The Catch

Hi, my name is Oop, and I am the village fisherman.

It’s my job to catch the fish to feed everyone.

They depend on me.

This is the month when all the water in the lake dries up.

It’s getting harder and harder to catch fish.

I’m getting bored waiting.

But what’s this?

It’s a bite.

Finally!

How exciting.

I pull it in, but it’s a Tidler. How disappointing.

I look back at my village, and I think “This isn't enough to feed my village.”

I feel like I've let them down.

But then I hear a whimper. It sounds like a dog, but there aren't any dogs around here, at least I don’t think there are.

I look through the plants and see a fox with a trap around its leg.

So I get out my knife and raise it high. The fox cowers, and then I cut the rope to free him.

He turns around and charges at me, jumps on me. I’m so scared.

But thankfully he smells something and scampers through the bushes and over to my basket.

I’m worried he’s going to eat the only fish I've caught.

I stare at him sternly with a look that says “don’t you dare”.

He takes off with my fish!

“Hey, that’s my fish and I’m not going to give it up!”.

I chase after him, but he ducks into a hole with thorny brambles.

I look back at my village, and I’m determined to get back my fish.

So I squeeze through, I’m just small enough.

My beige pants catch on a thorn, I pull myself free and continue to chase him.

He hides in a log, I jump on the top and look down, but he’s gone.

I’m confused. How could he disappear?

Just then something like a mini hurricane jumps on to my head and makes me fall off the log. It’s the fox. I need that fish!

I continue chasing him, I catch him!

But he squeezes free, “Oh man” I’m so frustrated.

He starts to climb up a cliff.

I do too.

But my hat get blown away by a gust of wind.

I gaze down in sorrow.my favourite hat floats down to the bottom.

I think, “Oh man, I’m so high up, what if I fall?”

This is scary, but my village needs that fish.

So I gain the courage to keep climbing.

When I reach the top, I see the fox.

But he throws my fish away.

I’m confused. Why did he do that?

Suddenly the mist clears away and the sunlight shines through.

I squint to see a ginormous lake, with fish everywhere.

I am amazed. I’m overjoyed.

But then everything gets darker, a massive shadow passes by.

The biggest fish I've ever seen jumps right in front of me.

Then I realize the fox wasn't trying to stop me feeding my village, he was trying to help me.

I’m so thankful, so grateful.

He’s my friend.

He brushes up against me with a stick, he wants me to fish.

I use it to make a fishing rod, I cast my line into the lake.

I’m hopeful I will catch some giant fish.

After a day of fishing, I walk home with a big fish and a medium fish.

I throw the medium to the fox and continuing walking to the village to share the news.  

I’m proud I've done my job, I relieved everyone will have enough to eat.

But when I’m not looking, the fox turns into its true self.
A spirit that was there to help me.