The Lazy Fisherman

The Lazy Fisherman
(who met a fairy princess)

Abdul tugged the line. With a sigh, he checked his bait. Not a sign of any life and the still and murky lake mocked at him that he would go home with an empty basket. Gazing up at the clear sky he drifted off to sleep. A loud, ghostly hooting of an owl from the overhanging branches of mangrove trees in the distant bank jolted him. He wondered why the toads were croaking so loudly. He groped around for his torchlight and looked at his watch, although just six in the evening, it was already getting pitch dark. A huge dense cloud loomed over like a blanket. He had carelessly left his raincoat behind. Not wanting to get drenched, he hurriedly reeled in his fishing line and grabbed the two wooden oars. He expertly paddled the boat towards an old jetty where he’d left his bicycle.

Abdul's boat rocked violently from side to side. A huge force seemed to be soaring from the bottom of the lake. He panicked, stood up, lost his balance and cursed as both oars disappeared without a splash into the water.

Trapped, in the middle of a lake that rumbled and churned, in a massive, spin wash, the boat circled like a speed boat out of control. Hanging on tightly, for his life, for what it was worth, Abdul unwillingly faced the inevitable. Suddenly, with his boat hanging in mid - air, he looked down and saw a shadow rising from beneath the lake. His hair stood on ends, his mouth went as dry as an empty well, his vocal chords gone.

A mesmerizing and an enchanting melody arose, gently parting the enveloping mist around him. It drifted past him like a soft fluffy cloud. His tensed muscles relaxed, his eyes grew weary and heavy.The shadow rose higher and higher. A black, velvet object stretched out, like wings of a giant moth. Like the petals of a rose, the wings unfolded. Detailed veins etched on luminous satin. A flowery perfume overpowered him. The shadow had a face, as white as porcelain. A feminine form! Her hair, silky, black and long. She wore a black, chiffon gown that trailed right past her tiny feet peeping through its folds. With downcast eyes, her slender arms wrapped on one shoulder, she came towards him.

He shone his torch and pointed his fishing rod at her. With fluttering wings, she hovered over him and introduced herself. “I am Aminah, a princess by night and a water slug by day”. Abdul didn't believe in fairies. He deeply regretted having fallen asleep. He should have been home by now reading his favorite comic book ‘Lat’.

“W h h h hat do you want from me?” he stuttered, grateful that his voice had returned. “I have been watching you all week, I know that you have not caught any fish at all”, Aminah answered.

Shame and guilt immediately shackled his heart. The disappointment and silence of his children, Ah Ben and Ah Mon, each time they saw his dry basket hanging loosely from his bicycle handle. He had made all kinds of excuses for returning home empty handed. He knew he would be punished. He had allowed his children to survive only on tapioca leaves and breadfruit for a whole week. He kept all these thoughts to himself. “Do you know how much your two children depend on you?” the fairy princess whispered.

Abdul felt great remorse for his stupidity, laziness and irresponsibility as a father and provider. His petite wife, Lin, had died several years ago. Ever since, he found it harder and harder to catch fish. He blamed the gods, Mother Nature, the other fishermen, his wife, his children, but never himself.

Aminah pulled the boat to another side of the lake, one that Abdul didn’t know existed. Here, he caught so many fish, enough for his family's consumption and more to sell at the fish market. I will spend my good fortune on a new bicycle for Ah Ben and a new dress for Ah Mon. With a satisfied smirk and arched brows he smiled as the line grew taut again.

Abdul asked Aminah if he would see her again. “Yes”, Aminah told him that she had made a promise to Lin, Abdul's wife. Lin had asked her to look after Abdul and their two children. Aminah would continue to help him until he could stand on his own two feet.

Abdul brushed off the salty tears with his stubby hands. Why did she have to die so suddenly? Why didn’t she tell him about the cancerous growth under her arm? He had tried so hard to hide his pain and loneliness. He felt like a helpless baby. Lin had always been the strong one, providing, cleaning and looking after their home and their family with patience and love. He was the simpleton, a good for nothing son-in-law. Her parents had never forgiven him for marrying Lin, whom they had promised to a rich Chinese estate owner.

For a whole year, Aminah continued to appear and take Abdul to the other side of the lake. In his village, he held ‘kenduris’ – feasts or food banquets with lots of food where anybody is welcome. He built a new school, a community hall and a playground. He reconciled with his in laws and showered them with gifts.

Abdul made his first trip to Sydney, to proudly witness Ah Ben and Ah Mon receive their scrolls. Ah Ben majored in architecture and Ah Mon, a Masters degree in Education. Both of them returned to their village to improve its economy and education. Ah Ben’s first project, their new house, became a popular and sought after model home.

Abdul was elected as headman. He served with great wisdom, kindness, generosity and love. Everyday, at 9am, Abdul, would put aside everything, wait under the coconut tree, next to the school, to relate his favorite story about a fairy princess called Aminah. -

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