Epiphany

1950, there had been a war, but things were going back to normal.
My mother had a new boyfriend who also had a small cabin on an island
and a rowing boat.
On a nice Sunday, we rowed out, mother had made sandwiches mostly filled with jam,
a thermos of coffee and a bottle of soft drink.
Her boyfriend gave me a line with a hook and a sinker and told me
to go to the shallow and catch something.
I did as he said, but must add I do not take kindly being “told.”
There were many tiny fishes that looked like swimming rainbows
I was enthralled by them; in the crystal-clear water, it was like looking into heaven.
I must have been in a dreamlike state of mind, took a step forward and fell into the water.
The boyfriend came running, mother too, she was worried about my health,
we returned back to town, so I could get dry clothing and cacao drink.
The boyfriend was grumpy, suggested I had fallen into the water
to attract attention.
I didn´t try to explain that for a moment I had seen the wonder and understood everything.
Mind, he could have been right, what does a boy know of life.