A far piece up the reef from Upper and Lower Wreck, there was a shoreline. Upon that shoreline lived a family of clams. Although clams are known for being happy, these were quite possibly the happiest clams on earth.
They sat in the shallow waters of a small bay, without a care in the world. The tide flowed in and the tide flowed out while the clams did nothing. They enjoyed an abundance of bright yellow sun, refreshing green water, and cool blue sky.These are the reasons clams are so happy.
Meanwhile, the Old Blue Crab lived at the end of the shore, just under a dock. He skittered up and down the coast, collecting this and that for his den. He'd grab lost watches, and wallets from sunbathers who left them behind. He'd grab up coins that children tossed over the side of passenger boats, in hopes of making wishes without a wishing well. he'd even snatch old clamshells left behind.
He amassed quite a collection. In fact, it was probably the best collection of goodies from here to Upper Wreck, where the Hammerhead Shark lived. Every morning, Old Blue Crab would count his things, making sure everything was in its place. The more he collected, the more he had to count. The more he had to count, the less time he had to collect new things.
Eventually, all these things became old and rotten and rusted. It didn't matter though, because they were the Old Blue Crab's things.
And nobody else could have them.
Nobody.
One of his crabby friends, Redd Crabb (who wasn't the slightest bit crabby), came over with a shiny copper locket for Old Blue Crab. He wanted to trade it with Old Blue Crab for a parcular square stone that would fit a hole in the back of his own den.
"I will not give up one single stone," said Old Blue Crab.
"But this is a shiny locket. It is of no use to me. I could use that little square stone to fix a hole."
"I tell you what," said Old Blue Crab, "If you bring me two shiny lockets, I will make the trade."
Redd Crabb sighed, but agreed to Blue Crab's terms. He searched for somewhile, skittering up and down the beach until he found a gold locket. He brought it, with the copper locket, back to Old Blue Crab's den.
"Here are the two lockets. Now, can I have the tiny square stone?"
Old Blue Crab snatched the lockets from Redd's claws. He draped them around his neck and weaved them through his two front legs. He looked in a piece of shiny metal.
"It is just beautiful!" he cried out.
Meanwhile, Redd Crab took the single square stone back to his den. He fixed the hole. Now, no predators could sneak in from behind.
Old Blue Crab continued adoring his new shiny self. Meanwhile, the stone that held a wall was gone. Old Blue Crab did not bother to replace it. As he looked at his reflection, water came and washed away the walls of his den. Soon, it was just Old Blue Crab and his two lockets.
A sneaky eel came up and grabbed Old Blue Crab for dinner. The eel bit down, but the lockets protected the silly Old Blue Crab. As the eel wrestled with Crab, the gold and copper chains tied about Old Blue Crab's legs.
With one fierce snap, the eel broke through the lockets and chains. Crab and jewelry floated toward the seabed. As eel attacked, Redd Crab came from behind. He pinched the eel with his pincers. Even though Old Blue Crab was occupied with collecting his gold and copper, the eel had a thought that it was 2 versus 1. He scampered away to his home, leaving Old Blue Crab for another day.
"My glorius riches! They are safe!"
"We almost lost you!" said Redd.
"But you didn't!"
Redd knew it was no use talking to Old Blue. Instead, he helped the old crab gather goodies to pile around his den. This way, all would be safe. The sea looked out for Blue, too. On the night of a full moon, the waves roared onto the shore. The undertow took many things back to the depths of the Ocean. That included a gold and a copper locket. Now, there would be no shiny things to attract bigger fish.
It may have saved Old Blue Crab's life. It did not matter, though. Old Blue scoured the beaches, looking for his lost treasure. He never found anything like the two lockets.
Meanwhile, the clams sat in the surf, enjoying yellow sun, green surf, and bright blue skies. They didn't have a care in the world, because they already had everything they ever needed, which was nothing at all.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: A happy heart is better than a full purse.
Looks Are Only Fin Deep
Pogi and Ganda Fish took their regular places next to Upper Wreck, playing tag and chasing any crabs that happened to be skittering along. At times, they even ventured into the parts of Upper Wreck farthest from Mack's Cabin.
Ganda was it and Pogi was hiding between the barnacles and rusted hull of Upper Wreck. Ganda searched the room carefully, checking every nook and cranny.
She passed a piece of polished pipe. She was startled at the sight of a silvery-white fish in the reflection.
"Oh my goodness!" she cried out.
Pogi Fish poked his head from behind the pipe.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I was scared of my reflection," explained Ganda.
"You do have a scary face!" joked Pogi.
"Pogifish..." sighed Ganda.
"I was only joking."
Although it was just a joke, it hurt Ganda's feelings. Every time she passed a mirror or piece of polished metal, she stared at her reflection, even after she went home.
"Why do you keep looking at yourself?" asked Ganda's sister, Burara Fish.
"Do you think I look plain?"
"Not at all!"
"I wish I was a bright, like a Swordtail or a Clown Loach."
"What's wrong with just being you? I think you're the most beautiful fish in the world," said Burara.
"You've never even been outside our cave."
Ganda heaved a sigh and went to her room. Unfortunately, the walls along one side of the cave were made of smoth agate. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning, she woke up, only to see her pearly white face staring back at her.
"Aaaah!" she said with a jump.
She avoided looking at as many smooth surfaces as she swam to Upper Wreck. She even avoided going inside Upper Wreck, which was covered with mirrors, polished brass, glass, and chrome. Instead, she lingered outside, waiting for Pogi Fish.
"Unh-unh," said Jack Dempsey as he approached her.
"Hello, Jack."
"Hey Ganda. How are you?"
"I'm a little sad," she said.
"Why?"
"I'm just a plain old Gourami."
"I think Gourami are beautiful," said Jack.
"How can you say that? Every one of my scales is the same color of pearl-white."
"Yes, but it shimmers in sunlight. Look at me, I'm dark green-gray."
"I think your skin is beautiful. Plus, you have that intriguing scar. It makes you look like a pirate."
"Rrrrr," said Jack.
Ganda laughed as Jack squished his face. He imitated a pirate's limp as he swam in a circle.
"See!" she said, "You're unique!"
"You're unique, too," replied Jack.
"Not like you."
Just then, Pogi swam up and joined them.
"What are you two discussing?"
"Ganda thinks she's plain."
"Plain? I think you're beautiful. You have big black eyes and you always wear this funny smirk like you've told yourself a funny joke but you don't want to share it with anyone."
Ganda Fish swam up to one of the port holes and looked at her reflection in the glass.
"You get all that?" she said.
"I sure do! Plus, you have a smile that fills my heart and makes me happy."
"I do?"
Both Jack and Pogi nodded in agreement. Now Ganda felt much better. She realized that even though she thought she was plain, she wasn't. It was just the same with Jack Dempsey. He had this plain green body, but to a Gourami, he was interesting and different.
Ganda felt much better, because, after all, she had two friends who thought she wasn't plain at all.
...and that was good enough for Ganda.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Ganda was it and Pogi was hiding between the barnacles and rusted hull of Upper Wreck. Ganda searched the room carefully, checking every nook and cranny.
She passed a piece of polished pipe. She was startled at the sight of a silvery-white fish in the reflection.
"Oh my goodness!" she cried out.
Pogi Fish poked his head from behind the pipe.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I was scared of my reflection," explained Ganda.
"You do have a scary face!" joked Pogi.
"Pogifish..." sighed Ganda.
"I was only joking."
Although it was just a joke, it hurt Ganda's feelings. Every time she passed a mirror or piece of polished metal, she stared at her reflection, even after she went home.
"Why do you keep looking at yourself?" asked Ganda's sister, Burara Fish.
"Do you think I look plain?"
"Not at all!"
"I wish I was a bright, like a Swordtail or a Clown Loach."
"What's wrong with just being you? I think you're the most beautiful fish in the world," said Burara.
"You've never even been outside our cave."
Ganda heaved a sigh and went to her room. Unfortunately, the walls along one side of the cave were made of smoth agate. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning, she woke up, only to see her pearly white face staring back at her.
"Aaaah!" she said with a jump.
She avoided looking at as many smooth surfaces as she swam to Upper Wreck. She even avoided going inside Upper Wreck, which was covered with mirrors, polished brass, glass, and chrome. Instead, she lingered outside, waiting for Pogi Fish.
"Unh-unh," said Jack Dempsey as he approached her.
"Hello, Jack."
"Hey Ganda. How are you?"
"I'm a little sad," she said.
"Why?"
"I'm just a plain old Gourami."
"I think Gourami are beautiful," said Jack.
"How can you say that? Every one of my scales is the same color of pearl-white."
"Yes, but it shimmers in sunlight. Look at me, I'm dark green-gray."
"I think your skin is beautiful. Plus, you have that intriguing scar. It makes you look like a pirate."
"Rrrrr," said Jack.
Ganda laughed as Jack squished his face. He imitated a pirate's limp as he swam in a circle.
"See!" she said, "You're unique!"
"You're unique, too," replied Jack.
"Not like you."
Just then, Pogi swam up and joined them.
"What are you two discussing?"
"Ganda thinks she's plain."
"Plain? I think you're beautiful. You have big black eyes and you always wear this funny smirk like you've told yourself a funny joke but you don't want to share it with anyone."
Ganda Fish swam up to one of the port holes and looked at her reflection in the glass.
"You get all that?" she said.
"I sure do! Plus, you have a smile that fills my heart and makes me happy."
"I do?"
Both Jack and Pogi nodded in agreement. Now Ganda felt much better. She realized that even though she thought she was plain, she wasn't. It was just the same with Jack Dempsey. He had this plain green body, but to a Gourami, he was interesting and different.
Ganda felt much better, because, after all, she had two friends who thought she wasn't plain at all.
...and that was good enough for Ganda.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Pikon Throws a Fit (Among Other Things)
A small sandstone hit the wall next to next to Pogi Fish as he slept. A spiral shell hit the wall, followed by a scallop shell.
"Rrr-ahhh!" growled Pikon.
It wasn't unusual for Pikon fish to have a temper tantrum. In fact, Pogi Fish had become quite used to flying sea shells.
"What's wrong now?" asked Pogi.
"You know how I hate sea shells on my side of the cave."
"Well, I didn't put them there."
"If you didn't do it, how do you think they got there?"
"How should I know?"
"Rawr! I don't know either!"
Pikon roared as he tossed the rest of the shells and rocks aside. Afterwards, he ran his fins over the sand until it was flat and smooth.
Nothing was said between the brothers for the rest of the day. Pogi slept on his side of the cave and Pikon slept on his side.
The next morning, shells and rocks and bones flew across the room.
"Again?" shouted Pogi.
"Yes! Again! I wake up in another mess on my side of the room!"
Pikon pitched a sandstone across the cave with his snout. It skittered through the door and landed in the kitchen.
"Peeeee-konnnnn!" bellowed Papa Fish.
When Papa Fish called out, Pikon knew he better listen. He skulked out to the kitchen, where mother and father waited.
"How many times must we tell you that throwing a tantrum is no way to solve a problem?" asked Mama Fish.
"A bunch," muttered Pikon.
Papa Fish cleared his throat.
"And you know...he who throws sea shells by the sea shore will soon be alone on the beach."
"Papa, you're not helping," said Mama Fish, "Did you just make that up?"
"It fits, doesn't it?"
"I think what your father is trying to say is that you don't make friends by throwing things at them, especially your brother."
"I guess," said Pikon.
"Now apologize to him," said Mama.
"I'm sorry, Pogi."
"I forgive you, little brother."
The third night, Pogi had a good sleep, but another rude awakening.
"Rawr!" growled Pikon.
"What?"
"Shells!" spouted Pikon as he flung a sea shell.
"And rocks!" He flung a rock across the cave.
"And this piece of glass!" As the glass hit the wall, it shattered into tens of pieces.
"Peeeee-konnnnn!"
Big Papa Fish strutted into the boys' room and glarded at Little Pikon.
"What did I tell you yesterday?"
"I'm sorry," said Pikon.
"Sorry isn't enough," said Papa.
Just then, Mama entered the room, too.
"What started this, anyway?" she asked.
"Somebody put shells on my side of the cave."
"How can you be sure you didn't do this?" said Mama.
"It happened while I was sleeping."
"It just so happens I was in the kitchen late last night and I heard you tossing and turning. Guess what?"
"What?"
"You were having a nightmare. You tossed and turned and stirred up all this dust."
Mama Fish cleared away the sand, exposing a large pile of trash.
"Our cave sits atop a trash heap."
"Oh," said Pikon.
"And look over here," said Mama Fish.
She fetched a sliver of glass from Pogi's side of the room. It was part of a broken marble from Pikon's marble collection.
"Oh no!" groaned Pikon, "I broke my cat's eye."
"Yes, it is."
"I'm sorry, Pogi."
"That's okay," said Pogi.
"Sorry isn't enough this time," said Mama Fish.
"It isn't?"
Mama Fish shook her head.
"You're grounded for an entire month."
"That's so long," said Pikon.
"That will give you plenty of time to do Pogi's chores, too."
"But..."
"No buts. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it," said mother.
That night and each night thereafter, Pogi got a good night's sleep followed by a good morning, too. Pikon, on the other hand, kept himself busy, paying back Pogi for the way he'd treated his older brother and falsely accusing him of making messes in the cave.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing - Will Rogers
"Rrr-ahhh!" growled Pikon.
It wasn't unusual for Pikon fish to have a temper tantrum. In fact, Pogi Fish had become quite used to flying sea shells.
"What's wrong now?" asked Pogi.
"You know how I hate sea shells on my side of the cave."
"Well, I didn't put them there."
"If you didn't do it, how do you think they got there?"
"How should I know?"
"Rawr! I don't know either!"
Pikon roared as he tossed the rest of the shells and rocks aside. Afterwards, he ran his fins over the sand until it was flat and smooth.
Nothing was said between the brothers for the rest of the day. Pogi slept on his side of the cave and Pikon slept on his side.
The next morning, shells and rocks and bones flew across the room.
"Again?" shouted Pogi.
"Yes! Again! I wake up in another mess on my side of the room!"
Pikon pitched a sandstone across the cave with his snout. It skittered through the door and landed in the kitchen.
"Peeeee-konnnnn!" bellowed Papa Fish.
When Papa Fish called out, Pikon knew he better listen. He skulked out to the kitchen, where mother and father waited.
"How many times must we tell you that throwing a tantrum is no way to solve a problem?" asked Mama Fish.
"A bunch," muttered Pikon.
Papa Fish cleared his throat.
