“The merchant himself went back home to his family, his wife, and his children, and he lived with them until the day he died. But this story is not as strange or as amazing as the story of the fisherman.
Dinarzad asked, ‘Please, sister, what is the story of the fisherman?’ Shahrazad said:…” (577)
My tale:
There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife and three young daughters. Everyday he would open his eyes at the break of sunlight to the seagull’s songs and get ready to go fishing for the day. The fisherman worked hard, from dusk till dawn, to fish for food and profit for his family. He would fish all day long, and only come home to sleep. He worked very hard to provide for his family that he loved dearly. Although it was hard work, he found solace in watching the waves and ripples in the turquoise waters. It was routine that the fisherman greet the mermen that resided along the shore where he fished daily. The mermen treated him well, always greeting him and asking about his morning. The fisherman took comfort in these engagements since he spent so much time away from his family.
One day the fisherman caught enough fish that produced profits that would last the fisherman and his family an entire week. Jolly with joy, the fisherman rushed to the market to sell his fish for money. With his profits, he decided to go buy his wife and three daughters new swimsuits. The fisherman wanted to be able to bring his family to the sea while finally enjoying the shore, rather than working tirelessly. The family was overcome with joy at the news of a day at the beach for fun.
When it was time to jump in the water, the fisherman’s wife jumped first. Her skin glistened in the sunlight that pierced through the water, on to her glossy long legs and arms. Next, the fisherman jumped in. The water he had spent so much time watching, became something he felt and blissfully basked in while it surrounded him. Lastly, he told his daughters to jump in, he wanted them to feel the joy he felt. His three daughters jumped in all at once. After the splashing, and the white water returned to calmer blue, silence and shock overcame the fisherman’s face. All three of his daughters grew long fishtails, and gills along their hips. The ocean water was no longer a serene place of solace for the fisherman.
The fisherman were surprised, but pretended to be indifferent. His daughters were becoming more mermen gradually while enjoying. First daughter’s skin was covered with fish scales and slippery. He couldn’t pretend that he was anymore, he came out of the water and went to meet the mermen he always met. And asked him ‘how this happened?’