgeous old teddy bear that he took everywhere

with him.

It had this lovely dark brown, tightly curled fur, bright but nice that shone in the light.

A little green waste coat and a pair of blue shorts, and this was way before build a bear.

These things were stitched on so the bear couldn't lose them.

And Uncle John did lose his bear though, shorts and all.

And for about a week he was beside himself, just inconsolable.

He swore he woke up and the bear had just disappeared from the bed beside him.

And I believed it.

He slept with that thing every night.

...