Note: This is a short tale that was “invented” some years ago, when
every night I said tales to my kids before sleeping. I would try to catch it
from my memories.
It was written in English some days ago during this class. I have
corrected some words and expressions. I hope you will enjoy it.
CHUN-CHIN
Once Upon a time there was a child living in a country very far from
here. His name was Chun-Chin. He was twelve years old. He had lost his mother
some years before and his father was sick, so he was looking after his father
and himself. Thus, money was very scarce at Chun-Chin’s home.
Every
morning he used to go to the river to catch fish. From his catch he prepared
lunch and dinner, and sometimes he was lucky to catch some many big fish that
permitted him to sell some of them in the market and to earn some money to buy
bread and clothes.
One day
Chun-Chin was fishing as usual but throughout the whole morning he did not
catch anything. Suddenly in the distance, he saw a very tall men coming closer.
The man stopped at the river bank ten meters away from Chun-Chin and shouted,
“Hello boy! How are things going with you?”
Chun-Chin
did not answer the man. The tall man continued, “You did not catch anything
today, did you? Look, Chun-Chin, I think you’d better move to the other river
shore. There are not anymore fish, here. Try there on the other side. Do you
see that part with lights and shadows? Go there!”
Chun-Chin
was amazed. How did this man know his name? Chun-Chin was proud to know
everybody down in his village but this man was really new to him.
“How do
you know my name? How do you know it if this is the first time we have met one
another?” asked Chun-Chin.
“Look
Chun-Chin, I am Chu-Lin an old man that knows many things. In some towns they
call me a wizard, but do not worry about the things I have told you. Just do
it!”
Chun-Chin
looked at the sky and realized that the sun was high. The morning was almost
gone and he had not caught anything.
“What
could I lose by doing that?” he asked himself. “Let me do it!” He took all his
things, the cane, the little hook, and the basket, and crossed the river, over
some big stones spread in the middle of it, to the other bank. He threw the
cord with the little hook at the end into the water and after a very few seconds
he caught a huge fish!
Chun-Chin
was very happy. With that fish, his father would have enough food for one week,
and he also would obtain some money to buy food and a toy! He quickly ran home,
happy, shouting, and singing.
After
half an hour of running he arrived home exhausted and started shouting,
“Father! Father! Look at the enormous thing I have brought from the river!” The
father looked at his son and the very large heavy fish in astonishment.
Chun-Chin
ran to the kitchen and took a big, sharp knife to slice the fish and to
separate a very ample part of it to be sold later in the market. But suddenly, the
fish started to cry, “Chun-Chin, Chun-Chin, do not kill me! I am Lu-Jim a very
rich man that lived in your town two hundred years ago and a sorceress
transformed me into a fish. Please, kiss me on the forehead and I shall be
transformed into a man! Please do it!”
Chun-Chin
did not believe why such odd things were occurring! “Today was a really strange
day!” he thought. “First the wizard at the river, then the huge fish, and now
the talking fish. What more!”
“How
revolting to kiss the fish!” thought Chun-Chin, but the fish cried again,
“Please, kiss me on the forehead and I shall be transformed into a man! Please
do it!”
He
closed his eyes and put his mouth on the fish’s forehead. He kissed the fish
between its two eyes. A short but sincere kiss it was!
Suddenly,
the fish changed into the shape of a man, which was wearing extremely a very,
very nice suit with gold and silver threads decorating it. The man started to
speak slowly, with pleasure “Chun-Chin, as I told you I was, well… I am Lu-Jim,
an important and rich man that a jealous witch converted into a little fish two
hundred years ago. With the Lord’s help, the passing of the time, and some
luck, I have survived and grown to be the largest fish of the river. Many
fishermen tried to catch me but I was lucky. Now, I am again a man. Thanks,
thanks!” said Lu-Jim.
Then, he
went ahead towards Chun-Chin’s door, where he turned back saying, “Please, ask
me for anything you wish and I will give it to you, now!”
Without
delay, Chun-Chin made his wish, “I wish for my father to be cured forever.”
Lu-Jim
said, “Let it be done!” Then he gave the child thousands of gold coins.
Chun-Chin
could not believe it. With such an enormous amount of gold he could do
anything! He first thought to call to the wisest physicians of the world and as
if by magic, twelve very important men appeared in his home. The men stared at
Chun-Chin’s father and started to talk. Then, they formulated the best
medicines for the father of Chun-Chin that cured him very soon.
After
that, Chun-Chin and his father went together everywhere. They had enough time
to share and to talk. They played together and sometimes went fishing but just
for fun. They did not need to fish for survival anymore. Chun-Chin was the
happiest boy of the village.
And that
was all, folks
Boston 1st
July 2001
Newly
corrected, Madrid 12th December 2018