Читать книгу Gobble-Up Stories - Oscar Mandel - Страница 7

THE CONCEITED MINNOW

A fisherman had already caught three handsome trout—they were lying in a basket next to him—when he hooked a minnow. He was about to throw it back into the stream when the minnow, catching sight of his grimace, cried out, “And what’s the matter with me, if I may ask? Let me inform you that I’m as good as any trout that swims in these waters. I’m small, but I am good-looking, smart, and appetizing. In short, I resent your gesture of contempt and demand to be treated with the respect I deserve.”

“Oh well, if you insist,” said the fisherman, and he tossed the minnow into his basket.

I don’t know about people, but with minnows, once the ego breaks loose, there’s no telling where it will stop.