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Fishin' with Capt. Gus!
Date: January 2007
Fish Tales... and Other Stories
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Catawba Cat walked into the River City Tackle Shop with a small catfish in
a bottle in one hand and a library book in the other. The fish was nothing
special. To everyone's surprise, it looked like an ordinary Arkansas Blue.
When asked why he had the little catfish, Catawba replied, "Because it's
special. It talks to me and promises to grant me a wish if I release it.” "Where
did you get it?" Catawba answered, "I scooped it out of the river
where it was floating near the Duke of Earl's palace. It scared the heck out
me when I first heard it speak.” The man asked, “What did it say?" Catawba
answered, "It pleaded with me to release it. When I refused, it offered
to turn itself into a beautiful princess, marry me and give me a fortune. I've
been tying to figure out what to do ever since.” A second tackle shop
patron asked, "What's the book about?" Catawba thought a minute and
then answered, "I haven't read it yet, but I think it’s about a
genie trapped in a bottle who will grant a wish to the person who releases
it.”
Days passed and Catawba took his treasured fish everywhere. It soon grew too
large for the bottle and had to be placed in a minnow bucket. Eventually, it
outgrew the bucket and its new home became a fifty-gallon bait tank. Everyone
urged him to release the fish, but Catawba wouldn't hear of it. Finally, the
fish grew so big that it had to be placed in a pond on the other side of town.
There it was tethered to the end of an anchor rope where it swam in circles.
In the meantime, Catawba read the book about genies, magic frogs and fairy
princesses. The more he read the more confused and perplexed he became. He
liked the fish, but he didn't want to settle down and get married. Then again,
a magic princess who could grant a wish wouldn't be a bad companion to have.
While he pondered, the fish continued to grow. Now it was almost too big for
the pond. If he waited much longer, the talking catfish would be too large
to move without causing harm.
Catawba finally decided to take it back to the river where he found it. He
untied the rope and bid it farewell. The fish was shocked so it asked why it
was being released without having to grant a favor. Catawba didn't want to
hurt the lady catfish's feelings, so he weighed his response carefully. The
fish asked again, "Why am I being released without having to grant a wish?”
For once in his life, Catawba was speechless. Finally he said, "On second
thought, I will take you up on that wish.” "Ok", replied the
catfish. Let’s hear it." Catawba said, "I wish you were small
again and could fit back in the bottle where I first found you swimming.” Following
a big puff of smoke, the lady catfish was back in the bottle. Catawba was glad
his ordeal was over. He had never had to think so hard in his whole life.
The next day, he returned to the River City Tackle Shop with the catfish swimming
in the bottle. When asked why he didn't wish for something special, Catawba
replied, "Shucks, at my age I'd rather have a talking catfish than be
married to a rich magic princess.”
Be reminded that small fish have...................Large Tales.
Capt. Gus' new book of fishing stories, like the one above, is available
on line at FishTalesAndOtherStories.com -
$8.95 plus S&H.
Captain Gus Gustafson is licensed by the US Coast
Guard, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association,
a published author and a Professional Sport Fishing Guide
on Lake Norman, NC.
His first book, "Fish Tales and Other Stories..." is now
available
online. Visit his web site, Fishin' with Gus!
at www.FishingWithGus.com
or call 704-489-0763. For additional information, e-mail
him at Gus@LakeNorman.com. |
