The Moral of the Story

“…and the magic carp, grateful for his release, granted the fisherman a wish.  The fisherman, being humble and happy, requested nothing from the carp, whom truly had no reason to feel in debt at all, but a kind hello when next they met,”

            Udon sunk back against the wood pole, happily satisfied with his story.  He smiled at the others judging their reactions.  Oku’s eyebrows crinkled as his eyes focused in deep thought at a piece of straw.

            “Fool!”  Oku blurted after a moment of quiet.  “He had a perfect chance!  He could have wished for money, or a better fishing pole!  …or a new boat!  He is a fool!”

            “Ahh…Oku…” started Udon just as Kuno cut him off.

            “”It is a matter of place, Oku-san,” said Kuno as he cleaned his katana.  “The fisherman understood his place in the world.  Him, being just a peasant, knows that the carp will not offer him anything better in this life.  Although unfulfilled, he accepts his lowly position.  Sleeping half-mat, sitting one quarter, a fistful of rice.”

            “No,” whispered Keshijo from the other side of the fire.  “To trust the carp would be more foolish; to eat him doubly so.  The fisherman knew this truth.  Better to let the gift go unclaimed.  It would only place him in servitude to the carp.  To invite him back is to assure his own safety for many years,”

            “That may be true but he is still a fisherman,” added Sousha while stuffing rice into his mouth.  “I think that the story is not really over.  If he were to trick the carp into being friends, the carp would invite the other carp to meet the fisherman.  Then the fisherman can catch them all.  Why else would he invite the carp to come back to say hello?  What the fisherman really wished for was a good catch.”

            Udon was motionless, leaned forward with wide speechless eyes and a slack jaw.  For a moment his eyes darted back and forth between the others as if to question their mentality.  Udon drew a blank expression as he leaned back again and thought of the carp, whom he never before tonight felt sorry for.