One fish. That was all his nets had brought him after a whole day's work, and it was hardly the length of his hand.
It lay gasping on the wet boards of the boat, its sides going in and out. "Oh, sir," it panted, "what good am I to you? Look how little I am worth! I have not grown to my full size. Spare me, sir. Put me back in the sea."
The fisherman lived on what his nets brought in, and today they had brought in this. He weighed it in his palm.
"Just think of it," the fish went on. "I will soon be a big, fat fish, fit for the tables of the rich. Lords will ask for me. Ladies will ask for me. You can catch me all over again and sell me for a heap of silver!"
The fisherman scratched his chin. It was a fine story.
"I would be a very silly fellow," he said, "if I gave up what I have today for what I might get some other day."
A sure thing today beats a maybe tomorrow.
One thing to talk aboutWhen is it worth waiting for something better?
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Discussion questions
- The story calls the fish's promise "a fine story". What makes it so tempting?
- The fisherman lived on what his nets brought in. How does that change his answer?
- Would you have put the fish back? What would you need to know first?
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