No Gold, No Fish, Just Follow Me

Prompt: Write a story about two rivals/enemies forced to work together.

No Gold, No Fish Just Follow Me

All I do every day is fish. I just love to fish. As you can guess it is my livelihood. Tilapia is my mainstay catch. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner, tilapia is my main entrée. Like any business, it requires an investment of time, energy and money. My time is generally my own except when my mother-in-law demands some of it to do chores. I guess she has a right since my wife, and I invited her to live with us. We created the situation and the fallout is she gets to complain. Then she eats whatever I catch.

“Simon, when are you going to get me something else to eat other than tilapia? It’s the same ole fish time after time. I am getting tired of it and you are being so complacent about it,” she would sarcastically inquire of me.

“Well as soon as the tilapia swim the other way and let other fish jump into the nets, you’ll get something different for supper,” I snickered.

Time and again our banter would turn a bit heated. In a raspy voice she said, “Go bathe yourself. You smell of dead fish! Put yourself to good use and clean the fish. I guess I’ll have to find another way to prepare it so our tongues don’t get numb from the same old thing. I just don’t know what my daughter sees in you!”

Meanwhile, my darling wife kept her distance smiling with her pearly white teeth at the both of us. She whispered, “I love you more than anything, my dear Simon! I will never grow weary of having you as my husband. I will follow you wherever you may go.” She knew exactly what to say when I needed her the most.

As to the energy levels put into my business, I am usually exhausted by the end of the day. I have no time or energy for other interests outside of loving my wife. There are days, however, when I cannot make it home because the fish decide to play hide and seek. My fishing trips out in the open waters are grueling and labor intensive. When that happens, I lose track of time. My brother Andy would help me out on those labor-intensive days which makes things a whole lot easier. Nonetheless, my heart would grieve for the warm embrace of my faithful, beautiful wife.

Despite my rugged livelihood, I wouldn’t change it for all the gold coins in the government’s treasure chests. Speaking of which, here comes the conniving, no-good taxman. I see him often at the docks taking stock of the size of our catch. He would be conducting his inventory of the numbers of fish coming out of our nets.I could almost see through his puny head the workings of his brain assessing the government’s taxes on my hard-earned catch. The man to me seemed arrogant, condescending and unfriendly. I never caught a break from the guy! Today’s catch was very small, and I might just barely make the tax payment with little remaining for my family. I could see the man, who was called Levi, talking to himself. I could not make out what he was whispering.

“I love collecting other people’s money, but I really detest being on the docks. Fishing is a filthy way to make a living. I feel dirty once I leave the docks. But because no other taxman wants to venture down here, I can assess these fish mongers’ higher tax rates. The government gets its due and I get a little extra for my efforts. This man, Simon, is not a pleasant fellow. He’s rude and uncooperative. I’ll just have to be shrewd with him. This is a part of my job I am really good at. I could sweet talk people forever-manipulating them to give me their money.”

As he approached, he said, “Hello Simon. I see that this morning’s catch was a little light. The fish are small in size. Your net is torn too. I’ll give you a break. You pay me a small stipend now and I’ll collect the remaining amount on this load with next week’s catch. But I must add on a small interest payment. What do you say? I always want to be fair.”

I tersely said, “You are a scoundrel! You are a manipulator of the government’s money! Why should I pay you? You are the only taxman I ever see on the docks. Who is going to come after me? Levi, go back to the hole you came from!”

Taken aback, Levi angrily responded, “Don’t push me, Simon. I’ll have you thrown in jail for tax evasion and disrespecting the government. Pay me the stipend and I will be on my way. I’ll see you next week to collect the outstanding taxes and an interest payment.”

I handed over the tax stipend and growled at him as Levi left.

The sun was just above the horizon when Andy came to the dock to help me clean and cart the fish to the market. He had a look of utter peace upon his face. It irritated me to see him so relaxed and content. I nastily said,

“Well, you must have had too much wine to feel so giddy. It’s like you have no care in the world. Come help me cart the fish to the market before it closes down. I am in no mood for your lightheartedness.”

“So, you must have paid the taxman today,” he said. “I can tell you get all out of sorts. Simon, know this, as your brother, I would never steer you wrong. Today, I met a man whose words were inspiring and hopeful about the future of this country and its people. I want you to hear what was said firsthand. Please join me tomorrow.”

“Andy, I have little time for strangers who think they are modern day prophets forecasting the future! They are nothing more than charlatans out to deceive and beg for my money. This is not the day to ask me for such a favor. Did that evil taxman, Matthew, put you up to this?” I vehemently demanded.

“No, Simon. I need you to trust me.” We walked home in silence carrying the half-filled crates.

I met up with Andy the next day to see this man. He was speaking to a small crowd gathered on a hill outside the city limits. He looked unassuming. Nothing seemed special about his appearance. He talked a lot. I really did not pay much attention. I would say I was unimpressed. So, Andy and I headed back to my house with nothing to eat for dinner. My mother-in-law would have much to say about that.

On the way back home, Andy again seemed overwhelmed by the man’s words. He even called the charlatan a teacher and healer. Andy said he saw the healing of the sick. I shook my head in disbelief.

I was up early the next morning mending my nets with Andy when we saw him walking along the shore. At first, I paid no attention. Then we made eye contact. He simply said,

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” (1)

I felt such an overwhelming sense of peace. Andy and I dropped our nets and immediately began to walk with him. We walked in silence meeting up with two other fishermen, Jim and John.

The desire to follow Him was immense and overpowering. He went all over the town and the surrounding neighborhoods preaching, prophesizing about the future, and healing the sick. As we walked together, I received word that my mother-in-law had been taken ill with a high fever. My heart sank and I was deeply troubled. Despite my earlier doubts about his abilities, I sheepishly asked if he could tend to her. When we arrived at my house, my mother-in-law was lying in a bed. The healer touched her hand and the fever left her.I could tell she was well because she immediately complained to me and then served us my favorite food, tilapia! This man was a miracle worker!

The next day the healer, Andy, and I passed by the tax office where Levi was sitting. The healer motioned to him to come forward saying “Follow Me.” (2)

Levi immediately stood up and followed along with us. I was aghast by this occurrence. I looked at Levi directly into his eyes. I saw the peace and joy that I was feeling. We both knew that this Man was someone incredibly special. It was at that moment any hostility, rivalry, and mistrust dissolved away between the two of us. Now he and I were beckoned to work together with this Man in peace and harmony. The animosity we had toward each other was cast into the sea. I would no longer collect fish in my nets; Levi would no longer collect gold for the government. Together we would follow this Man who others were also calling the: “Chosen One.”

Levi invited all of us including other tax collectors, the poor and criminals to join us for a meal at his house. After the meal, Levi, Andy, Jim, John, many others and I continued to follow him throughout the land. The trust and friendship between Levi and myself resembled the closeness I have with Andy. We became brothers as we followed the Man whom we now would call our Lord and Master, Jesus.

-END-

Matthew 4:18-20, NKJV

Matthew 9:9b, NKJV

NKJV=New King James Version

Author: Pete Gautchier

Acknowledgement: Reedsyprompts.com