The Finless Fish

One morning, while sitting on his rock, Otter saw a friend hiding behind some seaweed.

“What’s the matter, Finn? You haven’t moved all day! A fish is supposed to swim not sit!”

“I know,” said Finn, “but I can’t swim. I don’t have any fins.”

“Fins?” asked Otter. “You’re still looking for those? If you had everything you’d still want more! So, I’m not sure if a pair of fish fins is going to make you any happier.”

“They’re not?” asked Finn.

“Probably not,” replied Otter.

“Then what will?” wondered Finn.

“Have you found Oyster yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“She is sometimes hard to find, but well worth the visit. You and I have a friendship, Finn, and I’d rather have that than an old smelly pair of fish fins.”

 “You’ve always been very kind, Otter, and you certainly make me feel better, but I still wish I had a pair of fish fins. I feel like I need a pair of fish fins to be a full-fledged fish!”

“Don’t be silly! Let’s go and see if we can find Oyster. She’ll be able to help us, but let’s visit a friend of mine first. His name is Octo and he’s very smart.”

“Oh, no. I’m not going there,” said Finn.

“Why not? Where do you think he lives?” asked Otter.

“Octo lives way out there where the big fish lives.” Finn’s teeth were chattering. He was very scared or extremely cold.

“Do you mean Sharky, the great white?  He’s an old friend of mine. He’s not going to hurt us!”

“Oh, No? Those big fish will eat anything. I’ve seen it…Pickle jars! Paint cans! They’ll even eat you and me!”

 “Come on, Finn. Some things in this ocean are bigger than both of us, but I would never let anything happen to you.”

“Okay…If you say so.”

“Are you ready now?” asked Otter.

“I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Then let’s go!”

Otter darted forward and grabbed Finn quickly, gently squeezing him between his lips. Otter gulped some fresh air and began swimming underwater through the small slivers of sapphire streaks in the water. A small crack in the ocean floor, not far from shore, was a small passageway known as Cobbler’s Canyon. The canyon was the home of Octo, an octopus known for his heavenly handshake and warm sense of humor. Octo enjoyed counting numbers and usually was very happy and friendly, but today he was sad and glum because of a headache.

“Octo!” Otter yelled into the canyon. “It’s me Otter!”

Octo peeked his gigantic head and eyeballs from between the crack in the canyon. He hit his head on a giant rock. “Ow! Oh, hello, Otter,” he murmured. “How’s it going?”

“Great, thanks, but my buddy’s not feeling so good. I was wondering if you could help him out.”

“What’s his problem?” Octo asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“He’s a finless fish. He’s worried about not having any fins.”

“Fins?” questioned Octo. “You’re worried about fish fins? Why are you worried about fins, my friend?”

 “Because if I had fish fins then I could learn how to swim,” replied Finn.

“Well, if wishes come true then I wish I had a smaller head! Can’t you see the size of my head?  It’s humongous!” he hollered. “I keep banging it into rocks and reefs…it hurts after a while, you know. If I had a smaller head then all of my headaches would go away.”

The finless fish thought for a moment and said, “I guess everybody has a wish.”

“…Or a headache,” Octo complained. “Hopefully, one day your wish will come true, my friend. Then what will you do? There isn’t much I can do to help you, I’m afraid, but have you talked to Oyster lately?”

“We’re looking for her,” Otter answered.

“That’s good, because Oyster taught me how to enjoy the ocean everyday…without a pair of fish fins at all. I wish you well in your journey, my friend, but I do wish I had a smaller head. I guess I shouldn’t complain.”

Octo brought two of his giant legs up to his eyes and pointed at his head. “I’ve got eight legs. Each one helps me swim and eat…and now that I think about it, you know what? Being an octopus really is not that bad.”

“No it’s not bad at all,” said Finn.

“Never stop wishing, my friend. Wishing can be fun, but be careful what you wish for. One day you may get your fins, and if you do, what will be your next wish? If a pair of fish fins is what you want…I believe you will find them. Good luck with your search for Oyster. Perhaps the starfish can point you in the right direction. If you’ll excuse me now I’ve got to go and rest my head.”

“Thank you, Octo,” said Otter.

“Good luck, my friend,” Octo replied before swimming back into the canyon with his eight, rubbery legs wiggling through the water.

“Let’s go,” said Otter. “Starfish lives right over here.”

The two friends steered their way around a nearby reef where Otter spotted Starfish on the sandy bottom. She was skipping rope with a short piece of seaweed.  “Hey Starfish!” Otter yelled playfully, “Are you having fun?”

“Hi, Otter! I sure am. I’m always having fun! That’s the only thing I wish for in this ocean!”

“She’s awfully happy, isn’t she?” asked Finn.

“Yes, she is,” said Otter. Starfish is always happy.” Finn was stunned by the size of Starfish’s smile as she skipped over the short piece of seaweed.

“Starfish, I was wondering if you could do us a favor?” asked Otter.

“Sure.” The starfish kept playing her game, smiling and jumping over the short piece of seaweed.

“This is my friend, Finn. He’s a finless fish and he’s looking for some fish fins.”