"And you know...he who throws sea shells by the sea shore will soon be alone on the beach."
"Papa, you're not helping," said Mama Fish, "Did you just make that up?"
"It fits, doesn't it?"
"I think what your father is trying to say is that you don't make friends by throwing things at them, especially your brother."
"I guess," said Pikon.
"Now apologize to him," said Mama.
"I'm sorry, Pogi."
"I forgive you, little brother."
The third night, Pogi had a good sleep, but another rude awakening.
"Rawr!" growled Pikon.
"What?"
"Shells!" spouted Pikon as he flung a sea shell.
"And rocks!" He flung a rock across the cave.
"And this piece of glass!" As the glass hit the wall, it shattered into tens of pieces.
"Peeeee-konnnnn!"
Big Papa Fish strutted into the boys' room and glarded at Little Pikon.
"What did I tell you yesterday?"
"I'm sorry," said Pikon.
"Sorry isn't enough," said Papa.
Just then, Mama entered the room, too.
"What started this, anyway?" she asked.
"Somebody put shells on my side of the cave."
"How can you be sure you didn't do this?" said Mama.
"It happened while I was sleeping."
"It just so happens I was in the kitchen late last night and I heard you tossing and turning. Guess what?"
"What?"
"You were having a nightmare. You tossed and turned and stirred up all this dust."
Mama Fish cleared away the sand, exposing a large pile of trash.
"Our cave sits atop a trash heap."
"Oh," said Pikon.
"And look over here," said Mama Fish.
She fetched a sliver of glass from Pogi's side of the room. It was part of a broken marble from Pikon's marble collection.
"Oh no!" groaned Pikon, "I broke my cat's eye."
"Yes, it is."
"I'm sorry, Pogi."
"That's okay," said Pogi.
"Sorry isn't enough this time," said Mama Fish.
"It isn't?"
Mama Fish shook her head.
"You're grounded for an entire month."
"That's so long," said Pikon.
"That will give you plenty of time to do Pogi's chores, too."
"But..."
"No buts. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it," said mother.
That night and each night thereafter, Pogi got a good night's sleep followed by a good morning, too. Pikon, on the other hand, kept himself busy, paying back Pogi for the way he'd treated his older brother and falsely accusing him of making messes in the cave.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing - Will Rogers
Some One-Eyed Jacks Aren't Wild
A tiny blue fish and a tiny white fish wandered through the bright red coral reef, looking for something (anything) to do. Just like any other day, they quickly found something to occupy their time.
Along the coral, there were two fish in a lip-lock. One was a large green fish. The other was a large blue fish. Pogi nearly swam right between them before Ganda nudged him out of harm’s way.
“Why did you do that? They’re just kissing.
“No, Pogi! They’re fighting!”
Suddenly, the large blue fish nipped at the green fish and they locked lips again. When the large blue fish nipped again, the green fish backed away and hid in a nearby cave.
The blue fish went towards the cave and the green fish disappeared from side, headed towards Lower Wreck. When the large blue fish turned, his right eye was heavily scarred. It scared Pogi so much that Pogi swam towards the safety of Upper Wreck and Mack the Knife. Ganda Fish was just behind him.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?”
“We just saw this mean old blue fish with only one eye!”
“That must be Jack Dempsey…he’s a friendly fish,” stated Mack.
“He was fighting with a green fish in the coral reef.”
“That must’ve been one of the Green Terrors. They were probably stirring up trouble.”
”I thought Jack Dempsey was a fighter,” said Ganda.
“He used to be a fighter, but nowadays, he only gets upset when someone’s in his backyard.”
“Where is his backyard?” asked Pogi.
“In the coral reef,” replied Mack.
“Okay, we’ll keep that in mind,” said Ganda, “Let’s play hide-and-seek, Pogi.”
Ganda didn’t give it a second thought as she chased Pogi around Upper Wreck. The two small fish stayed out of the Hammerhead’s way and he stayed out of theirs. As long as they did that, everyone was happy.
After Ganda tagged Pogi, it was his turn to be ‘it’. As he circled Lower Wreck, he kept a steady eye on the coral reef. The One-Eyed Jack was nowhere to be found.
A white flash in the distance caught Pogi’s eye. It could’ve been Ganda, the beautiful Pearl-White Gourami, but it was not. It was the Jack Dempsey. A glimmer of sunlight hit the Jack Dempsey’s scales in just the right way. The silver-white reflection fooled Pogi Fish.
Pogi saw the fish swimming in the distance. The Fish disappeared into a tangle of seaweed and a water-logged tree. Pogi followed the Jack Dempsey. Ganda noticed Pogi and decided to sneak up and scare him.
Pogi scoured the seafloor, searching for Ganda Fish. He noticed a tail poking out of a hollow tree trunk. Pogi carefully swam into the other end, ready to tag Ganda. Ganda sneaked in behind him.
Inside the treek trunk, it was completely dark. In the darkness, he saw the large fish-shaped shadow. He darted up and poked the fish in the snout.
“Gotcha!” he shouted.
“Don’t you mean, ‘I have you?” growled the Jack. The old Jack Dempsey grabbed Pogi Fish by the lower lip, just as he did to the much larger Green Terror. Now Pogi Fish realized it wasn’t any kind of kiss at all.
“Yipes!” he screamed. With a sudden jerk he pulled free from the Jack. He bumped into Ganda Fish.
“Help!” cried Ganda.
“Oh no!” shouted Pogi.
In all actuality, the one-eyed Jack was shocked by all the noise inside the hollow trunk. His good eye grew wide as he focused on the two fish. Pogi could only see the scary eye. He tried escaping, but Ganda blocked his way.
“Let me go! Let me go! Please, please, please don’t eat me!” said Pogi.
Everyone escaped from he darkness of the tree trunk. Pogi and Ganda’s shouts attracted plenty of attention. Even Mack made his way to the spot where the three fish met.
“What’s all the commotion?” asked the old Hammerhead.
“You tell me,” grumbled Jack.
“You tried to have me for dinner!” exclaimed Pogi Fish.
“You were inside my tree trunk!” argued the Jack. His normally blue face reddened in anger.
“We’re you in Jack’s tree?” asked Mack.
“I was, but I didn’t know it was his.”
“You should watch where you’re going. That’s no excuse.”
“How was he supposed to know, Jack?” asked the Hammerhead.
“I suppose you’re right,” agreed Jack. His face turned from angry red to a shade of calm blue.
“I apologize, Mr. Jack,” said Pogi
“Me, too,” added Ganda.
“I’m sorry, too. I just don’t like people invading my home.”
“None of us do,” said Mack.
“We’ll make sure never to do it again, Mr. Jack.”
“You don’t have to call me Mr. Jack, kid.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the tiny blue Acara.
The Jack Dempsey gave Pogi Fish a wink with his one good eye and grinned at the two tiny fishes.
“If you ever need anything, you let me know, alright, kid?”
“If you know Louie the Cat and his gang, we could use help with them.”
“Sure thing, kid. I’m the reason you never see them in Upper Wreck.”
The old Hammerhead cleared his throat.
“I guess Mack has something to do with that, also.”
“But Jack Dempsey used to be one of the meanest fighters in the sea.”
“I can still give Louie and his boys a good rope-a-dope,” said Jack. He curled his fins into fists and made boxing motions. That was enough for Pogi and Ganda. Now they had two friends to keep them safe.
Jack even played hide-and-go-seek with the two tinier fish. Unfortunately, he was larger and slower. That only meant one thing. The two smaller fish had thousands of places to hide. When Jack did find either of them, he often could get into the places only the tiny fish could go.Still, he had a grand time with his two little fishy friends. And that was just alright with the one-eyed Jack.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Appearances can be deceiving.
Along the coral, there were two fish in a lip-lock. One was a large green fish. The other was a large blue fish. Pogi nearly swam right between them before Ganda nudged him out of harm’s way.
“Why did you do that? They’re just kissing.
“No, Pogi! They’re fighting!”
Suddenly, the large blue fish nipped at the green fish and they locked lips again. When the large blue fish nipped again, the green fish backed away and hid in a nearby cave.
The blue fish went towards the cave and the green fish disappeared from side, headed towards Lower Wreck. When the large blue fish turned, his right eye was heavily scarred. It scared Pogi so much that Pogi swam towards the safety of Upper Wreck and Mack the Knife. Ganda Fish was just behind him.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?”
“We just saw this mean old blue fish with only one eye!”
“That must be Jack Dempsey…he’s a friendly fish,” stated Mack.
“He was fighting with a green fish in the coral reef.”
“That must’ve been one of the Green Terrors. They were probably stirring up trouble.”
”I thought Jack Dempsey was a fighter,” said Ganda.
“He used to be a fighter, but nowadays, he only gets upset when someone’s in his backyard.”
“Where is his backyard?” asked Pogi.
“In the coral reef,” replied Mack.
“Okay, we’ll keep that in mind,” said Ganda, “Let’s play hide-and-seek, Pogi.”
Ganda didn’t give it a second thought as she chased Pogi around Upper Wreck. The two small fish stayed out of the Hammerhead’s way and he stayed out of theirs. As long as they did that, everyone was happy.
After Ganda tagged Pogi, it was his turn to be ‘it’. As he circled Lower Wreck, he kept a steady eye on the coral reef. The One-Eyed Jack was nowhere to be found.
A white flash in the distance caught Pogi’s eye. It could’ve been Ganda, the beautiful Pearl-White Gourami, but it was not. It was the Jack Dempsey. A glimmer of sunlight hit the Jack Dempsey’s scales in just the right way. The silver-white reflection fooled Pogi Fish.
Pogi saw the fish swimming in the distance. The Fish disappeared into a tangle of seaweed and a water-logged tree. Pogi followed the Jack Dempsey. Ganda noticed Pogi and decided to sneak up and scare him.
Pogi scoured the seafloor, searching for Ganda Fish. He noticed a tail poking out of a hollow tree trunk. Pogi carefully swam into the other end, ready to tag Ganda. Ganda sneaked in behind him.
Inside the treek trunk, it was completely dark. In the darkness, he saw the large fish-shaped shadow. He darted up and poked the fish in the snout.
“Gotcha!” he shouted.
“Don’t you mean, ‘I have you?” growled the Jack. The old Jack Dempsey grabbed Pogi Fish by the lower lip, just as he did to the much larger Green Terror. Now Pogi Fish realized it wasn’t any kind of kiss at all.
“Yipes!” he screamed. With a sudden jerk he pulled free from the Jack. He bumped into Ganda Fish.
“Help!” cried Ganda.
“Oh no!” shouted Pogi.
In all actuality, the one-eyed Jack was shocked by all the noise inside the hollow trunk. His good eye grew wide as he focused on the two fish. Pogi could only see the scary eye. He tried escaping, but Ganda blocked his way.
“Let me go! Let me go! Please, please, please don’t eat me!” said Pogi.
Everyone escaped from he darkness of the tree trunk. Pogi and Ganda’s shouts attracted plenty of attention. Even Mack made his way to the spot where the three fish met.
“What’s all the commotion?” asked the old Hammerhead.
“You tell me,” grumbled Jack.
“You tried to have me for dinner!” exclaimed Pogi Fish.
“You were inside my tree trunk!” argued the Jack. His normally blue face reddened in anger.
“We’re you in Jack’s tree?” asked Mack.
“I was, but I didn’t know it was his.”
“You should watch where you’re going. That’s no excuse.”
“How was he supposed to know, Jack?” asked the Hammerhead.
“I suppose you’re right,” agreed Jack. His face turned from angry red to a shade of calm blue.
“I apologize, Mr. Jack,” said Pogi
“Me, too,” added Ganda.
“I’m sorry, too. I just don’t like people invading my home.”
“None of us do,” said Mack.
“We’ll make sure never to do it again, Mr. Jack.”
“You don’t have to call me Mr. Jack, kid.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the tiny blue Acara.
The Jack Dempsey gave Pogi Fish a wink with his one good eye and grinned at the two tiny fishes.
“If you ever need anything, you let me know, alright, kid?”
“If you know Louie the Cat and his gang, we could use help with them.”
“Sure thing, kid. I’m the reason you never see them in Upper Wreck.”
The old Hammerhead cleared his throat.
“I guess Mack has something to do with that, also.”
“But Jack Dempsey used to be one of the meanest fighters in the sea.”
“I can still give Louie and his boys a good rope-a-dope,” said Jack. He curled his fins into fists and made boxing motions. That was enough for Pogi and Ganda. Now they had two friends to keep them safe.
Jack even played hide-and-go-seek with the two tinier fish. Unfortunately, he was larger and slower. That only meant one thing. The two smaller fish had thousands of places to hide. When Jack did find either of them, he often could get into the places only the tiny fish could go.Still, he had a grand time with his two little fishy friends. And that was just alright with the one-eyed Jack.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Appearances can be deceiving.
An Extra-Ordinary Fishing Trip
What seemed to be just another ordinary day turned out to be just that – and a little bit more. It began as it always did: Mama Fish woke all of her children. Then, they gathered in the Acara Cave, where Papa Fish fed them chum.
“Ma? Would it be alright if I went fishing in the coral reef today?”
“Why do you want to go there?”
“I was thinking it would be nice to do something different today.”
“Are you going alone?” asked Mama Fish.
“I’ll be taking Ganda Fish,” said Pogi.
“An Acara and a Gourami? As long as you two stay together and make sure to look out for one another, I don’t see anything wrong with a trip to the coral reef.”
“Yippee!” said Pogi Fish.
“Just make sure to be careful,” reminded his mother.
Pogi Fish met Ganda Fish at their regular fishing spot near Upper Wreck. And, as usual, they went ‘crab-herding’ together. Today, Pogi would be the shepherd and the Ganda would be the trapper.
“Follow me, I have an idea!” announced Pogi.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Close your eyes and take my fin.”
“Alright,” agreed Ganda.
She extended a fin and closed her eyes. Pogi Fish dragged her through the warm currents near the coral reef.
“Ta-da!” announced Pogi, “Open your eyes.”
“What’s the surprise?” asked Ganda Fish.
“This is it, right here.”
“Oh,” said Ganda Fish.
“You don’t like it?” asked Pogi.
“No, it’s fine,” replied Ganda.
After they found a crab, Pogi swam back and forth, blocking the crab’s escape. With each pass, he moved closer to the crab. Meanwhile, the crab held out his claws as he backed towards Ganda. Pogi made one last pass. The crab raised his claw, timing it just right. With a quick snap, he pinched Pogi’s underbelly.
