A Michigan request for Starlover55_ 

Little Michigan had no idea what was going on.

One minute he was sitting at the doorway of his mom's house, waiting for the door to open and his dad to step through and the next he was swept away by a tall man in a dark suit to go fishing.

Michigan trotted behind the mysterious man as he tried to avoid the mud and bugs leading to the lake. He held a tiny fishing rod and a bucket as he tried to keep up, not daring to ask questions until they got closer to the boat.

"Sir?" Michigan asked in a tiny voice.

"Ugh there's so many bugs I'm going to have to clean these shoe-hm?" Gov asked, turning to face the tiny state.

"What are we doing?" Michigan asked.

"We're going fi-AH FROG-fishing of course." Gov said with a smile.

"But why? Daddy usually takes me fishing." Michigan pointed out. Gov bit his lip and scrambled his brain trying to come up for an excuse for the tiny state, who looked so hopeful.

"Daddy...er...went to go get Verners." Gov lied, mentally kicking himself. It was one thing to lie to your people, and politicians, it was another to lie to a small child.

"Oh I like Verners! Have you ever had it?" Michigan asked, eyes going wide.

"Can't say I have." Gov mumbled, turning back to the trail. "Ah! We're here!" The two were emptied out to a beach area of the lake, with a metal row boat anchored to the dock. Michigan took a deep breath and took in the fresh air and the smell of the lake, Gov covered his nose with a handkerchief.

"It smells great sir!"

"Mhm. Wonderful." Gov mumbled. "Let's go to the boat, these fish won't fish themselves!"

"Catch themselves sir, they won't catch themselves." Michigan said with a giggle. Gov rolled his eyes and led the tiny state to the boa. After eyeing it to make sure it was sea worthy, Gov placed two blankets down on the seats, picking Michigan up, placed him on one, then got into the boat himself. The boat wiggled as he steadily stepped in, making him clutch onto the dock until his fingers turned white and for Michgian to giggle. Finally Gov was situated inside, he grabbed the oars, and began rowing them out to the middle of the lake. Michigan looked at the life around them, the tall lake grass, the birds swooping down to get lunch, and the little bugs that Gov kept whacking away from his arms. It was just like when daddy took him fishing! Except...daddy wasn't here. Daddy was out getting verners, sir said, but why did he still feel so sad?

"Okay this looks like a good spot." Gov announced stopping the boat. He got out his fishing rod and looked it over. "So do I just....cast it or...."

"You gotta put a worm on the hook!" Michigan announced. He reached into the bucket and pulled out a slippery, slimy worm. "See!"

"AH. That's...er....nice Michigan." Gov mumbled scooting away as fast as possible. "Can you....can you do that for me?" Michigan giggled and grabbed Gov's rod, hooking the worm into the hook with ease, making the government gag.

"Here you go sir!" Michigan announced giving Gov the rod back. Gov gagged but smiled.

"T-Thank you...." Gov said with a nervous smile, ignoring Michigan doing the same to his own rod. "So what now?"

"Now we cast!" Michigan announced, standing up and casting his line into the water. Gov nodded and stood up, rocking the boat a little. He threw the line back and threw it....too fast. Suddenly he tumbled over the side, falling into the water with a huge splash. Michigan ducked at the wave of water and then looked up to an angry Gov in the middle of the lake with a lily pad on his head. He giggled in his hands before his giggle became a full blown laugh, falling into the boat and laughing his head off. Gov spit out water and threaded to the boat, crawling back inside with a splat.

"This is why I hate fishing." Gov hissed shivering a little.

"Are you okay sir?" Michigan giggled.

"That was an expensive rod!" Gov yelled before feeling a small human hug him around his waist. Michigan squeezed the government tight, not caring if his own clothes got wet and dirty and instead focusing on the hug.

"Thanks sir." Michigan smiled. "That really cheered me up." Gov smiled down at the little state, smoothing out his hair and accepting his hug.

"Gov." Gov said softly. "I'm Gov. You don't have to call me sir."

"Gov. I like that." Michigan beamed up at the government before going back into the hug. Gov cautiously wrapped his arms around the tiny state, sighing contentedly as the birds sang in the distance. Maybe he would take Michigan fishing more often, especially since the boy's father was gone. It would help him get to know him better, and teach him how to become a state.

But first, some dry clothes.