I have had some nice things said to me in my life. I don't think anyone has ever said anything nicer.
I wasn't catching anything (I never did, really), but I was feeling as grown-up as a thirteen-year-old can feel when he's got all his shiny tackle, and a proper fisherman's penknife. It was a mild day, but there was quite a cool breeze - nevertheless there were people sitting on the beach in deck chairs, trousers rolled up but coats still on. I had been watching the sea for an hour or so (the real reason for being there), when a girl started talking to me. She was just a little kid, 8 or 9. She was scampering around in a swimsuit, turning ragged cartwheels, and chattering. I have no idea what she talked about, or what I replied, but we chatted on and off for most of the rest of the afternoon.
It got close to teatime, and she had gone back to where her parents were sitting, and put on a pullover, then come back to talk some more, and mess about with her bucket and spade. We built a sandcastle - not a very good one, but I stuck some brightly-coloured floats in it. Her mum & dad shouted to her, and she ran off. They were packing up to go, and I was thinking of doing the same, but not yet.
They had their deckchairs and bags all tucked under their arms, and were setting off. I turned to wave, and she was running back across the beach. I don't remember what we had talked about, but I remember what she said then. She smiled up at me and said 'I wish you were nine'. Then she ran off.