this is a story and i am telling it

a man of ignorance once walked by the water
<< i challenge the fish, any who hear, prove your strength >>

no fish answered, for fish do not speak to those who do not listen

a man walked by
<< ¿ brother, why do you berate the fish ? they have done nothing to you >>
he turned and sat by the water and began to wash his face

<< ¿ who are you to speak to me as brother ? ¿ to say you know me ? >>

the man did not answer, but began to wash his arms

<< these fish have indeed hurt me, they spurn my nets at every turn >>
he cast his net again into the water
<< they mock me and laugh, hiding behind smiling faces >>
he pulled his net from the water
<< ¿ you see ? ¿ cannot you hear it all around us, their bubbling laughter ? >>

<< ¿ you think you are wiser than a fish ? >> the man asked

<< of course, ¿ how else could i know where to find them ? >>

<< ¿ you think you are stronger than a fish ? >> the man asked

<< of course, ¿ how else could i hunt them ? >>

<< ¿ you think you are smarter than a fish ? >> the man asked

<< man, you are beginning to insult me with these questions >>

<< ¿ you think you are smarter than a fish ? >> the man repeated

<< do not ask me again unless you crave conflict >>

the man began washing his feet

<< of course i am smarter than a fish, ¿ how else could i speak their names ? >>

the man smiled broadly
<< let us spend the afternoon hunting for fish, he with least cooks supper >>

they hunted for fish and the man found far more

<< let us swim to the far shore and back, last one to return cleans up camp >>

they swam and the man returned first

<< i am done with these games, you have done nothing but waste my time >>

the man smiled
<< ¿ why offer challenge if you do not like to see things through ? >>

<< i challenged the fish, you are no fish >>

the man laughed like bubbles
<< and you are no man >>

at this, the man of ignorance cast his net at the proud fellow

all fell into a tangle in the water

when the net was pulled in there was only a small fish breathing gently

the man was nowhere to be found and the fish slipped through the netting

and that is the story of the man who challenged the fish

—two january two thousand zero hundreds twenty six