An African Tale

Once upon a time there was a colony of little fishes who lived together in their own small pool, isolated from the rest of the fish in the river. Most of these fish were as happy and friendly as they could be. But there was one fish, much bigger and stronger than all the others, who kept himself aloof, and who was very haughty.

“Go away! I don’t want to play with you, “he would say to a group of cheerful small fish nearby. This happened so often that one day one of the older fish replied to him sarcastically, "I wonder why you don't leave this tiny pool and go off to the big river? A fish as large and important as you should surely mix with others of his own size."

The big fish decided, "I would be happier if I lived among fish of my own size. How tired I am of these stupid little creatures! I'll let myself be swept down into the big river. Then I'll get away from all this!" The big fish rose to the top of the water and allowed himself to be swept downstream to the river. He felt the water swirling behind him.

The big fish realized that he was not so big anymore.

Suddenly the big fish, who did not feel so big anymore, felt a sharp nip in his tail, and turning swiftly he saw large tiger-fish. The monster came swooping straight toward him.

He was just about to give himself up for lost when a huge dark object passed overhead. It was a canoe, although the fish didn't know this, and a wall of mesh plunged into the water scooping up both the tiger-fish and the last of the little fishes. The not-so- big, big fish, now alone, was just barely able to streak away and hide in the mud.

"Alas!" he said to himself. "Why did I come to this terrible place? If only I could get back to my own little pool, I would never grumble again."

So we see, every fish and person should be contented with what he or she has.