21. Swifty and the Fat King

Swifty is a small fish. He has a little tail, and beady eyes, and doesn't even look like a fish. He takes carts from villages to the main, and likes to greet everyone with a cheerful ring of his bell. He has his own stuff. It isn't fair! it said. It remembered that it used to be full, and 9 carts would go behind it. Now there are just 3 or 4, and the farmers send their crop mostly by tractor. Swifty is very careful. The tractors often crash. Swifty never crashes. Machines are full, and Swifty's stuff has nothing. A woman and a fat king were on the flatform. He was indeed, King Triton. But Swifty didn't know. C'mon, grandpa! said the children. Look at this fish! That's a small fish. said King Triton. Is it a plankton? Woosh! cried Swifty. Shh! said a boy. You hurt his feelings. But small sea creatures are plankton, right?" Most of them, but this is not plankton. Can we

ride on him? Stop!'' said King Triton. So they went into Swifty's stuff.''

Yippie! said Swifty's stuff. But Swifty said nothing. Plankton, eh? he said. He felt upset.

What's your name? asked King Triton. My name is Swifty. said Swifty. Thank you, Swifty for a lovely day! King

Triton said. No, thank you! Swifty said back. He was feeling better. This man, he thought, is a man who knows

how to talk to fish.'' Sometimes children rode with a man, and sometimes in empty carts. On the last day, the worker invited them in the cab. They were all sorry when Swifty had to leave. And King Triton and his family thanked them. Come back soon! said Swifty. We will! they all said. Then, they watched as Swifty swam out of''

sight. Months passed. Swifty had less carts, and less people. It's our last day. said Swifty's worker one day. We have to close tomorrow. That day, everyone wanted their last ride. Everyone was singing. Swifty and his worker wished not. Bye, Swifty. said everyone. We are all sorry you're closing. Me too. Swifty said sadly. Nobody needs me. thought Swifty, and he went to sleep. Next day, Swifty saw his worker waving some paper. ''Wake up, Swifty! Listen! It's a letter from the fat king!'' Swifty was happy.

by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch