A cartoon fantasy set in an enchanted pond, where fish have very unusual problems.
Wesley had a cheerful disposition, bright orange scales and an unfortunate habit of arriving at every destination sideways. His pond-mates called him the floundering fish. He would have preferred a nickname that involved less commentary on his steering.
No matter how hard he tried, Wesley always seemed to be floundering in the water. He would wiggle and squirm, trying to stay afloat, but would inevitably end up tumbling to the bottom of the pond. The other koi would laugh and tease him, calling him the "floundering fish."
Wesley was determined to learn to swim like the other koi. He would practice day and night, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get the hang of it. One day, in a fit of frustration, Wesley swam straight into a rock and knocked himself out.
When he came to, the other koi had gathered around him in a sheltered patch of water. “Are you okay?” they asked. Wesley took a moment to decide which way was up.
Wesley groggily replied, "I think I need a different approach."
So Wesley tried a new tactic - he decided to ask for help. He went to the wise old turtle who lived in the pond and begged for his assistance. The turtle agreed to help Wesley, but warned him that learning to swim would take time and patience.
For weeks, the turtle gave Wesley lessons, teaching him how to use his fins and balance his body. Wesley practiced diligently, day after day, and slowly but surely, he began to improve. The other koi were amazed - they had never seen a fish learn to swim so well!
Once he could swim comfortably, Wesley discovered a new nuisance: the pond’s mischievous cartoon water bugs. They nipped at his fins whenever he passed. Apparently, improved steering had not improved their manners.
In desperation, Wesley jumped onto a flat rock. The bugs scattered. So did his confidence. The turtle hurried over and returned him to the sheltered water, where his friends were waiting.
The other koi rushed over to him, worried. "What happened?" they asked.
"I couldn't take it anymore," Wesley replied. "I needed a break from all those buggy bites."
The others laughed at his joke, then helped him find a quiet swimming route away from the bugs. Wesley still had awkward moments, but he no longer had to handle every problem alone. “Floundering fish,” he said, “with excellent support staff.”
Read Another Story
Browse more koi short stories or visit the koi humor collection.