Читать книгу Sun Rays - Joshua Livingston - Страница 9

How Fish Understand the Stars

School was out. The bell rang and hundreds and hundreds of pinfish were on the loose.

It was quite dark out and many of them wondered to themselves, “How come some days when our school is out, there is one big light that shines down on us, and other times, like tonight, there are lots and lots of tiny lights instead?”

The teacher, a cantankerous old puffer fish who was exhausted from chasing after unruly pinfish all day, was on his way home and he did not want to be bothered.

“Teacher, teacher! Can you tell us about the great light? Where has it gone?”

In an effort to make the annoying little fish go away, he simply retorted, “School is out. I don’t know. Now go home to your moms and dads!”

Obviously not satisfied with that answer, they decided to swim down to the bottom and ask the old crab. He was a very learned professor, full of knowledge, but the children didn’t know that with such intelligence often comes cynicism.

“Children, I’ve never seen a light such as you speak of. Sure, I’ve heard others speak of it, and many have even described its wonders. But for this old crab, the sea-floor is what I know and there is no light here at all.”

Well, the pinfish kids had seen a light. They were sure it existed. But why was it there on some days, and gone on others? They didn’t know where to turn and they were bickering among themselves about who to ask next.

As they began to ascend closer to the surface, a shrimp dropped down out of nowhere. Young Charley, not able to contain himself, broke away from the pack to try nibbling on the shrimp.

Just then, a great sonar blast grabbed all of their attentions. A mother dolphin, crossing their path, grabbed young Charley and ushered him back to the school.

“Keep an eye on this one,” she grinned. “He almost got taken by a silver hook disguised as a shrimp.”

Relieved that their pal was saved, and grateful for the mother’s wisdom, they were all in agreement as to who to inquire next.

“Mother, why is it that the great light is seen above some days so clearly, and on other days, like today, there’s a bunch of tinier lights instead?”

“Dear children,” began the mother dolphin, “I cannot begin to provide an answer for you. But this I can tell you: The great light comes and goes as it pleases. It is our duty to be watchful and anticipate its glorious coming on nights like tonight. The tinier lights are there to remind us that darkness can never entirely take over and as little as they are, they are a wonderful grace containing the message of promise. When the great light does shine brightly again, it is our duty to be thankful and to embrace it with everything you have, for the great light is truly a gift, more so than you or I will ever know.”