The Talking Fish

Once upon a time, a very poor fisherman caught a pretty fish. The fish spoke to him in a human voice, "See here, brother! My parents must be worrying terribly about me." Now the talking fish was gasping. "Throw me back into the water!" The fisherman threw the fish back into the water. He had no option but to sleep hungry that night. Suddenly, he saw a Monster with a very fine cow with him.

The monster said, "Keep this cow for three years, and you and your wife will never go hungry." He continued, "But listen carefully. After three years, when I come back to take the cow, I will ask certain questions to you. If you answer them correctly, the cow will be yours. But if you don't. Then I'll take both of you along with the cow, and do whatever I want with you. Do you accept?"

The fisherman had no choice but to accept the terms. Day after day, the cow gave enough milk for the fisherman and his wife to drink and to sell. When the three years period was about to get over, a handsome youth came up to them. He said, "I am tired. If you please, may I spend the night under your roof?"

The fisherman told him the monster and cow story, and said, "So if you stay with us tonight, be careful that no harm comes to you!"

"Well, I would stay for the night," said the youth.

At midnight, a loud knock was heard at the door. "It is me, the Monster! The time has come to answer my questions!"

The youth stepped towards the door and said, "Don't worry, I'll answer for you."

"Where are you from?" asked the monster.

"I'm from the other side of the sea."

"How did you get here?"

"Riding a lame flea!"

"Then the sea must have been very small?"

"Not at all. Even an eagle couldn't fly across it!"

"Then that eagle must have been a fledgling?"

"Not at all. The shadow of his wings would cover a whole city!"

"Then the city must have been very small?"

"Not at all. A hare couldn't run from one end of it to the other."

The monster was speechless. He didn't know what other questions to ask. He stood there silently at the door for sometime, then disappeared into the darkness.

The poor fisherman and his wife were overjoyed. "Tell us who you are!" begged the fisherman.

"If you must know," said the youth, "An act of kindness is never lost. I am that little talking fish that you threw back into the sea!"

Having said these words, he vanished.