“Yow!” shouted Pogi.
Ganda rushed to Pogi’s aid, disregarding the crab altogether. While she did, the crab made a hasty retreat, escaping to a nearby hide-out.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really. Look at my tummy.”
Pogi pointed to his belly. The crab-grab left a large reddish-blue bruise.
“Does it hurt?”
“Does it ever!” moaned Pogi.
“What do you want to do?” asked Ganda Fish.
“Let’s hunt for something a little less aggressive,” suggested Pogi.
“Like what?”
“I could go for some shrimp.”
“Me, too,” replied Ganda.
Pogi had enough of fighting with two-clawed crabs for today. Instead, he set his sights on the tiny clawless shrimp. He and Ganda scoured the coral reef, looking for the tiny pink shrimp. Finally, they found a school of shrimp, laying lazily on the sea floor.
“There they are!” pointed Pogi.
He swam towards the shrimp. Before he even got close, they swooshed their tails and jetted safely away. Now, they rested a few meters away from the tiny Acara. He approached them again. Again, they fanned their tails untl they were well out of reach.
“Wait up!” Pogi called to the shrimp.
One of the shrimp stretched the long pods that held his eyes, peering over rocks and coral.
“I see you over there!” said Pogi.
Air bubbles came out of the tiny shrimps mouth.
“Do you see that? He’s laughing at us!” exclaimed Pogi.
“Let’s try something else,” suggested Ganda Fish.
“But I want shrimp for lunch. I want it more than ever.”
“It looks like the shrimp are not interested in being lunch. And as the Old Monkfish always says, ‘You can’t have dinner if dinner can’t be had.’”
“What do you suggest we do, then?”
“How about we catch seahorses?” said Ganda.
“Seahorses? Bleck! Why not just eat coral?”
“It was just a suggestion,” said Ganda Fish, “How about we try clams?”
“Hmmm. Clams might be good,” said Pogi.
In no time, they found clams, sitting along the sea floor, just like the shrimp. Unlike the shrimp, however, clams did not have tails. ‘This should be easier’, thought Pogi.
The two little fish searched the entire coral reef.
“Maybe they don’t live near coral,” said Ganda.
She led the expedition towards Upper Wreck. Still, they did not spot even one clam. They ran into the Old Hammerhead, who was circling Upper Wreck.
“What are you two up to today?” asked Mack.
“We’re hunting for clams, but can’t find any,” replied Pogi.
“Where have you been digging?”
“What do you mean?”
“Clams bury themselves in the sand.”
“They do?” asked Ganda Fish.
Mack plowed the T-bone of his snout into the soft sea floor and shoveled the sand with his nose. As he jerked backwards, a half-dozen small black shells floated freely in the sea. With puffs of air, the clams ‘swam’ around. Pogi and Ganda each approached a clam. Pogi opened his jaw, trying to fit his mouth around the clam.
“This isn’t working,” said Ganda.
“I know…” Pogi sighed.
They had not caught a thing. Pogi was beginning to get upset.
“How about we just nibble on some seaweed?” said Ganda.
“Seaweed? That’s perfectly ordinary.”
“It just wasn’t our day,” said Ganda.
“But I wanted to make it special.”
“It was perfect,” replied Ganda.
“How can you say that? We didn’t even catch crabs. We ALWAYS catch crabs. Today was perfectly ordinary.”
“That’s what made it so special! It was extra-ordinary!” beamed Ganda Fish, “You got in a fight with a crab…”
“And I lost.”
“And then we watched the seahorses…”
“We watch seahorses every day,” replied Pogi.
“Then we learned how to hunt for clams…”
“We didn’t catch any of those either.”
“So we got to eat seaweed.”
“Plain old every-day seaweed,” mumbled Pogi.
“Yes, but I got to do it with you, and that was very fun for me. Wasn’t it fun for you?”
Pogi thought about his best friend said to him. He realized she was right. He smiled and she winked.
“See? It’s not the food that we eat or even if we eat any food. It’s the fact that we’re doing it together. That’s what counts most.”“You’re right, as always, Ganda Fish,” nodded Pogi. Pogi and Ganda went to their separate caves to enjoy dinners with the same old ordinary fish they spent every day with. For Pogi Fish, that was just fine.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: With true friends...even water drunk together is sweet enough – Indian Proverb
“Ma? Would it be alright if I went fishing in the coral reef today?”
“Why do you want to go there?”
“I was thinking it would be nice to do something different today.”
“Are you going alone?” asked Mama Fish.
“I’ll be taking Ganda Fish,” said Pogi.
“An Acara and a Gourami? As long as you two stay together and make sure to look out for one another, I don’t see anything wrong with a trip to the coral reef.”
“Yippee!” said Pogi Fish.
“Just make sure to be careful,” reminded his mother.
Pogi Fish met Ganda Fish at their regular fishing spot near Upper Wreck. And, as usual, they went ‘crab-herding’ together. Today, Pogi would be the shepherd and the Ganda would be the trapper.
“Follow me, I have an idea!” announced Pogi.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Close your eyes and take my fin.”
“Alright,” agreed Ganda.
She extended a fin and closed her eyes. Pogi Fish dragged her through the warm currents near the coral reef.
“Ta-da!” announced Pogi, “Open your eyes.”
“What’s the surprise?” asked Ganda Fish.
“This is it, right here.”
“Oh,” said Ganda Fish.
“You don’t like it?” asked Pogi.
“No, it’s fine,” replied Ganda.
After they found a crab, Pogi swam back and forth, blocking the crab’s escape. With each pass, he moved closer to the crab. Meanwhile, the crab held out his claws as he backed towards Ganda. Pogi made one last pass. The crab raised his claw, timing it just right. With a quick snap, he pinched Pogi’s underbelly.
“Yow!” shouted Pogi.
Ganda rushed to Pogi’s aid, disregarding the crab altogether. While she did, the crab made a hasty retreat, escaping to a nearby hide-out.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really. Look at my tummy.”
Pogi pointed to his belly. The crab-grab left a large reddish-blue bruise.
“Does it hurt?”
“Does it ever!” moaned Pogi.
“What do you want to do?” asked Ganda Fish.
“Let’s hunt for something a little less aggressive,” suggested Pogi.
“Like what?”
“I could go for some shrimp.”
“Me, too,” replied Ganda.
Pogi had enough of fighting with two-clawed crabs for today. Instead, he set his sights on the tiny clawless shrimp. He and Ganda scoured the coral reef, looking for the tiny pink shrimp. Finally, they found a school of shrimp, laying lazily on the sea floor.
“There they are!” pointed Pogi.
He swam towards the shrimp. Before he even got close, they swooshed their tails and jetted safely away. Now, they rested a few meters away from the tiny Acara. He approached them again. Again, they fanned their tails untl they were well out of reach.
“Wait up!” Pogi called to the shrimp.
One of the shrimp stretched the long pods that held his eyes, peering over rocks and coral.
“I see you over there!” said Pogi.
Air bubbles came out of the tiny shrimps mouth.
“Do you see that? He’s laughing at us!” exclaimed Pogi.
“Let’s try something else,” suggested Ganda Fish.
“But I want shrimp for lunch. I want it more than ever.”
“It looks like the shrimp are not interested in being lunch. And as the Old Monkfish always says, ‘You can’t have dinner if dinner can’t be had.’”
“What do you suggest we do, then?”
“How about we catch seahorses?” said Ganda.
“Seahorses? Bleck! Why not just eat coral?”
“It was just a suggestion,” said Ganda Fish, “How about we try clams?”
“Hmmm. Clams might be good,” said Pogi.
In no time, they found clams, sitting along the sea floor, just like the shrimp. Unlike the shrimp, however, clams did not have tails. ‘This should be easier’, thought Pogi.
The two little fish searched the entire coral reef.
“Maybe they don’t live near coral,” said Ganda.
She led the expedition towards Upper Wreck. Still, they did not spot even one clam. They ran into the Old Hammerhead, who was circling Upper Wreck.
“What are you two up to today?” asked Mack.
“We’re hunting for clams, but can’t find any,” replied Pogi.
“Where have you been digging?”
“What do you mean?”
“Clams bury themselves in the sand.”
“They do?” asked Ganda Fish.
Mack plowed the T-bone of his snout into the soft sea floor and shoveled the sand with his nose. As he jerked backwards, a half-dozen small black shells floated freely in the sea. With puffs of air, the clams ‘swam’ around. Pogi and Ganda each approached a clam. Pogi opened his jaw, trying to fit his mouth around the clam.
“This isn’t working,” said Ganda.
“I know…” Pogi sighed.
They had not caught a thing. Pogi was beginning to get upset.
“How about we just nibble on some seaweed?” said Ganda.
“Seaweed? That’s perfectly ordinary.”
“It just wasn’t our day,” said Ganda.
“But I wanted to make it special.”
“It was perfect,” replied Ganda.
“How can you say that? We didn’t even catch crabs. We ALWAYS catch crabs. Today was perfectly ordinary.”
“That’s what made it so special! It was extra-ordinary!” beamed Ganda Fish, “You got in a fight with a crab…”
“And I lost.”
“And then we watched the seahorses…”
“We watch seahorses every day,” replied Pogi.
“Then we learned how to hunt for clams…”
“We didn’t catch any of those either.”
“So we got to eat seaweed.”
“Plain old every-day seaweed,” mumbled Pogi.
“Yes, but I got to do it with you, and that was very fun for me. Wasn’t it fun for you?”
Pogi thought about his best friend said to him. He realized she was right. He smiled and she winked.
“See? It’s not the food that we eat or even if we eat any food. It’s the fact that we’re doing it together. That’s what counts most.”“You’re right, as always, Ganda Fish,” nodded Pogi. Pogi and Ganda went to their separate caves to enjoy dinners with the same old ordinary fish they spent every day with. For Pogi Fish, that was just fine.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: With true friends...even water drunk together is sweet enough – Indian Proverb
Swimming Uphill
Pogi Fish’s bigger brother, Pasaway, always had a way of getting into trouble. It was probably because he actively sought the rough road – or dangerous wave – in which to swim.
It was probably also because he’d spend his days at Lower Wreck, too. Unlike Pogi and Ganda Fish, though, Pasaway was much larger. He was nearly able to hold his own with the Cats, Mackerel, and the Eels. In fact, he was friends with most of Louie’s gang.
However, Louie’s gang was only a small part of the danger lurking near Lower Wreck. Chief among them were the Barracuda. While some Catfish and Mackerel were twice the size of the Acara, barracudas were an entirely different problem.
A pack of mighty Barracuda might circle around a family of tuna for a mid-afternoon buffet. Barracuda often grew six or seven feet long. If Mack the Knife found himself alone with a pack of Barracuda, even he would be unsafe.
There were three Barracuda that were well-known in the depths of Lower Wreck. Louie and his gang never dared to borther the Barracudas. Even they knew better.
Pasaway, on the other hand, always saw himself as something that he was not – a big fish in a little pond instead of a medium fish in a giant sea. After he was let ouf of the Acara school, he’d cover himself in slime to hide his shiny blue scales. When he was camoflauged, he’d venture down to Lower Wreck and find of of Louie’s gang. Usually, it was Tony the Tooth, but today, it was Lenny the Eel.
“How’s things up-current?”.
“Things up there are for the small frys,” replied Pasaway.
“You sure think you’re something, don’t ‘cha?”
“I’m no small fry, that’s for sure.”
“See them fish over there?” said Lenny.
“The ones fighting over the tuna?” replied Pasaway.
“I dare you to steal a piece.”
“Are you crazy?” exclaimed Pasaway.
“You keep tellin’ me you’re so tough.”
“But those are the Barracudas.”
“Then you must not be tough,” said Lenny.
“I’ll show you.”
Lenny, of course, was not brave enough to take food from a Barracuda. He was only brave enough to dare Pasaway to take it. Unfortunately, Pasaway didn’t know the different between brave and dumb. In a fight between an Acara and a Barracuda, all fish bet on the Barracuda. Pasaway. With three Barracuda, Pasaway didn’t stand a chance.
Still, that did not stop Pasaway. He had something to prove.
Pasaway tried sneaking up on the Barracuda, but they were much too smart for that. As Pasaway swam up behind them, one of the Barracudas turned his head to keep one eye on the Tuna and one eye on the Acara.
“You lost or somethin’?” said the Barracuda.
“What? Me? No, just passing through…”
Unlike Catfish and Eels, Barracudas weren’t much for small-talk. Before Pasaway could say one more word, one of the Barracuda chased after the much smaller Blue Acara.
“Help! Help! Help!” shouted Pasaway as he sped towards Upper Wreck. Luckily, Mack the Knife was fishing at the top of the ridge. As soon as the Barracuda spotted him, they stopped. Meanwhile, Pasaway kept swimming full speed towards his home.
“Hey Pasaway,” said Pogi, who was playing outside with Pikon.
Pasaway ignored his two littler brothers. He didn’t stop flapping his tail until he was safe inside the Acara Cave. When he entered the Cave, a cloud of silt filled the living room.
“What’s wrong with you?” said Mama Fish.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” gasped Pasaway.
“Yes there is,” interrupted Pogi, “He’s been down at Lower Wreck with the Cats and the Eels.”
“Pasaway!” gasped Mama Fish.
“Boy, how many times do I have to tell you that them Cats and Eels are bad news?”
“It wasn’t them. It was the Barracuda,” corrected Pikon.
“Not the Barracuda! I don’t want you going down there ever again!”
“I’m a grown fish!” said Pasaway.
“You’ll be a tasty fish if you keep playing in Lower Wreck,” warned father.
“No I won’t. You’ll see,” bragged Pasaway.
The next day, the ritual was much the same. After the Acara school let out, Pasaway swam back towards Lower Wreck. As he passed by Upper Wreck, though, a large fish grabbed him, sinking his teeth right into the Acara’s soft tail fin.
“Ouch!” cried out Pasaway.
The Fish shook Pasaway a bit. It scared Pasaway something terrible. After a moment, the biting fish let go. Pasaway couldn’t swim home, because the large fish had him trapped. Only it wasn’t a large fish, it was a large shark. Pasaway’s eyes grew white with fear.
“Do you have any clue at all?” said Mack.
“Wha…wha…what do you mean?”
“Did you even see me yesterday?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I didn’t think so. You were in quite some hurry.”
“No I wasn’t,” argued Pasaway.
“I am a Shark. We sharks are very slow compared to Barracuda. If the Barracuda hadn’t run into me yesterday, you would’ve been part of a Tuna-Acara seafood platter.”