“Fins?” asked the starfish. “Why are you looking for fins?”

“We’ve already talked to Octo. He thought you might know where we could find some.”

“I don’t know much about fins, but I can get you the nicest piece of seaweed in town. I grow a garden and every piece of seaweed I grow is perfect for jumping and playing.” The starfish pointed to her garden of seaweed next to the reef. “Do you like to play with seaweed?” the starfish asked.

“I’ve never really tried it before.” Finn replied.

“You really should,” said the Starfish. “One piece of seaweed is all it takes to entertain myself all day long. Playing with seaweed makes me happy and when one piece breaks, I just go to my garden and pick another piece! If you’d like some seaweed then I could certainly make that wish come true.” The starfish continued to jump over a short piece of seaweed as she was talking.

“We don’t need any seaweed,” said Otter. “We need fins. That’s what we’re looking for. We’re looking for fish fins.”

 “Is that all?” answered Starfish. “I’ve never needed any fish fins to make me happy, so I don’t know much about how to find them. Maybe the lobster can help you. He’s right over there.” 

Otter and Finn thanked the starfish then visited the lobster next. He was lying nearby in the sand, motionless on the bottom of the ocean floor. His two large antennae were moving very slowly.

“Pssst. Lobster? Are you sleeping?” asked Otter.

“No! I’m not. I’m wishing. Can’t you tell? I’m always wishing for something.”

“What are you wishing for?” asked Finn

“I’m wishing I wasn’t a lobster!” The lobster was very grumpy.

“That doesn’t sound like much fun,” said Finn.

“Oh no?” said the lobster. “Well, how would you like to be something you wish you weren’t for the rest of your life!”

“That doesn’t sound like much fun either,” said Finn.

“Well, I never wanted to be a lobster. I wanted to be a fish. Maybe then, one day, I could get off the bottom of this sea. I’ll always be unhappy as long as I’m a lobster.”

“I think that’s going to be a very long time,” said Finn.

“Don’t you have to be happy with who you are to be happy at all?” asked Otter.

“Well, I’m grumpy,” said the lobster, “and that’s that. Why are you bothering me anyway?”

“We were looking for a pair of fish fins and Starfish said you might be able to help.”

“Fish fins? Why on Earth would anybody want fish fins?” asked the lobster.

“It’s a long story. We were hoping you could help us.”

“Why would you think a lobster could help you find a pair of fish fins? I’m nothing but the ugliest creature in the sea.”

“You’re not ugly,’ said Finn.You’re just grumpy. If you were happier you’d feel better.”

“Who’s looking for the fish fins, anyway?” Lobster asked.

“They’re for me,” answered Finn.

The lobster scratched his chin with his claw and thought for a moment. “There’s only one place in the ocean where I know to find fish fins. It’s in the deep, blue sea…”

“Is that where Sharky lives?” Finn accidentally swallowed some seawater.

 “I know it’s dangerous but Sharky has a room full of fish fins. It’s risky to go, but nothing in this ocean is easy and danger is sometimes worth the reward.”

Finn was stuttering. “Ot..Ot…Otter?”

“Yes, Finn?”

“Are w…ww..we going to visit Sh..Shar..ky?”

“There’s nothing to worry about Finn,” reassured Otter. “What did I tell you before? I said I would never let anything happen to you. Didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did. Yes, you did.” Finn replied calmly.

“Then nothing will happen to you. Sharky is our last hope. Do you want your fins? Do you want your wish to come true?”

“I think so,” thought Finn.

“Well then, let’s go!” Otter spun around, quickly nipped Finn between his mouth, and began swimming deep into the middle of the ocean’s blue water.

Otter hadn’t seen Sharky for some time and wondered if any other less-friendly fish were lurking nearby. He didn’t mention these thoughts to Finn, as Finn was already nervous about becoming Sharky’s latest meal. Finn had never been in these waters. The deep sea was where the big fish lived capable of eating lightning bolts with a snap of their jaws. This is where Finn had never been, nor where he ever cared to return.

“Are we almost there?” asked Finn.

“Almost...” Otter spotted Sharky through the murky, blue water. “There he is!” Finn quickly shut his eyes, wondering if he would ever open them again. Sharky was swimming inside of an underwater shack of bones called “The House of Fins.”

“Hey, Sharky!” Otter yelled.

“Who’s there?” replied the shark.

“It’s me, Otter!”

“Is anybody with you?” The great white shark did not like uninvited guests.

“Well, that’s why I’m here. I have a friend with me.” Finn was hiding behind Otter.

“You know I don’t like surprises. Why are you here?” asked the shark.

“I have a question for you,” said Otter.

“Speak,” insisted the shark. Now, even Otter was becoming a little nervous.

“I have a friend here who is a finless fish and I was wondering if you had any fins for him.”

The great white shark was a bit confused with the request. “Fins? Of course! I have fins from every fish in the sea! I’ve collected quite a few over the years. Why? Where is your friend?” Otter nudged Finn whose eyes were still scared shut.

