THE KINGDOM OF THE PARROT FISH
The king in our fable was a tyrant who longed to go fishing, but feared losing his power. One day, however, he decided to tempt fate and ordered the guards to organise a 'safe' fishing trip. The king's aides took him to a place where there were no parrot fish and, as a precaution, fenced off the area with nets. As often happens in fairy tales, however, luck was not on the king's side. King: "I am tired of being cooped up in this palace! I want to go fishing!" Guard: "But sire, it is not safe. If you catche a parrot fish, you will lose your power." King: "I am not afraid! I cannot live without going fishing." The night before fishing, a parrot fish got lost and fell asleep in an inhospitable part of the river, where the parrot fish avoided passing. You should know, children, that parrotfish sleep wrapped in seaweed and in this way no king's servant could see him. In the morning, the fish was so hungry that as soon as the king started fishing, he took the bait. King: "Here is a nice fish! It will be perfect for dinner." So the king lost power and was forced to work as a caretaker in a barber shop. Now his humble job was to help the hairdresser cut hair. The parrot fish, on the other hand, became the new king. As the new king, he had made a decree that all barber's assistants were to work without ever taking an hour's leave. One day, the attendant asked for leave to go to the station to pick up his wife, the former queen, and his son, the former prince. The parrot fish, furious, ordered the other caretakers to dismiss him on his return. King: 'That stupid caretaker dared to ask for a permit! Fire him on his return. And tell all the neighbouring kingdoms not to hire him as an assistant hairdresser. He will never find work in this field again!" The attendant returned to the shop in a great hurry. He had been late and, by a strange coincidence, the guards who were supposed to stop him on his way back had placed themselves in front of the shop, without thinking about the back. The caretaker, all in a hurry, stepped right over there to be quicker. He dressed in a flash because he was supposed to come to comb his parrot fish that day. No one noticed the orderly until the last moment when he found himself with comb in hand, ready to do his business, in front of the parrot fish. The sovereign, though furious, was very impatient to be combed. Seized with impatience he ordered: King: "Comb me soon! Then I will dismiss you'. The orderly managed to comb the king. The parrotfish was so pleased with the caretaker's work that he placed his beak on his head, as a sign of recognition. This gesture in the parrotfish kingdom conferred great honour. When someone received it, everyone was obliged to respect you, including the king, and above all, no one could dismiss you. Orderly: "Thank you, Sire. I was happy to help you." King: "You are a very good orderly. I will never fire you again." The two started talking and the caretaker turned out to be a very intelligent and wise man. The parrotfish began to trust him and appointed him as his advisor. Together, the two ruled the kingdom with wisdom and justice. The tyranny ended and everyone lived happily ever after. Moral: Power is not always in the hands of those who hold it. Humility and wisdom can lead to success. Tyranny is always wrong. |