Pasaway hung his head low. His fins drooped and his gills expanded as he let out a sigh.
“I guess so,” he said.
“You guess so? You should know so,” said Mack, “for being Old Man Acara’s boy, you are as dumb as a Catfish. No wonder you hang out with them.”
“Hey! I’m not as dumb as a Catfish.”
“Then quit acting like it,” said the Hammerhead.
“Alright,” said Pasaway with a sigh.
“Those Catfish are nothing but trouble. If you don’t start changing your ways, you’re going to find yourself in a situation you cannot escape, and I’m sure you don’t want that.”
Pasaway stared blankly at the Shark.
“Well, do ya?”
“No, sir.”
“Now get home before I change my mind or get hungry.”
“Yes, sir.”Pasaway returned to the safety of the Acara Cave. For now, he was out of trouble. Knowing Pasaway Fish, though, that would surely not last long, because as long as there was trouble to be found, Pasaway Fish would always be looking for it.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: You can outdistance that which is running after you, but not what is running inside you. – Rwandan Proverb
It was probably also because he’d spend his days at Lower Wreck, too. Unlike Pogi and Ganda Fish, though, Pasaway was much larger. He was nearly able to hold his own with the Cats, Mackerel, and the Eels. In fact, he was friends with most of Louie’s gang.
However, Louie’s gang was only a small part of the danger lurking near Lower Wreck. Chief among them were the Barracuda. While some Catfish and Mackerel were twice the size of the Acara, barracudas were an entirely different problem.
A pack of mighty Barracuda might circle around a family of tuna for a mid-afternoon buffet. Barracuda often grew six or seven feet long. If Mack the Knife found himself alone with a pack of Barracuda, even he would be unsafe.
There were three Barracuda that were well-known in the depths of Lower Wreck. Louie and his gang never dared to borther the Barracudas. Even they knew better.
Pasaway, on the other hand, always saw himself as something that he was not – a big fish in a little pond instead of a medium fish in a giant sea. After he was let ouf of the Acara school, he’d cover himself in slime to hide his shiny blue scales. When he was camoflauged, he’d venture down to Lower Wreck and find of of Louie’s gang. Usually, it was Tony the Tooth, but today, it was Lenny the Eel.
“How’s things up-current?”.
“Things up there are for the small frys,” replied Pasaway.
“You sure think you’re something, don’t ‘cha?”
“I’m no small fry, that’s for sure.”
“See them fish over there?” said Lenny.
“The ones fighting over the tuna?” replied Pasaway.
“I dare you to steal a piece.”
“Are you crazy?” exclaimed Pasaway.
“You keep tellin’ me you’re so tough.”
“But those are the Barracudas.”
“Then you must not be tough,” said Lenny.
“I’ll show you.”
Lenny, of course, was not brave enough to take food from a Barracuda. He was only brave enough to dare Pasaway to take it. Unfortunately, Pasaway didn’t know the different between brave and dumb. In a fight between an Acara and a Barracuda, all fish bet on the Barracuda. Pasaway. With three Barracuda, Pasaway didn’t stand a chance.
Still, that did not stop Pasaway. He had something to prove.
Pasaway tried sneaking up on the Barracuda, but they were much too smart for that. As Pasaway swam up behind them, one of the Barracudas turned his head to keep one eye on the Tuna and one eye on the Acara.
“You lost or somethin’?” said the Barracuda.
“What? Me? No, just passing through…”
Unlike Catfish and Eels, Barracudas weren’t much for small-talk. Before Pasaway could say one more word, one of the Barracuda chased after the much smaller Blue Acara.
“Help! Help! Help!” shouted Pasaway as he sped towards Upper Wreck. Luckily, Mack the Knife was fishing at the top of the ridge. As soon as the Barracuda spotted him, they stopped. Meanwhile, Pasaway kept swimming full speed towards his home.
“Hey Pasaway,” said Pogi, who was playing outside with Pikon.
Pasaway ignored his two littler brothers. He didn’t stop flapping his tail until he was safe inside the Acara Cave. When he entered the Cave, a cloud of silt filled the living room.
“What’s wrong with you?” said Mama Fish.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” gasped Pasaway.
“Yes there is,” interrupted Pogi, “He’s been down at Lower Wreck with the Cats and the Eels.”
“Pasaway!” gasped Mama Fish.
“Boy, how many times do I have to tell you that them Cats and Eels are bad news?”
“It wasn’t them. It was the Barracuda,” corrected Pikon.
“Not the Barracuda! I don’t want you going down there ever again!”
“I’m a grown fish!” said Pasaway.
“You’ll be a tasty fish if you keep playing in Lower Wreck,” warned father.
“No I won’t. You’ll see,” bragged Pasaway.
The next day, the ritual was much the same. After the Acara school let out, Pasaway swam back towards Lower Wreck. As he passed by Upper Wreck, though, a large fish grabbed him, sinking his teeth right into the Acara’s soft tail fin.
“Ouch!” cried out Pasaway.
The Fish shook Pasaway a bit. It scared Pasaway something terrible. After a moment, the biting fish let go. Pasaway couldn’t swim home, because the large fish had him trapped. Only it wasn’t a large fish, it was a large shark. Pasaway’s eyes grew white with fear.
“Do you have any clue at all?” said Mack.
“Wha…wha…what do you mean?”
“Did you even see me yesterday?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I didn’t think so. You were in quite some hurry.”
“No I wasn’t,” argued Pasaway.
“I am a Shark. We sharks are very slow compared to Barracuda. If the Barracuda hadn’t run into me yesterday, you would’ve been part of a Tuna-Acara seafood platter.”
Pasaway hung his head low. His fins drooped and his gills expanded as he let out a sigh.
“I guess so,” he said.
“You guess so? You should know so,” said Mack, “for being Old Man Acara’s boy, you are as dumb as a Catfish. No wonder you hang out with them.”
“Hey! I’m not as dumb as a Catfish.”
“Then quit acting like it,” said the Hammerhead.
“Alright,” said Pasaway with a sigh.
“Those Catfish are nothing but trouble. If you don’t start changing your ways, you’re going to find yourself in a situation you cannot escape, and I’m sure you don’t want that.”
Pasaway stared blankly at the Shark.
“Well, do ya?”
“No, sir.”
“Now get home before I change my mind or get hungry.”
“Yes, sir.”Pasaway returned to the safety of the Acara Cave. For now, he was out of trouble. Knowing Pasaway Fish, though, that would surely not last long, because as long as there was trouble to be found, Pasaway Fish would always be looking for it.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: You can outdistance that which is running after you, but not what is running inside you. – Rwandan Proverb
The Roar of Louie the Cat
Within the tangled ruins of Lower Wreck lurked Louie the Cat and his mob of catfish friends. Twisted scrap metal provided perfect protection from larger predators like the Sharks.
Just as Pogi Fish promised, he and Ganda Fish went hunting on Louie the Cat’s turf. This was, of course, looking for trouble (and most certainly finding it, too).
“Look all the scallops and coral!”
“Don’t forget the predators like the octopus and barracuda,” reminded Ganda Fish.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
They swam through the patches of coral and scallops, chasing crabs along the sea floor. They trapped a few, but most got away. Meanwhile, a school of mackerel flocked above them. To Ganda Fish, it looked as if she and Pogi weren’t the only ones hunting for a snack.
“Pogi, I don’t think it was such a good idea to come down here.”
“Look over there! It’s the other half of the old boat.”
“I can see Lower Wreck, but I don’t think your mother wanted you going beyond the old wreck, not the two wrecks.”
“It’s all the same to me,” replied Pogi.
Just then, it wasn’t all the same as a gang of fish circled around the two smaller fish.
“If it’s not the Acara and the Gourami treadin’ on my turf again,” said Louie.
“Come on, Louie, We didn’t mean anything by it. We’ll go up to Lower Wreck,” replied Ganda.
“No we won’t,” grumbled Pogi.
“If you don’t watch it, you are gonna sleep with da fishes, kid,” said Louie.
“I already sleep with the fishes,” replied Pogi.
“I mean dat sleep from which a sleeping fish doesn’t wake.”
“Huh?”
Another of the fish darted forward and got in Pogi’s face.
“Listen, bud, we ain’t got time to deal with bait like you and your friend. You hear what I’m sayin’?”
“Yes, mister…”
“I’m Tony the Tooth. I’m the meanest barracuda in all the sea.”
“We’ll move right along,” replied Ganda Fish.
“Sounds like a good idea,” nodded the barracuda.
“Just remember that Lower Wreck is no place for the little fish,” added Louie the Cat.
“But boss, I’m getting’ sick of eatin’ anchovies,” said Lenny the Eel, “They leave an awful taste in my mouth,”
“We’ll go find us a jellyfish buffet on the south side of Lower Wreck.”
“But boss…”
“Listen you…” said Tony the Tooth. As he bared his fangs, his nickname became evident. Pogi had only seen that many teeth one time before – and they belonged to Mack the Knife.
Pogi and Ganda quickly moved to Upper Wreck while Louie and his gang argued. When they arrived at the old boat, the Hammerhead was busy dealing with some of Louie’s other men.
Mack growled at the catfish. He took a chomp at one of the meanies, missing him by inches. As Pogi and Ganda approached, all the catfish were in quick retreat.
“Wow! That sure was something,” said Pogi, “You almost ate him!”
“I wasn’t going to eat him. Besides, I hate the taste of catfish. They taste like…well, they’re worse than eels and seahorses.”
“Yuck! I hate seahorses!” said Pogi.
“Yea, they’re all skin and bones,” repied Mack.
“We ran into Louie down at Lower Wreck,” said Pogi.
“What would a little fish like you be doing down at Lower Wreck?”
“Pogi wanted to see what the fishing was like down there,” said Ganda, “but I didn’t want to go.”
“I think you were right,” said Mack.
“They almost ate us,” said Ganda.
“Nah, they wouldn’t dare attack you,” replied Mack.
“How do you know?”
“If they’re hungry, they’ll just eat. If they want you out of their way, they just bare their teeth.”
“That’s what they did alright,” said Pogi.
“Plus, if they harm you, they have to worry about the all the Acaras and Gourami. There are more of you than there are of them. They’d never get any rest.”
“Sure they would. They’d sleep with the fishes,” snickered Pogi.
“You still better watch where you go. That’s why your mother doesn’t want you going that far from home.”
Pogi decided to obey the advice of both his mother and the Giant Hammerhead. He went with Ganda Fish to the coral reef near the Acara Cave.
Not only was the fishing better, but they did not have to worry about any of Louie the Cat or any of his gang. The Acara were known for fiercely protecting their territory. It was no place for a catfish…or an eel…or even the mighty barracuda.So the two fishy friends played with the crabs and shrimp until it was time to go home.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: A barking dog seldom bites.
Just as Pogi Fish promised, he and Ganda Fish went hunting on Louie the Cat’s turf. This was, of course, looking for trouble (and most certainly finding it, too).
“Look all the scallops and coral!”
“Don’t forget the predators like the octopus and barracuda,” reminded Ganda Fish.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
They swam through the patches of coral and scallops, chasing crabs along the sea floor. They trapped a few, but most got away. Meanwhile, a school of mackerel flocked above them. To Ganda Fish, it looked as if she and Pogi weren’t the only ones hunting for a snack.
“Pogi, I don’t think it was such a good idea to come down here.”
“Look over there! It’s the other half of the old boat.”
“I can see Lower Wreck, but I don’t think your mother wanted you going beyond the old wreck, not the two wrecks.”
“It’s all the same to me,” replied Pogi.
Just then, it wasn’t all the same as a gang of fish circled around the two smaller fish.
“If it’s not the Acara and the Gourami treadin’ on my turf again,” said Louie.
“Come on, Louie, We didn’t mean anything by it. We’ll go up to Lower Wreck,” replied Ganda.
“No we won’t,” grumbled Pogi.
“If you don’t watch it, you are gonna sleep with da fishes, kid,” said Louie.
“I already sleep with the fishes,” replied Pogi.
“I mean dat sleep from which a sleeping fish doesn’t wake.”
“Huh?”
Another of the fish darted forward and got in Pogi’s face.
“Listen, bud, we ain’t got time to deal with bait like you and your friend. You hear what I’m sayin’?”
“Yes, mister…”
“I’m Tony the Tooth. I’m the meanest barracuda in all the sea.”
“We’ll move right along,” replied Ganda Fish.
“Sounds like a good idea,” nodded the barracuda.
“Just remember that Lower Wreck is no place for the little fish,” added Louie the Cat.
“But boss, I’m getting’ sick of eatin’ anchovies,” said Lenny the Eel, “They leave an awful taste in my mouth,”
“We’ll go find us a jellyfish buffet on the south side of Lower Wreck.”
“But boss…”
“Listen you…” said Tony the Tooth. As he bared his fangs, his nickname became evident. Pogi had only seen that many teeth one time before – and they belonged to Mack the Knife.
Pogi and Ganda quickly moved to Upper Wreck while Louie and his gang argued. When they arrived at the old boat, the Hammerhead was busy dealing with some of Louie’s other men.
Mack growled at the catfish. He took a chomp at one of the meanies, missing him by inches. As Pogi and Ganda approached, all the catfish were in quick retreat.
“Wow! That sure was something,” said Pogi, “You almost ate him!”
“I wasn’t going to eat him. Besides, I hate the taste of catfish. They taste like…well, they’re worse than eels and seahorses.”
“Yuck! I hate seahorses!” said Pogi.
“Yea, they’re all skin and bones,” repied Mack.
“We ran into Louie down at Lower Wreck,” said Pogi.
“What would a little fish like you be doing down at Lower Wreck?”
“Pogi wanted to see what the fishing was like down there,” said Ganda, “but I didn’t want to go.”
“I think you were right,” said Mack.
“They almost ate us,” said Ganda.
“Nah, they wouldn’t dare attack you,” replied Mack.
“How do you know?”
“If they’re hungry, they’ll just eat. If they want you out of their way, they just bare their teeth.”
“That’s what they did alright,” said Pogi.
“Plus, if they harm you, they have to worry about the all the Acaras and Gourami. There are more of you than there are of them. They’d never get any rest.”
“Sure they would. They’d sleep with the fishes,” snickered Pogi.
“You still better watch where you go. That’s why your mother doesn’t want you going that far from home.”
Pogi decided to obey the advice of both his mother and the Giant Hammerhead. He went with Ganda Fish to the coral reef near the Acara Cave.
