The fishing buddies

Based on a Thai folktale

CEBU, Philippines - Once there lived in a coastal village in Thailand two fishermen named Ta-in and Ta-na. They were good friends and loved to do things together.

Both men were good in fishing, and they decided to make it as their livelihood.

Ta-in and Ta-na built a small boat, which they used to catch plenty of fish. Every time, they shared their catch equally between themselves. But as the days passed by, their catch got fewer and fewer. There was even a time that they caught no fish at all. Then, one day Ta-in caught a fish, brought it home and cooked it.

Ta-na, aware that he was not the one who caught the fish, asked only to have the head and the bony middle part of the fish. But Ta-in refused; he wanted that part of the fish, too, thinking that it was the bigger part.

“I caught this fish! I must have the part I want!” Ta-in insisted.

“No, it would not be fair to you! Let me have the head and you have the tail,” Ta-na replied.

They would not listen to each other anymore, and the misunderstanding turned into a fistfight. The whole village was shocked upon seeing the two friends exchanging blows. Then Ta-yoo, an elder of the village, came to the scene and tried to stop the fight.

“Stop fighting! How could this be that both of you who are best of friends would end up quarreling over a fish?” Ta-yoo asked.

Ta-in and Ta-na bowed their heads in shame. Upon realizing their fault, both men tried thinking of a way to solve the problem. But, at the same time, each of them also wanted to get the bigger part of the fish. Still they couldn’t decide.

So Ta-yoo spoke and said, “Since both of you don’t know what to do, I’ll be the one decide for you.” Ta-yoo pondered for a while. “Ta-in caught the fish, so he takes its head; and you, Ta-na, you take the tail.” The two men wondered to whom the middle part of the fish would go. “and since I am the one who solved your problem,” Ta-yoo said, “I take the middle part.”

Without question. Ta-in and Ta-na agreed to old Ta-yoo’s idea. Ta-in took the head and Ta-na took the tail. Ta-yoo, who was the mediator of the two, took the body of the fish. As the villagers thought the decision was fair enough, they walked away, leaving Ta-in and Ta-na behind.

But suddenly both men turned sad for none of them got the best part of the fish. They had realized that they were fooled by the old Ta-yoo.

“One of us must have enjoyed the fish but, instead, it is the old Ta-yoo who has it. I shouldn’t have been too selfish,” Ta-in sighed.

“No, it was my fault, my friend. I was just too greedy. I forgot your hard work in catching the fish. I am sorry,” Ta-na said.

They realized that they were both greedy, each wanting to have the bigger share. They learned that greed does not result in good. So, from that day on, the two became best friends again. They went fishing together again. And they returned to sharing equally whatever they caught.

In due time, the two fishing buddies became rich. And they did not forget their neighbors – they hired the willing men as fishermen. And all in the village prospered.

(Reference: www.curriculum.edu.au)