The Fisherman and His Wife
Once upon a time, in a land of shimmering seas and golden sands, lived a humble fisherman and his wife. Each day, the fisherman cast his net, hoping for a lucky catch. But one extraordinary day, he caught something magical – a talking flounder, glittering like a thousand diamonds!
“Please, kind fisherman,” the flounder spoke in a voice like the ocean’s whisper, “I am no ordinary fish, but an enchanted prince! Spare me, and I shall grant your heart’s desire.”
The fisherman, kind-hearted and amazed, released the flounder without a single wish. He rushed home to share this wondrous tale with his wife. But, oh, his wife’s eyes sparkled with greed!
“Go back! Ask for a wish!” she exclaimed. So, the fisherman returned to the sea, which whispered and whooshed, calling for the magical flounder.
“Dear flounder,” he said humbly, “my wife desires a cozy cottage.”
“Granted!” boomed the flounder, and in a blink, their old shack transformed into a lovely cottage. But the wife’s desire grew wilder. She now wanted a grand castle, to be a queen, then an emperor! Each wish was grander than the last, and each time, the fisherman, with a heavy heart, asked the flounder.
The sea roared and raged with each wish, as if warning of the storm of greed. Finally, the wife demanded the impossible – to become like God. The fisherman, trembling, made this last, fateful wish.
The flounder’s voice thundered, “Enough! Your greed has no bounds!” And in a flash, everything vanished – the castle, the riches, all gone! The fisherman and his wife were back in their humble shack, just as before, with nothing but each other and the lesson they had learned.
And so, dear children, remember this: Be grateful for what you have, for greed can sweep away all your treasures, leaving you with nothing but regrets. Contentment is the greatest wealth one can possess!
Moral of the Story: Be grateful, not greedy; treasure what you have.