Not only was the fishing better, but they did not have to worry about any of Louie the Cat or any of his gang. The Acara were known for fiercely protecting their territory. It was no place for a catfish…or an eel…or even the mighty barracuda.So the two fishy friends played with the crabs and shrimp until it was time to go home.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: A barking dog seldom bites.
In Times of Trouble
After the storm passed, all was not same in and around the Acara cave. Pogi Fish shared the news of the old boat wreck ripping in half. The two halves now had two names. Upper Wreck was Mack’s home. Lower Wreck was Louie the Cat’s hideout.
Pogi Fish visited Upper Wreck. It was still the place where the Acaras, Gourami, and Cichlid played. Most often, the scavenger fish, like catfish and plecostimous, lingered in the depths of Lower Wreck.
Near Upper Wreck, it was business as usual for the Acara and the Gourami. They worked as crab wranglers, herding the tiny six-legged meals into a corner.
“Look over there next to the big patch of red coral,” pointed Ganda.
“What is it?”
“A stone crab sitting all alone.”
“Yum-o! I’ll take the left side and you take the right,” said Pogi.
“Sounds like a plan.”
So Pogi went left and Ganda went right and the crab stayed right in the middle. As Pogi neared the crab, he held up his pincers, ready for a brawl.
“Hey!” said Pogi, “you’re not fighting fair!” Pogi took a deep breath and blew into the sand. When he stirred up a cloud of dust, Ganda swooped in for the attack. Even in the dust, the crab had his defenses ready. He pinched Ganda Fish on the lips.
“Ouch!” she cried out.
Just then, another fish swooped down in the darkness and grabbed the tiny stone crab. When the dust settled, there was Louie the Cat, snacking on his very own crab leg buffet.
“Thanks, pal-y” said Louie.
“That’s not yours!” said Pogi.
“Finders keepers, they always say.”
“You better remember that the next time we come fishing in Lower Wreck,” replied Ganda.
“Alright, since you’re being so sweet, I guess I can give you a little of my lunch.”
Louie the Cat left behind the bits that he didn’t like, mostly including the shell. Pogi and Ganda picked through the remains. It was still enough to fill their appetites.
“I have to go home for a bit,” said Ganda, “Will you be here later?” she asked her friend.
“I think I’m going home, too,” said Pogi.
Pogi and Ganda parted ways and Louie the Cat tagged along behind Ganda. Meanwhile, Pogi crossed through the wreckage that was once the captain’s cabin in the old boat wreck. He noticed Mack trying to make himself at home in the smaller area of the food locker.
When he arrived home, he spread the news to mother and father.
“I don’t think Mack’s happy in his new home,” said Pogi.
“I heard he created his mess, so he’ll have to live in it,” scoffed Mama Fish.
“Mama, that’s not very nice,” said Papa, “Even thought he’s got some rough edges, Mack the Knife has always been a good friend to me.”
“Some rough edges? He’s the meanest creature in the sea.”
“Well, he is a shark,” said Pog Fish.
After dinner, Papa Fish made it a point to stop by the Hammerhead’s roost in Upper Wreck. The old boat looked nothing like it had before it collapsed. Papa Fish made his way to the boat’s galley and found Mack the Knife, swimming in the food locker.
“Who’s there?” growled the Hammerhead.
“Hey Mack. It’s me.”
“Me, who?”
Papa Fish popped his head into the food locker. Mack nodded his head.
“Old Man Acara, How are you doing, good buddy?”
“I’m doing fine. I think I should ask the same of you.”
“Things could be better,” said Mack. As he looked around, there was still a massive collection of barnacles clinging to his walls and his room was about half the size of his previous home.
“You need any help?”
“I can’t think of anything. I’m just trying to make myself at home.” Mack moved stones around the entrance to the food locker. Papa Fish joined him.
They stacked rocks around the food locker door, in hopes of creating a hide-out for Mack. It also provided cover, so any bait swimming by the food locker wouldn’t see the big Hammerhead Shark about to attack them.
Because the Acara was much smaller than the Hammerhead, he didn’t have to worry about being eaten. To Mack, Old Man Acara wouldn’t even equal a French Fry. He was too much of a small fry to be any Fry at all.
On the other hand, Barracuda, Jacks, and Mackerel steered clear of the old boat wreck. They knew that Mack considered them as bite-size treats.
“I think that’s about it,” said Mack as he shoved the last rock into place.”
“I guess I should be going,” said Papa Fish.
“I have some squid in the food locker, if you want to stay and have a bite.”
“I’d just be in the way.”
“No you wouldn’t In fact, I’d enjoy the company,” offered Mack.
So, the Hammerhead and Acara ate fresh calamari (squid) for lunch. After that, Papa Fish headed home.
Amidst the steadily swaying seaweed, Ganda Gourami and her family had just about enough of Louie the Cat. Like every other catfish, Louie was a scavenger. He seldom hunted his own food. Instead, he ate the remains other fish left behind, including the Gouramis.
Ganda Fish’s mother, Maya Gourami, had just about enough of the Catfish’s antics.
“I’m sorry to say this, Louie, but don’t’ you think it’s getting rather late?”
“Us Catfish are up all hours of the night. There’s no such thing as too late.”
Maya Gourami heaved a long sigh.
“Well, us Gourami need our rest.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“I think we’ll be okay,” replied Mother Gourami. Unfortunately, seaweed didn’t have doors or locks, so the only thing she could do was hide in the seaweed and hope Louie the Cat would go away.
He lurked for a little while longer as the Gourami weaved themselves intot the thick green seaweed. Finally, he left. It wasn’t the hint to leave that caught him, but a school of clown fish playing above him. Louie thought they’d be more fun than the boring old Gouramis.
Mother Gourami was just glad to relax.And as Louie the Cat harassed the poor school of Clowns, the Gouramis got their rest. Once again, everything was back to normal in the deep blue sea.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: One should go invited to a friend in good fortune, and uninvited in misfortune. – Swedish Proverb
Pogi Fish visited Upper Wreck. It was still the place where the Acaras, Gourami, and Cichlid played. Most often, the scavenger fish, like catfish and plecostimous, lingered in the depths of Lower Wreck.
Near Upper Wreck, it was business as usual for the Acara and the Gourami. They worked as crab wranglers, herding the tiny six-legged meals into a corner.
“Look over there next to the big patch of red coral,” pointed Ganda.
“What is it?”
“A stone crab sitting all alone.”
“Yum-o! I’ll take the left side and you take the right,” said Pogi.
“Sounds like a plan.”
So Pogi went left and Ganda went right and the crab stayed right in the middle. As Pogi neared the crab, he held up his pincers, ready for a brawl.
“Hey!” said Pogi, “you’re not fighting fair!” Pogi took a deep breath and blew into the sand. When he stirred up a cloud of dust, Ganda swooped in for the attack. Even in the dust, the crab had his defenses ready. He pinched Ganda Fish on the lips.
“Ouch!” she cried out.
Just then, another fish swooped down in the darkness and grabbed the tiny stone crab. When the dust settled, there was Louie the Cat, snacking on his very own crab leg buffet.
“Thanks, pal-y” said Louie.
“That’s not yours!” said Pogi.
“Finders keepers, they always say.”
“You better remember that the next time we come fishing in Lower Wreck,” replied Ganda.
“Alright, since you’re being so sweet, I guess I can give you a little of my lunch.”
Louie the Cat left behind the bits that he didn’t like, mostly including the shell. Pogi and Ganda picked through the remains. It was still enough to fill their appetites.
“I have to go home for a bit,” said Ganda, “Will you be here later?” she asked her friend.
“I think I’m going home, too,” said Pogi.
Pogi and Ganda parted ways and Louie the Cat tagged along behind Ganda. Meanwhile, Pogi crossed through the wreckage that was once the captain’s cabin in the old boat wreck. He noticed Mack trying to make himself at home in the smaller area of the food locker.
When he arrived home, he spread the news to mother and father.
“I don’t think Mack’s happy in his new home,” said Pogi.
“I heard he created his mess, so he’ll have to live in it,” scoffed Mama Fish.
“Mama, that’s not very nice,” said Papa, “Even thought he’s got some rough edges, Mack the Knife has always been a good friend to me.”
“Some rough edges? He’s the meanest creature in the sea.”
“Well, he is a shark,” said Pog Fish.
After dinner, Papa Fish made it a point to stop by the Hammerhead’s roost in Upper Wreck. The old boat looked nothing like it had before it collapsed. Papa Fish made his way to the boat’s galley and found Mack the Knife, swimming in the food locker.
“Who’s there?” growled the Hammerhead.
“Hey Mack. It’s me.”
“Me, who?”
Papa Fish popped his head into the food locker. Mack nodded his head.
“Old Man Acara, How are you doing, good buddy?”
“I’m doing fine. I think I should ask the same of you.”
“Things could be better,” said Mack. As he looked around, there was still a massive collection of barnacles clinging to his walls and his room was about half the size of his previous home.
“You need any help?”
“I can’t think of anything. I’m just trying to make myself at home.” Mack moved stones around the entrance to the food locker. Papa Fish joined him.
They stacked rocks around the food locker door, in hopes of creating a hide-out for Mack. It also provided cover, so any bait swimming by the food locker wouldn’t see the big Hammerhead Shark about to attack them.
Because the Acara was much smaller than the Hammerhead, he didn’t have to worry about being eaten. To Mack, Old Man Acara wouldn’t even equal a French Fry. He was too much of a small fry to be any Fry at all.
On the other hand, Barracuda, Jacks, and Mackerel steered clear of the old boat wreck. They knew that Mack considered them as bite-size treats.
“I think that’s about it,” said Mack as he shoved the last rock into place.”
“I guess I should be going,” said Papa Fish.
“I have some squid in the food locker, if you want to stay and have a bite.”
“I’d just be in the way.”
“No you wouldn’t In fact, I’d enjoy the company,” offered Mack.
So, the Hammerhead and Acara ate fresh calamari (squid) for lunch. After that, Papa Fish headed home.
Amidst the steadily swaying seaweed, Ganda Gourami and her family had just about enough of Louie the Cat. Like every other catfish, Louie was a scavenger. He seldom hunted his own food. Instead, he ate the remains other fish left behind, including the Gouramis.
Ganda Fish’s mother, Maya Gourami, had just about enough of the Catfish’s antics.
“I’m sorry to say this, Louie, but don’t’ you think it’s getting rather late?”
“Us Catfish are up all hours of the night. There’s no such thing as too late.”
Maya Gourami heaved a long sigh.
“Well, us Gourami need our rest.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“I think we’ll be okay,” replied Mother Gourami. Unfortunately, seaweed didn’t have doors or locks, so the only thing she could do was hide in the seaweed and hope Louie the Cat would go away.
He lurked for a little while longer as the Gourami weaved themselves intot the thick green seaweed. Finally, he left. It wasn’t the hint to leave that caught him, but a school of clown fish playing above him. Louie thought they’d be more fun than the boring old Gouramis.
Mother Gourami was just glad to relax.And as Louie the Cat harassed the poor school of Clowns, the Gouramis got their rest. Once again, everything was back to normal in the deep blue sea.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: One should go invited to a friend in good fortune, and uninvited in misfortune. – Swedish Proverb
When the Bow Breaks
The Hammerhead’s ritual after a storm was always the same.He went outside and inspected the hull of the boat wreck. After all, it wasn’t just an old sunken ship, it was his home sweet home.
As he inspected the outside, he noticed barnacles encrusted on the hull of the old boat. As he circled to the inside, there were barnacales there, too. In fact, everywhere the Hammerhead looked, he saw barnacles clinging to the surfaces of the old boat.
“I want everyone out of my house!” bellowed Mack.
He was referring to the tiny creatures inside the tiny shells that covered the boat, inside and out. Unfortunately for him, barnacles never get frightened. Instead, they just cling to the side of things at the bottom of the sea and wait.
They wait for microorganisms to float by so they can eat. They wait for old boats to rust so they cant eat. They wait for mold to grow on the sea floor so they can eat.
“All right! If nobody’s going to leave, I’ll make you leave!”
Mack angrily pounded his nose against the walls of the boat. It shaked and shimmied, but the barnacles did not move. However, everybody who wasn’t a barnacle steered clear of the mighty Hammerhead.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!” went the ship. With each thud, some barnacles began to fall from their roosts on the ship. The rafters also began rocking back and forth.
“Grrrr,” said Mack as he stopped to catch his breath.
As Barnacles dropped from the hull, rusted pieces of the boat fell away, too. Bit-by-bit, flake-by-flake, the skeleton of the ship began to crumble. Corroded pieces of iron fell to the floor like little brown snowflakes.
“Now you’ve gone and done it,” said Louie the Cat. Louise was the troublesome zerbra-striped catfish who thought he was the ocean’s know-it-all.
“I can fix it,” replied Mack.
He scavenged the seafloor for pieces of scrap metal. He nudged them into place, but it just wasn’t enough. As the outer skin of the boat fell, so too fell the long steel ribs.
“Thar she blows,” chuckled Louie.
“Louie, if you don’t quit bothering me, I’m going to make you lunch.”
“Jeez, you’d think I made this mess myself, the way you’re misbehavin’.”
“Help me find more scrap metal so I can prop up these walls,”
The steel ribs creaked and then snapped under the pressure of the ship. What Mack didn’t know was that the barnacles acted as an anchor. The boat wreck rested at the top of a sea ledge. The barnacles held the mighy boat in place. When they fell, the boat leaned to one side.
“Craaaaack!” with one sudden action, the boat snapped in half.
Quickly, everyone got out of the old boat wreck’s way. The starboard half of the boat remained on the ledge while the bow tumbled down a small slope. It came to a rest at the bottom of the hillside.
“Ha-ha-ha,” snickered Louie, “Now it looks like you got two houses.”
Mack poked Louie in the snout with one of his dorsal fins, shoving the much smaller catfish to one side. Mack went to his former house on the hill. He heaved a sigh as he surveyed the damages. Most of the barnacles were gone, but most of the walls were gone, too.
“Just look at that beautiful view!” snapped Louie the Cat.
“You’re lucky I like you, Louie.”
“I think I’m going to settle into the lower wreck before all the good property gets snapped up,” said the catfish.
There were still a few nooks and crannies in which Mack could hide. The captain’s room, however, looked nothing like it did before. Mack searched the upper wreck until he found a room he liked. It was the Ship’s Galley, where food was cooked.
Mack found a cozy place in a large enclosed box. That box was the food locker.Mack settled into the food locker, making himself home between the safety of two shelves. Gradually, the barnacles and shellfish returned, too. It looks like Mack would have to co-operate with the little fish if he was going to get along. He decided it wouldn’t be so bad. Even his part-time friend Louie was a welcome visitor sometimes. Mack nodded his head. Everything was all right.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost.For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost.For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a nail.