            “Come on, Finn. He wants to see you. It’s either now or never.” Finn wasn’t budging. “I’m sorry, Finn, but one day you’ll thank me.” Otter shoved his friend out in front of the great white shark.

            “Hmmm. Very interesting,” said the shark. “You’re a small, finless fish, aren’t you?”

            “Y..Y..Yes, I am,” said Finn. “A very, very s..s..small finless fish not worth eating at all.”

            “I can eat anything I want including your friend,” shouted the shark. “But you are a very lucky finless fish because I already ate, so you can relax.” Finn tried to relax, but his slender body was too tense.

            “Thank you for not eating me,” was the only thing Finn could think of to say.

            “You’re welcome.  Now, answer me this one question,” said the shark. “Why do you want a pair of fish fins?”

            Finn thought for a moment then he answered. “I w..would like to learn how to s..swim.”

“That’s very interesting,” said the shark as he kept swimming closer to Finn inspecting his long, slender body. Then he asked, “Do you even know who you really are? Have you ever even wondered who you really are?”

“I think I’m Finn…the finless fish?” Finn was very nervous. He thought this might be a trick question.

“That may be true. Your name may be ‘Finn,’” said the shark, “but who you really are is an eel! You’re not a fish at all! You’re an eel! That’s why you don’t have any fish fins.”

“An eel?” asked Finn.

“Yes! There isn’t a fish fin in this entire ocean that will fit you!”

“There isn’t?” Finn was sad, and a little upset.

“No, there isn’t,” said the shark.

“Then how am I supposed to swim?” Finn was confused and Sharky was losing his patience.

“You’re making me very angry,” said the shark, “and when I get angry, I get very hungry. I get so hungry… I could eat an Otter!”

“Oh, no, no, no, no, please,” begged Finn. “Please don’t eat my friend, Otter. It’s my fault why we’re here. It’s all my fault. We visited Octo, Starfish and Lobster and you were our last hope. Please don’t hurt us. I never knew I was an eel. That’s fine. That’s actually more than fine. This is all my fault. We..w..we can leave now.”

“Be quiet! I’ll eat anything I want!”  Sharky was licking his lips and searching for Finn’s furried friend… but Otter had vanished!

“Where is he? Where did he go! Where did that friend of yours go?” As the shark swam around in circles looking for Otter, Finn froze with fear after realizing he was suddenly alone.

“Does that mean you’re going to eat me instead?” he asked. Finn was very, very certain the end was near.

“I haven’t decided yet.” Just then, Otter returned to Finn’s side.

“Sorry about that,” Otter apologized. “I almost ran out of air. I can only hold my breath for so long.”

“Otter, we gotta get out of here! Sharky said he wants to eat you!”

“Enough!” yelled the shark. “I’ll eat both of you right now! So, tell me why I shouldn’t gobble you both up right now? I told you who you were, Mr. Finless Fish. That’s a very nice thing for me to do. So, now, what will you give me as a reward?” The Shark grinned as Finn looked into Otter’s eyes for what he thought was the last time.

“I’m sorry I brought you here, Otter.”

“We tried to find your fins, Finn. I’m sorry your wish didn’t come true. But if I had to help you again… I would. There’s nothing to be scared about.” Otter swallowed some seawater and prepared for the worst. The shark was licking his lips and sharpening his teeth with his tongue. Then, just as Sharky was preparing to swallow them both, a voice called out from the sandy bottom. “Sharky, will you please stop showing off! Leave those two alone!” Sharky was shocked to see Oyster uncovering herself from beneath the sandy bottom.

“It’s Oyster!” Otter cried out. He grabbed Finn between his mouth and dashed towards the bottom of the sea.

 “Finn,” said the oyster, “I have something very special that I would like to share with you. It may not be the fish fins you are looking for, but it can make all of your wishes come true.”

“Really?” asked Finn. He listened as Oyster spoke gentle, soft words.

“What I am about to show you is the most beautiful treasure in all of the ocean and can make all of your dreams come true.” The oyster carefully opened her shell and inside was a small, shiny pearl gleaming under the ocean water. Finn saw his own reflection on the pearl.

            “Hey, that’s me!” exclaimed Finn.

            “Yes it is,” the oyster giggled. “Only you can make your wishes come true.”

“But how can I swim without any fins?”

            “You don’t need fish fins to swim,” said Oyster.

“I don’t?” Finn was stumped then Sharky yelled down from above.

 “Wiggle your body and move your tail back and forthl! Do I have to tell you everything?”

Oyster laughed loudly. “Thank you, Sharky. He’s a big show-off, Finn. Don’t let Sharky scare you. If you want to do anything, Finn, you just have to practice.” Finn began wiggling his tail and moving his body back and forth. In just a few seconds Finn was surprised to find that he was learning to swim.

            “Hey, Otter! Look at me! Look at me! I’m swimming! I’m swimming! I’m swimming! Thank you, Oyster. Thank you, Sharky.” Finn swam around in playful circles in the water before visiting Lobster, Starfish and Octo to thank them for their help along the way. “Look at me! Look at me! I can swim!” Finn and Otter swam playfully out to sea and the finless fish finally was indeed the happiest “fish” in the sea.