Monday, July 03, 2006

Story of a Fish

There's a story about a fish who lived in a pond with other koi fish somewhere in the mountaineous region of Japan. He was often jeered at by the other fish which refused to allow him to join their school. All the other fish thought he was crazy because of something he said when he was first introduced into the pond by the fish-owner, who was a successful businessman who travelled around the world often.

The new fish was very happy to see others of his kind in the pond that the very second he dived into the pond for the first time, he swam right toward the other fish and introduced himself. This act caused quite a stir in the pond because he had unwitingly frightened the rest of the fish in the pond. But, as time went by, they got curious about him and they soon gathered around to meet this strange new fish.

"Who are you and how did you get here?" asked one of the oldest fish.

The new fish, happy that he was finally going to be acknowledged replied happily to the old fish, "Oh, my name is Tsuru. I was born in a small pond in a place 2 continents away from here and travelled to outer space with my Master!"

"What?? Outer space??!" exclaimed all the fish around him in disbelief. Then thay all broke into laughter.

The old fish looked at the new fish and mockingly said, "O young one! you couldn't possibly travelled into outer space. Everyone knows that you'll die if you go into outer space where there's no water!"

"But I did!" said the new fish desperately. "I saw many things! I saw a box that has even more wonderous things in it. There are people, creatures and strange things that you can see by the wave of my Master's hand!"

"There is no such thing! You are a liar! And we don't welcome liars in our school!" shouted the old fish. With that, they all swam away, leaving the new fish alone.

The new fish lived in the pond for a long time, occasionally telling stories of his tavels into outer space to younger fish who dared to swim near him until a time when he passed on, taking with him the knowledge of Outer Space.