As he inspected the outside, he noticed barnacles encrusted on the hull of the old boat. As he circled to the inside, there were barnacales there, too. In fact, everywhere the Hammerhead looked, he saw barnacles clinging to the surfaces of the old boat.
“I want everyone out of my house!” bellowed Mack.
He was referring to the tiny creatures inside the tiny shells that covered the boat, inside and out. Unfortunately for him, barnacles never get frightened. Instead, they just cling to the side of things at the bottom of the sea and wait.
They wait for microorganisms to float by so they can eat. They wait for old boats to rust so they cant eat. They wait for mold to grow on the sea floor so they can eat.
“All right! If nobody’s going to leave, I’ll make you leave!”
Mack angrily pounded his nose against the walls of the boat. It shaked and shimmied, but the barnacles did not move. However, everybody who wasn’t a barnacle steered clear of the mighty Hammerhead.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!” went the ship. With each thud, some barnacles began to fall from their roosts on the ship. The rafters also began rocking back and forth.
“Grrrr,” said Mack as he stopped to catch his breath.
As Barnacles dropped from the hull, rusted pieces of the boat fell away, too. Bit-by-bit, flake-by-flake, the skeleton of the ship began to crumble. Corroded pieces of iron fell to the floor like little brown snowflakes.
“Now you’ve gone and done it,” said Louie the Cat. Louise was the troublesome zerbra-striped catfish who thought he was the ocean’s know-it-all.
“I can fix it,” replied Mack.
He scavenged the seafloor for pieces of scrap metal. He nudged them into place, but it just wasn’t enough. As the outer skin of the boat fell, so too fell the long steel ribs.
“Thar she blows,” chuckled Louie.
“Louie, if you don’t quit bothering me, I’m going to make you lunch.”
“Jeez, you’d think I made this mess myself, the way you’re misbehavin’.”
“Help me find more scrap metal so I can prop up these walls,”
The steel ribs creaked and then snapped under the pressure of the ship. What Mack didn’t know was that the barnacles acted as an anchor. The boat wreck rested at the top of a sea ledge. The barnacles held the mighy boat in place. When they fell, the boat leaned to one side.
“Craaaaack!” with one sudden action, the boat snapped in half.
Quickly, everyone got out of the old boat wreck’s way. The starboard half of the boat remained on the ledge while the bow tumbled down a small slope. It came to a rest at the bottom of the hillside.
“Ha-ha-ha,” snickered Louie, “Now it looks like you got two houses.”
Mack poked Louie in the snout with one of his dorsal fins, shoving the much smaller catfish to one side. Mack went to his former house on the hill. He heaved a sigh as he surveyed the damages. Most of the barnacles were gone, but most of the walls were gone, too.
“Just look at that beautiful view!” snapped Louie the Cat.
“You’re lucky I like you, Louie.”
“I think I’m going to settle into the lower wreck before all the good property gets snapped up,” said the catfish.
There were still a few nooks and crannies in which Mack could hide. The captain’s room, however, looked nothing like it did before. Mack searched the upper wreck until he found a room he liked. It was the Ship’s Galley, where food was cooked.
Mack found a cozy place in a large enclosed box. That box was the food locker.Mack settled into the food locker, making himself home between the safety of two shelves. Gradually, the barnacles and shellfish returned, too. It looks like Mack would have to co-operate with the little fish if he was going to get along. He decided it wouldn’t be so bad. Even his part-time friend Louie was a welcome visitor sometimes. Mack nodded his head. Everything was all right.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost.For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost.For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a nail.
Everyone Against the Sea
The Acaras gathered in the fish cave to enjoy their dinner. Pikon and Pogi Fish fought over a crab claw while Papa and Mama Fish snacked on the torso. Meanwhile, Pasaway ate a cuttlefish he caught on his own.
Pogi and Pikon were still much too little to fish on their own. Papa Fish always brought food home for them. In fact, most other fish saw the tiny Acara as dinner. For that reason alone, Pikon was never allowed out of the cave alone and Pogi was only allowed as far as the boat wreck.
“Mother, after I finish my dinner, may I go out to play?”
“You know how much I don’t like you going out alone. Take Pikon, just in case.”
“Oh mom,”
“Also, I want you to come home before dark.”
“I know that, mother,” groaned Pogi.
As soon as he finished his dinner, Pogi went to the boat wreck, while Pikon tagged along. Pogi went right for the boat wreck, where most fish liked to gather. Pikon loved hanging with his big brothers, especially Pogi, who treated him like an equal.
“Pogi?”
“Yea, Pikon?”
“I just wanted to say thanks.”
“For what?”
“For taking me to the boat wreck.”
“No problem.”
As they swam towards the boat wreck, they ran into a large catfish with black and white zebra stripes. The catfish swam toward little Pikon.
“What are you doing on my turf, pipsqueak?”
“I didn’t know it was your lair,” replied Pikon.
Pogi swam up and hovered between the catfish and his brother. The catfish snarled at Pogi.
“Leave him alone,” said Pogi.
“What’s it to you?” said the catfish.
“He’s my brother.”
“Tell him to get off my turf or I’ll make him into sushi.”
Pogi steered Pikon away from the mean catfish. They headed to the boatwreck where fish of all shapes and sizes swam. There were sharks and dolphins. There were jellyfish and cuttlefish and starfish, too. There were even Acaras, just like Pogi and Pikon.
As they played, Pogi looked for Ganda Fish, but she was nowhere to be found. Instead, they played with a few of the other Acara. They took turns hiding seashells and playing ‘hotter-and-colder.’
The usually calm waters of the deep blue sea began to churn as a storm raged above the waves. The currents pushed the tiny Acara this way and that.
“I think it’s time to go home,” worried Pikon.
“We’re fine,” said Pogi.
But they weren’t fine, because the storm overhead was actually a hurricane. In no time at all, there was a terrible danger lurking overhead. The waters churned and the tides washed as deep as the sea bottom, stirring everything around like a witch stirred her cauldron. A sandstorm rose from the sea floor and obscured everyone’s vision.
“I told you,” said Pikon.
“Nevermind that, we need to get out of the way of this storm.”
Pogi led Pikon into the boat wreck. Water surged through every cabin except one. That was the captain’s cabin, that Mack the Knife called home. With no other option, Pogi headed for the safety of Mack’s lair.
A long flat head and two beady eyes barely poked out of the darkness.
“You again?” said Mack.
Before either of the Acara could answer, the spiny zebra catfish barged through the cabin door.
“Hey! Didn’t I say this was my lair?” he snarled.
“Your lair?” said Mack.
“Well…I mean…”
And more little fishy faces came through the cabin door. There were the jellyfish and cuttlefish and starfish. A handful of plecostimous, betas, and acaras joined Pogi and Pikon in Mack’s cabin. It was almost too much for the big hammerhead to handle.
“What are you all doing in my room?” bellowed Mack.
“There’s a nasty storm outside,” squeaked little Pikon.
Mack looked out the porthole near his nest. Whirlwinds of sand and sea rubbish cluttered his view. Also, the boat wreck swayed gently back and forth under the force of the storm waves.
“I suppose it won’t do too much harm to have a few extra guests.”
Just then, a giant squid slithered into Mack’s cabin.
“You, too?” growled Mack.
“I…I…I…am afraid of storms. They make me seasick,” stammered the squid. As he cowered in the corner, he stretched his ten tentacles across the walls of Mack’s cabin. Suckers grabbed onto the walls. He also grabbed anything which he could wrap his tentacles.
The worst of enemies gathered in Mack’s cabin. The storm outside was much too fierce to worry about who hated who. Pogi and Pikon huddled with the Acara, right beside the giant Hammerhead shark. As soon as the storm passed, everyone went their separate ways.
“Whew!” said little Pikon, “I was really scared.”
“Me too, little brother.”
Quickly, they swam back to the safety of the Acara cave.
“Where have you been?” asked Mama Fish.
“We were hiding from the storm inside the boat wreck,” Replied Pogi.
“I was very worried aboutr you!” she said.
“All the fish were there,” said Pikon, “We even saw a Hammerhead !”
“My heavens! That’s why I don’t like you going to the boat wreck. It’s very dangerous.”
“That old Shark grumbles a lot, but overall, he’s a nice guy,” said Pogi.
“Still…”
“Oh, mother,” interrupted Papa Fish, “I know old Mack the Knife. He’s not going to hurt any of my boys. He’s only happy when he’s complaining.”With that, it was settled. Pikon and Pogi were still allowed to venture as far as the boat wreck. They also knew that the Hammerhead had more important things to worry about than two tiny fish when the waves were rough.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Any Port in the Storm.
Pogi and Pikon were still much too little to fish on their own. Papa Fish always brought food home for them. In fact, most other fish saw the tiny Acara as dinner. For that reason alone, Pikon was never allowed out of the cave alone and Pogi was only allowed as far as the boat wreck.
“Mother, after I finish my dinner, may I go out to play?”
“You know how much I don’t like you going out alone. Take Pikon, just in case.”
“Oh mom,”
“Also, I want you to come home before dark.”
“I know that, mother,” groaned Pogi.
As soon as he finished his dinner, Pogi went to the boat wreck, while Pikon tagged along. Pogi went right for the boat wreck, where most fish liked to gather. Pikon loved hanging with his big brothers, especially Pogi, who treated him like an equal.
“Pogi?”
“Yea, Pikon?”
“I just wanted to say thanks.”
“For what?”
“For taking me to the boat wreck.”
“No problem.”
As they swam towards the boat wreck, they ran into a large catfish with black and white zebra stripes. The catfish swam toward little Pikon.
“What are you doing on my turf, pipsqueak?”
“I didn’t know it was your lair,” replied Pikon.
Pogi swam up and hovered between the catfish and his brother. The catfish snarled at Pogi.
“Leave him alone,” said Pogi.
“What’s it to you?” said the catfish.
“He’s my brother.”
“Tell him to get off my turf or I’ll make him into sushi.”
Pogi steered Pikon away from the mean catfish. They headed to the boatwreck where fish of all shapes and sizes swam. There were sharks and dolphins. There were jellyfish and cuttlefish and starfish, too. There were even Acaras, just like Pogi and Pikon.
As they played, Pogi looked for Ganda Fish, but she was nowhere to be found. Instead, they played with a few of the other Acara. They took turns hiding seashells and playing ‘hotter-and-colder.’
The usually calm waters of the deep blue sea began to churn as a storm raged above the waves. The currents pushed the tiny Acara this way and that.
“I think it’s time to go home,” worried Pikon.
“We’re fine,” said Pogi.
But they weren’t fine, because the storm overhead was actually a hurricane. In no time at all, there was a terrible danger lurking overhead. The waters churned and the tides washed as deep as the sea bottom, stirring everything around like a witch stirred her cauldron. A sandstorm rose from the sea floor and obscured everyone’s vision.
“I told you,” said Pikon.
“Nevermind that, we need to get out of the way of this storm.”
Pogi led Pikon into the boat wreck. Water surged through every cabin except one. That was the captain’s cabin, that Mack the Knife called home. With no other option, Pogi headed for the safety of Mack’s lair.
A long flat head and two beady eyes barely poked out of the darkness.
“You again?” said Mack.
Before either of the Acara could answer, the spiny zebra catfish barged through the cabin door.
“Hey! Didn’t I say this was my lair?” he snarled.
“Your lair?” said Mack.
“Well…I mean…”
And more little fishy faces came through the cabin door. There were the jellyfish and cuttlefish and starfish. A handful of plecostimous, betas, and acaras joined Pogi and Pikon in Mack’s cabin. It was almost too much for the big hammerhead to handle.
“What are you all doing in my room?” bellowed Mack.
“There’s a nasty storm outside,” squeaked little Pikon.
Mack looked out the porthole near his nest. Whirlwinds of sand and sea rubbish cluttered his view. Also, the boat wreck swayed gently back and forth under the force of the storm waves.
“I suppose it won’t do too much harm to have a few extra guests.”
Just then, a giant squid slithered into Mack’s cabin.
“You, too?” growled Mack.
“I…I…I…am afraid of storms. They make me seasick,” stammered the squid. As he cowered in the corner, he stretched his ten tentacles across the walls of Mack’s cabin. Suckers grabbed onto the walls. He also grabbed anything which he could wrap his tentacles.
The worst of enemies gathered in Mack’s cabin. The storm outside was much too fierce to worry about who hated who. Pogi and Pikon huddled with the Acara, right beside the giant Hammerhead shark. As soon as the storm passed, everyone went their separate ways.
“Whew!” said little Pikon, “I was really scared.”
“Me too, little brother.”
Quickly, they swam back to the safety of the Acara cave.
“Where have you been?” asked Mama Fish.
“We were hiding from the storm inside the boat wreck,” Replied Pogi.
“I was very worried aboutr you!” she said.
“All the fish were there,” said Pikon, “We even saw a Hammerhead !”
“My heavens! That’s why I don’t like you going to the boat wreck. It’s very dangerous.”
“That old Shark grumbles a lot, but overall, he’s a nice guy,” said Pogi.
“Still…”
“Oh, mother,” interrupted Papa Fish, “I know old Mack the Knife. He’s not going to hurt any of my boys. He’s only happy when he’s complaining.”With that, it was settled. Pikon and Pogi were still allowed to venture as far as the boat wreck. They also knew that the Hammerhead had more important things to worry about than two tiny fish when the waves were rough.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Any Port in the Storm.
A Toothy Grin in the Darkness
Pogi Fish and Ganda Fish’s favorite place in the world was the old boat wreck. There were tons of nooks and crannies in which to find new things. More often than not, they played hide-and-go-seek in the boat wreck. Today, little brother Pikon tagged along, too.
“Who’s it?” asked Pikon.
“He who asks, knows!” said Ganda Fish.
“What does that mean?” asked Pikon.
Pogi and Ganda glanced at the little fish and then swam to the boat wreck, leaving Pikon far, far behind.
“Guys!” Guys!” before Pikon had a chance to argue, he was left alone in the middle of the Ocean. He swam to the boat wreck and poked his body into the large crack in the hull.
“Hello?” he called out. His voice echoes through the empty ship.
Carefully, he swam through the darknes as hundreds of eyes watched. He poked his head into every empty hole, but the other two fish were nowhere to be found. As he poked his snout into a cabin door, a stream of air bubbles rushed towards the surface.
“This must be it!” thought Pikon. He reached out a fin and tagged his bigger brother. Only, it wasn’t Pogi Fish at all. It was a Hammerhead Shark.
“Rrrrr,” growled the Hammerhead.
As Pikon backed towards the cabin door, it slammed shut.
“What are you doing in my house?” said the Shark.
“I’m s – s – sorry, sir” stammered Pikon.
The Hammerhead looked at Pikon shivering in front of him. A Hammerhead Shark had no reason to be bothered, let alone scared of a tiny Blue Acara Fish. He reached out a guiding fin and showed the tiny fish to the door.
“You don’t have to call me, Sir. My name’s Mack – but my friends call me Mack the Knife.”
“Yes, Mack the Knife Sir,” replied Pikon.
“Just watch where you’re going from now on,” said Mack.
“I will,” said Pikon.
He poked his snout through a hole and darted out of the Shark’s room. He swam so fast that he swam smack-dab right into his brother.
“Ooof!” said Pikon.
“You surprised me!” replied Pogi.
“I surprised me, too.”
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“Worse than a ghost. I saw a shark!”
“You did not.”
“I did too!” argued Pikon.
“You’ll just have to be more careful,” said Pogi.
“I keep hearing that,” replied Pikon.
Pogi dismissed his little brother, thinking he was telling a tall tale. Anyway, it was Pogi’s turn to be ‘it.’ He covered his eyes while Pikon found a hiding place.
Pogi searched each room in the boat wreck. He found Ganda Fish, but she swam too fast for him to catch her. He decided to find his little brother instead. Pikon hid in the Captain’s room, beneath a broken table. As Pogi neared him, nervous little Pikon jetted away.
“I’m going to get you, little brother!” shouted Pogi.
Pikon darted through the hallways, looking for a new hiding place. He snuck into a room and hid in a corner. Quickly, he realized it was a place he had been before.
“You’re back awfully fast. How am I supposed to get any rest?” snarled the Hammerhead.
Without a word, Pikon backed towards the door. Just then, Pogi slid it open with his snout. Pogi punched little Pikon in the gills with his dorsal fin.
“Gotcha!” said Pogi.
As Pikon flinched, he fell back into the Hammerhead. Pikon darted to one side as Pogi attempted punching him again. Instead, Pogi’s dorsal fin tapped the Hmmerhead directly in his long, flat snout.
The Hammerhead snarled at Pogi.
“Do you want something?” asked the Hammerhead.
“I didn’t mean to hit you. I was tagging the little fish.”
“What did he do to you?” asked the Hammerhead.
“He didn’t do anything,” said Pogi.
“Then why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
The Hammerhead backed Pogi Fish into a corner, baring every one of his jagged teeth. Just then, little Pikon Fish came to save the day for Pogi.
“Stop!” shouted Pikon as he used his fins to shield his big brother from Mack the Knife.
“Isn’t he bothering you?” asked Mack.
“Not at all. It’s my big brother, Pogi.”
“He looked like he was giving you trouble.”
“We were just playing hide-and-seek,” explained Pikon.
“If he ever does give you trouble, then you let me know.”
“Does that mean I can visit you again?” asked Pikon.
“We’ll see about that,” replied the Hammerhead, “Right now, it’s my bedtime.”Pikon and Pogi let Mack the Knife get his sleep. Together, they found Ganda Fish and the three fish instead played hide-and-seek out in the coral reef. And now Pikon had a friend in times of trouble.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: If you live in the river, make friends with the crocodile - Indian Proverb
“Who’s it?” asked Pikon.
“He who asks, knows!” said Ganda Fish.
“What does that mean?” asked Pikon.
Pogi and Ganda glanced at the little fish and then swam to the boat wreck, leaving Pikon far, far behind.
“Guys!” Guys!” before Pikon had a chance to argue, he was left alone in the middle of the Ocean. He swam to the boat wreck and poked his body into the large crack in the hull.
“Hello?” he called out. His voice echoes through the empty ship.
Carefully, he swam through the darknes as hundreds of eyes watched. He poked his head into every empty hole, but the other two fish were nowhere to be found. As he poked his snout into a cabin door, a stream of air bubbles rushed towards the surface.
“This must be it!” thought Pikon. He reached out a fin and tagged his bigger brother. Only, it wasn’t Pogi Fish at all. It was a Hammerhead Shark.
“Rrrrr,” growled the Hammerhead.
As Pikon backed towards the cabin door, it slammed shut.
“What are you doing in my house?” said the Shark.
“I’m s – s – sorry, sir” stammered Pikon.
The Hammerhead looked at Pikon shivering in front of him. A Hammerhead Shark had no reason to be bothered, let alone scared of a tiny Blue Acara Fish. He reached out a guiding fin and showed the tiny fish to the door.
“You don’t have to call me, Sir. My name’s Mack – but my friends call me Mack the Knife.”
“Yes, Mack the Knife Sir,” replied Pikon.
“Just watch where you’re going from now on,” said Mack.
“I will,” said Pikon.
He poked his snout through a hole and darted out of the Shark’s room. He swam so fast that he swam smack-dab right into his brother.
“Ooof!” said Pikon.
“You surprised me!” replied Pogi.
“I surprised me, too.”
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“Worse than a ghost. I saw a shark!”
“You did not.”
“I did too!” argued Pikon.
“You’ll just have to be more careful,” said Pogi.
“I keep hearing that,” replied Pikon.
Pogi dismissed his little brother, thinking he was telling a tall tale. Anyway, it was Pogi’s turn to be ‘it.’ He covered his eyes while Pikon found a hiding place.
Pogi searched each room in the boat wreck. He found Ganda Fish, but she swam too fast for him to catch her. He decided to find his little brother instead. Pikon hid in the Captain’s room, beneath a broken table. As Pogi neared him, nervous little Pikon jetted away.
“I’m going to get you, little brother!” shouted Pogi.
Pikon darted through the hallways, looking for a new hiding place. He snuck into a room and hid in a corner. Quickly, he realized it was a place he had been before.
“You’re back awfully fast. How am I supposed to get any rest?” snarled the Hammerhead.
Without a word, Pikon backed towards the door. Just then, Pogi slid it open with his snout. Pogi punched little Pikon in the gills with his dorsal fin.
“Gotcha!” said Pogi.
As Pikon flinched, he fell back into the Hammerhead. Pikon darted to one side as Pogi attempted punching him again. Instead, Pogi’s dorsal fin tapped the Hmmerhead directly in his long, flat snout.
The Hammerhead snarled at Pogi.
“Do you want something?” asked the Hammerhead.
“I didn’t mean to hit you. I was tagging the little fish.”
“What did he do to you?” asked the Hammerhead.
“He didn’t do anything,” said Pogi.
“Then why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
The Hammerhead backed Pogi Fish into a corner, baring every one of his jagged teeth. Just then, little Pikon Fish came to save the day for Pogi.
“Stop!” shouted Pikon as he used his fins to shield his big brother from Mack the Knife.
“Isn’t he bothering you?” asked Mack.
“Not at all. It’s my big brother, Pogi.”
“He looked like he was giving you trouble.”
“We were just playing hide-and-seek,” explained Pikon.
“If he ever does give you trouble, then you let me know.”
“Does that mean I can visit you again?” asked Pikon.
“We’ll see about that,” replied the Hammerhead, “Right now, it’s my bedtime.”Pikon and Pogi let Mack the Knife get his sleep. Together, they found Ganda Fish and the three fish instead played hide-and-seek out in the coral reef. And now Pikon had a friend in times of trouble.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: If you live in the river, make friends with the crocodile - Indian Proverb
True Colors
Gandafish was tending to her rock garden when Pogi fish swam up to greet her. He wore a long frown on his face.
“My heavens! What’s wrong, Pogifish?”
“It’s my big brother, Pasawayfish, that’s what’s wrong.”
“What did he do?”
“You know the bottle cap I found? I think he hid it somewhere and I cannot find it anywhere.”
“Did you ask him about it?””
“He says he doesn’t know where it went.”
Pogi Fish moped around the Acara cave all day long, not sure where his bottle cap went. When Pogi’s mother finally acknowledged him, Pogi explained the situation.
“Mahhhhhm, Pasaway hid my bottle cap.”
“I told you I never touched your bottle cap,” interrupted Pasaway.
“If Pasaway says he didn’t touch it, you’ll have to take his word for it.”
In fact, Pasaway didn’t touch Pogi’s bottle cap. It was Pogi’s little brother, Pikon, who took Pogi’s bottle cap. Like all mysteries, there was more to the story. It began when Pasaway was watching Pikon and Pogi was playing in the seaweed with Ganda.
“I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?” asked Pikon.
“No,” replied Pasaway.
“I’ll do anything for some krill.”
“Anything?”
Pikon nodded eagerly.
“You know the bottle cap in Pogi’s room?”
Pikon nodded again.
“Take it out and hide it in the boat wreck.”
“Pasaway…” whined Pikon, “I can’t do that.”
“You said anything.”
Reluctantly, Pikon did as his brother ordered and hid the bottle cap in the boat wreck near the Acara cave. He returned home and gobbled the pieces of krill his brother gave him.
“If you tell anyone, I will nibble your ears off,” said Pasaway.
Pikon nervously agreed.
Just as he promised, Pikon remained silent when Mama Fish asked. As days came and went, Pikon was nervous about his secret. Periodically, he checked the boat wreck.
Meanwhile, Pogi grew more agitated as each day passed. Finally, he went to his father for a solution.
“Papa, do you remember the bottle cap I found?”
Papa nodded.
“It’s gone missing.”
“Did you misplace it?”
“Why would I move it? It sat perfectly in the corner of my room.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” said Papa.
That evening, the Acara nibbled on bits of sea urchin for dinner. Papa Fish decided to get to the bottom of the missing bottle cap, Knowing Pasaway was the trouble-maker of the family, the questioning began with him.
“Pasaway, did you hide Pogi’s bottle cap?”
“I did not touch Pogi’s bottle cap.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am absolutely sure,” replied Pasaway.
“Then everyone will do extra chores until Pogi’s bottle cap is found.”
“But I said I didn’t touch it,” said Pasaway.
“That’s the rule,” said Papa Fish.
Day in and day out, Pasaway and Pikon were to share Pogi’s chores. Of course, Pikon had to do everything while Pasaway continued bossing him around. Pogi noticed this and told Papa. Papa spied on little Pikon Fish, doing all the chores and noticed Pasaway doing none.
“Pikon, can you come here for a moment?”
“Yes, Papa,” replied Pikon.
“Isn’t this Pasaway’s day to clean Pogi’s room?”
Pikon looked around nervously.
“Isn’t it?”
Pikon nodded.
“Then why are you doing your brother’s chores?”
“i…I…I…” stuttered Pikon.
“Don’t worry, you won’t get in trouble.”
“I wanted a snack, so Pasaway made me hide Pogi’s bottle cap before I could have a piece.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the first night I asked?”
“I was afraid I’d get in trouble.”
“But you got in trouble anyway,” said Papa Fish.
“I guess so.”
“I know how your oldest brother can be. I will have a talk with him. I want you to fetch Pogi’s bottle cap and return it to him.”
“Okay, Papa.”
Quickly, Pikon and Pogi swam to the boat wreck and fetched the bottle cap. As soon as Pikon found it in the wreckage, he felt much better. Still, he thought it was only right to apologize.
“I’m sorry big brother,” said Pikon.
“That’s okay. I know it wasn’t all your fault.”
“Thank you very much! You’re the best brother a fish could have,” said little Pikon.
“Don’t say that! You have two brothers.”
“Yes, you’re right. You’re one of the two best brothers a fish could have.”For being such a pest, Pasaway had to do every brother’s chores, including his own. He also apologized for his bad behavior. Now, Pasaway understood the responsibility he had to his brothers. He would not trick them like that ever again.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: One rotten apple can spoil the bunch.
“My heavens! What’s wrong, Pogifish?”
“It’s my big brother, Pasawayfish, that’s what’s wrong.”
“What did he do?”
“You know the bottle cap I found? I think he hid it somewhere and I cannot find it anywhere.”
“Did you ask him about it?””
“He says he doesn’t know where it went.”
Pogi Fish moped around the Acara cave all day long, not sure where his bottle cap went. When Pogi’s mother finally acknowledged him, Pogi explained the situation.
“Mahhhhhm, Pasaway hid my bottle cap.”
“I told you I never touched your bottle cap,” interrupted Pasaway.
“If Pasaway says he didn’t touch it, you’ll have to take his word for it.”
In fact, Pasaway didn’t touch Pogi’s bottle cap. It was Pogi’s little brother, Pikon, who took Pogi’s bottle cap. Like all mysteries, there was more to the story. It began when Pasaway was watching Pikon and Pogi was playing in the seaweed with Ganda.
“I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?” asked Pikon.
“No,” replied Pasaway.
“I’ll do anything for some krill.”
“Anything?”
Pikon nodded eagerly.
“You know the bottle cap in Pogi’s room?”
Pikon nodded again.
“Take it out and hide it in the boat wreck.”
“Pasaway…” whined Pikon, “I can’t do that.”
“You said anything.”
Reluctantly, Pikon did as his brother ordered and hid the bottle cap in the boat wreck near the Acara cave. He returned home and gobbled the pieces of krill his brother gave him.
“If you tell anyone, I will nibble your ears off,” said Pasaway.
Pikon nervously agreed.
Just as he promised, Pikon remained silent when Mama Fish asked. As days came and went, Pikon was nervous about his secret. Periodically, he checked the boat wreck.
Meanwhile, Pogi grew more agitated as each day passed. Finally, he went to his father for a solution.
“Papa, do you remember the bottle cap I found?”
Papa nodded.
“It’s gone missing.”
“Did you misplace it?”
“Why would I move it? It sat perfectly in the corner of my room.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” said Papa.
That evening, the Acara nibbled on bits of sea urchin for dinner. Papa Fish decided to get to the bottom of the missing bottle cap, Knowing Pasaway was the trouble-maker of the family, the questioning began with him.
“Pasaway, did you hide Pogi’s bottle cap?”
“I did not touch Pogi’s bottle cap.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am absolutely sure,” replied Pasaway.
“Then everyone will do extra chores until Pogi’s bottle cap is found.”
“But I said I didn’t touch it,” said Pasaway.
“That’s the rule,” said Papa Fish.
Day in and day out, Pasaway and Pikon were to share Pogi’s chores. Of course, Pikon had to do everything while Pasaway continued bossing him around. Pogi noticed this and told Papa. Papa spied on little Pikon Fish, doing all the chores and noticed Pasaway doing none.
“Pikon, can you come here for a moment?”
“Yes, Papa,” replied Pikon.
“Isn’t this Pasaway’s day to clean Pogi’s room?”
Pikon looked around nervously.
“Isn’t it?”
Pikon nodded.
“Then why are you doing your brother’s chores?”
“i…I…I…” stuttered Pikon.
“Don’t worry, you won’t get in trouble.”
“I wanted a snack, so Pasaway made me hide Pogi’s bottle cap before I could have a piece.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the first night I asked?”
“I was afraid I’d get in trouble.”
“But you got in trouble anyway,” said Papa Fish.
“I guess so.”
“I know how your oldest brother can be. I will have a talk with him. I want you to fetch Pogi’s bottle cap and return it to him.”
“Okay, Papa.”
Quickly, Pikon and Pogi swam to the boat wreck and fetched the bottle cap. As soon as Pikon found it in the wreckage, he felt much better. Still, he thought it was only right to apologize.
“I’m sorry big brother,” said Pikon.
“That’s okay. I know it wasn’t all your fault.”
“Thank you very much! You’re the best brother a fish could have,” said little Pikon.
“Don’t say that! You have two brothers.”
“Yes, you’re right. You’re one of the two best brothers a fish could have.”For being such a pest, Pasaway had to do every brother’s chores, including his own. He also apologized for his bad behavior. Now, Pasaway understood the responsibility he had to his brothers. He would not trick them like that ever again.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: One rotten apple can spoil the bunch.
A Pile of Things
The little blue Acara fish swam this way and that. He rolled sandstones along the ocean floor, scooting them towards his cave.
Pogi Fish thought long and hard about what Ganda Fish had shown him about saving seaweed for times of trouble. She stored away seaweed for a cold day. Pogi gathered up as many sandstones as he could, pooling them around his fish cave. As he worked on his cave, Ganda Fish approached.
“My heavens, what a collection of shells and stones you have.”
“I’m building a fence around my cave,” said Pogi.
“It’s very large,” replied Ganda Fish.
“It isn’t large enough,” said Pogi as he continued gathering stones and shells for his cave.
Ganda Fish watched as Pogi built his wall higher and higher.
“Why are you building it so high?” asked Ganda Fish.
“I want to have all the shells and stones, just in case.”
“Silly Pogi, there are enough stones and shells for every fish in the ocean.”
“I was just doing what you were doing with the seaweed.”
“I was only taking what I needed for Winter time,” replied Ganda.
“But what if someone wants my stones and shells?”
“Then let them have them. Why do you need a wall that high anyway?”
“I’m protecting the stuff inside my family’s cave.”
“You have more inside your cave?”
“Of course! Come and see!”
Gandafish followed Pogi into the front area of the cave. A pile of shiny baubles littered the floor of the cave.
“I found a rusty key, a bottle cap, a funny looking stick…”
“Why do you need such things?”
“You never know what may happen,” replied Pogi.
“When would you need to use a bottle cap?”
Pogi placed his left dorsal fin upon his chin and rubbed it while he thought. Meanwhile, Ganda folded her fins across her chest and waited for a reply.
“I could use it as a rake or a table or a hat,” replied Pogi as he demonstrated each and every use.
“A hat?”
“Yes, a hat, see?”
Pogifish placed the cap upon his head like a crown. He tried balancing it upon his head. Each time it slipped right off.
“I see, I see,” replied Gandafish as she chuckled at her silly little friend.
“I have more work to do,” repied Pogi.
“Okay, I will leave you alone,” replied Ganda.
As Ganda swam back to her own home, Pogi continued to gather sheels and stones for his wall. He built a wall so secure that he was sure nobody could break in and steal his stuff.
As he stopped to admire his great work, his father swam up.
“Look what I did!”
“I see what you did. Now, how are we going to undo it?”
“What do you mean?” said Pogifish sadly.
“I am much too big to slip through the cave opening now. We’ll have to tear it down, stone-by-stone.”
“How will I keep my things safe?”
“What things do we need to keep safe?”
“I have a brand new collection of things. I have some sand dollars, a crab’s claw, some pieces of coral, and…”
Papa Fish glanced this way and that.
“Son, let me show you something…” said Papa fish as he led Pogi around the cave.
“What is it?”
“Look here and look there. What do you see?”
“Stones and shells…”
“I also see sand dollars and some old crab shells and coral of all shapes and sizes. Why on earth do we need these inside our home? They will only take up space.”
“That’s what my friend Gandafish says.”
“I think Gandafish is a smart one,” replied Papa.
“I guess you’re right, Papa.”
Papa Fish helped Pogifish clear away the things that blocked their way into the Acara’s cave. Pogi also replaced the crab claws and sand dollars and the rusty key and all the other things but one.
“Papa, can I keep this bottle cap?” asked Pogi.
“Why would you want this bottle cap?”
“I think it would look nice in my room.”
“Okay, I guess you can keep it,” said Papa.So Pogifish took his one keepsake and put it in his part of the cave. He decided to use it as a special pillow. The metal surface was soft and smooth. When Pogi rested his belly upon it, it felt cold, yet comfortable. That one bottle cap, he thought, was just enough for him.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Earth provides enough for every man's need, but not every man's greed – Mohandas Gandhi
Pogi Fish thought long and hard about what Ganda Fish had shown him about saving seaweed for times of trouble. She stored away seaweed for a cold day. Pogi gathered up as many sandstones as he could, pooling them around his fish cave. As he worked on his cave, Ganda Fish approached.
“My heavens, what a collection of shells and stones you have.”
“I’m building a fence around my cave,” said Pogi.
“It’s very large,” replied Ganda Fish.
“It isn’t large enough,” said Pogi as he continued gathering stones and shells for his cave.
Ganda Fish watched as Pogi built his wall higher and higher.
“Why are you building it so high?” asked Ganda Fish.
“I want to have all the shells and stones, just in case.”
“Silly Pogi, there are enough stones and shells for every fish in the ocean.”
“I was just doing what you were doing with the seaweed.”
“I was only taking what I needed for Winter time,” replied Ganda.
“But what if someone wants my stones and shells?”
“Then let them have them. Why do you need a wall that high anyway?”
“I’m protecting the stuff inside my family’s cave.”
“You have more inside your cave?”
“Of course! Come and see!”
Gandafish followed Pogi into the front area of the cave. A pile of shiny baubles littered the floor of the cave.
“I found a rusty key, a bottle cap, a funny looking stick…”
“Why do you need such things?”
“You never know what may happen,” replied Pogi.
“When would you need to use a bottle cap?”
Pogi placed his left dorsal fin upon his chin and rubbed it while he thought. Meanwhile, Ganda folded her fins across her chest and waited for a reply.
“I could use it as a rake or a table or a hat,” replied Pogi as he demonstrated each and every use.
“A hat?”
“Yes, a hat, see?”
Pogifish placed the cap upon his head like a crown. He tried balancing it upon his head. Each time it slipped right off.
“I see, I see,” replied Gandafish as she chuckled at her silly little friend.
“I have more work to do,” repied Pogi.
“Okay, I will leave you alone,” replied Ganda.
As Ganda swam back to her own home, Pogi continued to gather sheels and stones for his wall. He built a wall so secure that he was sure nobody could break in and steal his stuff.
As he stopped to admire his great work, his father swam up.
“Look what I did!”
“I see what you did. Now, how are we going to undo it?”
“What do you mean?” said Pogifish sadly.
“I am much too big to slip through the cave opening now. We’ll have to tear it down, stone-by-stone.”
“How will I keep my things safe?”
“What things do we need to keep safe?”
“I have a brand new collection of things. I have some sand dollars, a crab’s claw, some pieces of coral, and…”
Papa Fish glanced this way and that.
“Son, let me show you something…” said Papa fish as he led Pogi around the cave.
“What is it?”
“Look here and look there. What do you see?”
“Stones and shells…”
“I also see sand dollars and some old crab shells and coral of all shapes and sizes. Why on earth do we need these inside our home? They will only take up space.”
“That’s what my friend Gandafish says.”
“I think Gandafish is a smart one,” replied Papa.
“I guess you’re right, Papa.”
Papa Fish helped Pogifish clear away the things that blocked their way into the Acara’s cave. Pogi also replaced the crab claws and sand dollars and the rusty key and all the other things but one.
“Papa, can I keep this bottle cap?” asked Pogi.
“Why would you want this bottle cap?”
“I think it would look nice in my room.”
“Okay, I guess you can keep it,” said Papa.So Pogifish took his one keepsake and put it in his part of the cave. He decided to use it as a special pillow. The metal surface was soft and smooth. When Pogi rested his belly upon it, it felt cold, yet comfortable. That one bottle cap, he thought, was just enough for him.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: Earth provides enough for every man's need, but not every man's greed – Mohandas Gandhi
Saving Some Seaweed
This is the story of a tiny Blue Acara fish named Pogi. He had been swimming through the coral reef all morning long and stopped to watch the other fish. They swam all about, looking very busy. Pogi never understood why all the fish were in such a hurry.
One particular fish caught his eye. She was a Gourami, a beautiful pearly white fish. A light green shimmer came from her scales as she swam along the ocean floor.
Pogi watched as she blew on the sea floor, near the base of the coral reef. Dust flew in many directions. Pogi swam through the coral, approaching the fish.
"Hi!" he said. The other fish darted away for a second, then turned to see Pogi.
"Did I scare you?" said Pogi.
"A little."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see what you were doing."
"I am saving up seaweed," she said.
Little Pogi Fish looked all around him.
"Everywhere I look, I see fish eating seaweed," he said.
"They are now, but when winter comes, the seaweed will be gone. What will you do then?"
"That couldn't possibly be happen," said Pogi.
"Do you know what winter is?” she asked.
Pogi shook his head.
"See the sunlight, shining from above?”
Pogi nodded.
“Every winter, the sun goes away. Then, the seaweed stops growing.”
Ganda Fish continued hiding her seaweed. After a few moments thinking about winter, Pogi interrupted the beautiful white fish again.
“Mind if I help?” he said.
“Not at all.”
"My name is Pogi. What's yours?" he asked.
"I'm Ganda Fish. I'm a kissing Gourami," she replied.
"I'm a Blue Acara."
“I know,” she replied.
“How do you know?”
“Because there are schools of Blue Acara throughout the reef. Why aren’t you with them?”
“I don’t like big crowds,” he said.
“Me neither,” said Ganda Fish.
“I can hardly wait until Winter,” said Pogi.
“Why?”
“One day, we will have our seaweed and we can share it."
“We can share it now,” replied Ganda Fish. She grabbed a chunk of seaweed of a kelp plant and offered a piece to Pogi Fish. He took a bite and left a piece for Ganda Fish. It hung in the water, floating along. She quickly grabbed it and ate it.
They took turns gathering seaweed from the kelp plants, picking off tiny pieces and burying them in the sand. Soon, there were large mounds stored all around them. Pogi Fish stopped to rest. Ganda Fish swam towards another part of the coral reefs.
“Would you like to play a game?” he asked.
“I have to do a few more things,” said Ganda Fish.
“Okay,” replied Pogi Fish.
Ganda Fish swam toward the octopus cave, near the cliffs. Pogi watched as she swam away. As she disappeared in the murky blue ocean, he tried to say goodbye. Three bubbles of air came from his mouth.
“Glug-glug-glug.”
Quickly, Pogi darted through the water towards Ganda Fish. He gently bumped his nose into her side.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“I just wanted to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye, good friend,” said Ganda Fish.
“Goodbye.”
This time, as Pogi Fish returned to the coral reef, Ganda Fish watched him until he disappeared from view. She then went about her way, sure to meet Pogi Fish again.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: A penny saved is a penny earned.
One particular fish caught his eye. She was a Gourami, a beautiful pearly white fish. A light green shimmer came from her scales as she swam along the ocean floor.
Pogi watched as she blew on the sea floor, near the base of the coral reef. Dust flew in many directions. Pogi swam through the coral, approaching the fish.
"Hi!" he said. The other fish darted away for a second, then turned to see Pogi.
"Did I scare you?" said Pogi.
"A little."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see what you were doing."
"I am saving up seaweed," she said.
Little Pogi Fish looked all around him.
"Everywhere I look, I see fish eating seaweed," he said.
"They are now, but when winter comes, the seaweed will be gone. What will you do then?"
"That couldn't possibly be happen," said Pogi.
"Do you know what winter is?” she asked.
Pogi shook his head.
"See the sunlight, shining from above?”
Pogi nodded.
“Every winter, the sun goes away. Then, the seaweed stops growing.”
Ganda Fish continued hiding her seaweed. After a few moments thinking about winter, Pogi interrupted the beautiful white fish again.
“Mind if I help?” he said.
“Not at all.”
"My name is Pogi. What's yours?" he asked.
"I'm Ganda Fish. I'm a kissing Gourami," she replied.
"I'm a Blue Acara."
“I know,” she replied.
“How do you know?”
“Because there are schools of Blue Acara throughout the reef. Why aren’t you with them?”
“I don’t like big crowds,” he said.
“Me neither,” said Ganda Fish.
“I can hardly wait until Winter,” said Pogi.
“Why?”
“One day, we will have our seaweed and we can share it."
“We can share it now,” replied Ganda Fish. She grabbed a chunk of seaweed of a kelp plant and offered a piece to Pogi Fish. He took a bite and left a piece for Ganda Fish. It hung in the water, floating along. She quickly grabbed it and ate it.
They took turns gathering seaweed from the kelp plants, picking off tiny pieces and burying them in the sand. Soon, there were large mounds stored all around them. Pogi Fish stopped to rest. Ganda Fish swam towards another part of the coral reefs.
“Would you like to play a game?” he asked.
“I have to do a few more things,” said Ganda Fish.
“Okay,” replied Pogi Fish.
Ganda Fish swam toward the octopus cave, near the cliffs. Pogi watched as she swam away. As she disappeared in the murky blue ocean, he tried to say goodbye. Three bubbles of air came from his mouth.
“Glug-glug-glug.”
Quickly, Pogi darted through the water towards Ganda Fish. He gently bumped his nose into her side.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“I just wanted to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye, good friend,” said Ganda Fish.
“Goodbye.”
This time, as Pogi Fish returned to the coral reef, Ganda Fish watched him until he disappeared from view. She then went about her way, sure to meet Pogi Fish again.
+++++++++++++
MORAL: A penny saved is a penny earned.
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