THE SEA CREATURE OF MARIGOLD BAY

 

by

 

BRADLEY W. SIMPSON

 

     Long ago, in the far away kingdom of Marigold, there was a tailor named Goodwin who lived alone in a small shack near the bay.  He was a good-hearted man, and hard working, but times were hard for everyone in Marigold Bay, and his trade suffered because of it.  

     Since money was scarce, Goodwin had to find other ways to feed himself.  For him, it meant fishing in the sea.  There was a deep lagoon not far from his shack.  Other people along the bay were afraid to go near the lagoon, for there were tales of evil sea spirits living in the waters.  But Goodwin was not afraid, and he fished in the lagoon nearly everyday.

     One afternoon, when business was particularly slow, Goodwin took his net down to the salt-water lagoon to catch his supper.  He had caught several small fish, and was about to cast his net out one last time, when suddenly, a gigantic sea creature covered in kelp, rose out of the lagoon.  Goodwin was surprised to say the least, and he quickly took up his spear to plunge it into the long, snake-like neck of the hideous sea beast.  But the creature was timid, and gently laid its head upon the sandy shore.

     “Spare my life, dear friend,” spoke the sea creature in a voice soft as honey.  “I’ve only come in search of food.  Can you spare one of the fish you just caught?”  

     Goodwin was indeed surprised to hear the creature speak, but he kindly tossed over a fish, which the creature swallowed whole, for its mouth was the size of a large cave.

     “I am the creature of Marigold Bay,” said the sea creature.  “Since you have been kind to me, and gave to me freely, I will grant you any wish you desire.  Now trust me, and step into my mouth and make a wish.”  So saying, the creature opened his great mouth wide.

     You might well imagine that Goodwin was, at first, a little reluctant to step into the mouth of such a hideous monster.  Especially when he saw how large and sharp the creature’s teeth were.  But the creature had spoken kindly, and Goodwin trusted it.  So he stepped inside the giant mouth, and thought for something to wish.

     “I wish for enough silver to fix the hole in my roof so that it won’t leak when it rains this winter,” wished Goodwin.  At once, the creature closed its mouth and dived deep into the sea.  As it swam, it said:

               I am the creature of Marigold Bay,

              I will grant what you wish for, whatever you may.

A moment later, it reached a large coral reef where a merchant ship had sunk many years before.  The creature swam through the wreckage, pausing long enough to swallow a chest of silver coins.  Then it deposited Goodwin back upon the shore.

     “Take all that you want as reward for your kindness,” said the sea creature.  Goodwin opened the large chest, but took only one small bag of silver, and thanking the creature, he turned and went home.

     With the silver, Goodwin had his roof repaired, and he had enough left over to buy a supply of bread and potatoes in the village market.  But his tailoring business was still slow, therefore, he still had to fish for his food.

     One afternoon, when he was pulling in his net after a fruitful fishing trip, the sea creature reappeared.  “Please, sir,” said the creature, “Can you spare one fish for me.  I am hungry.”

     Goodwin tossed the creature a fish, which it devoured right away.  “You have been kind to me once again, and so I shall grant you any wish you desire.  Step into my mouth and make a wish.”

     As before, Goodwin obeyed the creature, and walked right into its open mouth.  He had to think for a moment for what to wish.  Finally, he said, “I wish for enough gold to feed all the hungry children in the village, for times are hard.”

     No sooner had the words left his tongue, than the sea creature closed his mouth and sank deep into the sea.  As it descended, it said:

               I am the creature of Marigold Bay,

               I will grant what you wish for, whatever you may.

     A moment later, the creature had reached an underwater ridge where a schooner had sunk.  It swam through the wreckage and swallowed a large wooden treasure trunk.  Then he resurfaced and spat Goodwin back onto the shore.  “Take all of the gold you want, for you have been kind to me,” said the creature, and it disappeared under the waves.

     That same day, Goodwin went throughout the village giving gold to the poor so that they might have money for food and clothes.  Of all this gold, he kept none for himself, but gave it all away gladly out of the kindness of his heart.

     Now it happened that a neighbor of Goodwin’s saw this good deed and became very envious.  “How is it that Goodwin is so well-to-do, suddenly,” the wicked-hearted neighbor wondered.  “His trade is faring no better than mine, yet he still has gold to waste!”  So he decided he would watch Goodwin and learn his secret.

     The next week, Goodwin went back to the lagoon to fish.  Just as before, the sea creature rose out of the lagoon and implored Goodwin for a fish to eat.  Goodwin gave to the creature, and the creature granted him one wish in return.  As before, Goodwin stepped into the creature’s mouth.  This time he wished for emeralds and precious stones so that he could trade them at market for medicine and warm blankets to give to the children of the orphanage.  The creature closed his mouth and disappeared into the sea saying,

               I am the creature of Marigold Bay,

               I will grant what you wish for, whatever you may.

 

      Now all of this, the wicked neighbor witnessed, for he had followed Goodwin to the lagoon and hidden behind a dune.  He was still watching when the creature resurfaced, and spat Goodwin upon the shore.  Goodwin took a sack of precious stones from the creature’s mouth, thanked the gentle sea creature, and headed for home.

     “So that’s the old dog’s trick, is it?”  thought the neighbor, and he sneaked back home to his own house.  But that night, he could not sleep.  He tossed and turned all night long, thinking about Goodwin’s gold and all the precious stones he had been rewarded. 

     “Why should Goodwin get along so well?” he thought bitterly.  “He is no better than me.  I will visit the sea creature myself, and I will soon be a rich man!”

     Early the next morning, the greedy neighbor hurried down to the lagoon.  He did not bother fishing, but just splashed his net into the edge of the water for a while.  He had brought with him for bait a fish he had bought from market, and he placed it near the water’s edge.  For a long time he waited, and he grew more and more impatient.

     At last, the water parted in a mighty wave and the giant sea creature appeared before the neighbor.  “Took you long enough, didn’t it,” the neighbor grumbled.  “This is for you,” and he flung the foul-smelling fish at the creature.  The creature did not eat it, but stared hard at him.

     “Not hungry?” the neighbor scorned.  “Well, it makes no difference to me whether you eat it, or not.  But you still owe me a wish.”  He rapped the sea creature’s enormous mouth with a stick.  “Now open up.”  

     The creature obeyed, and opened its mouth wide, and the neighbor climbed inside.  “Now, listen up.  I wish for ten sacks of silver.  No, make that GOLD!  Ten sacks of GOLD!”

     The sea creature shut its mouth tight, and began to swim.  It swam and swam, and after a while, the neighbor began to feel uncomfortable.  For it was very dark inside the creature, and he could not even see his own hand in front of his face.

     “Look here, fish!  You’re taking a little long, aren’t you?  You’re the creature of Marigold Bay, and you’ll grant what I wish for, whatever I may!” called the neighbor. 

     But the creature said nothing. 

     “Look here, I say!”  yelled the neighbor.  “You’re the creature of Marigold Bay, and you’ll grant my wish TODAY!”

     Then the sea creature finally spoke and said:

     “The creature of Marigold Bay, may grant any wish you say.  But I, my friend, am a creature from ANOTHER bay!”  And with that, the creature swallowed the neighbor into its stomach, and dived into the great depths of the sea.  The wicked neighbor was never seen again.

     As for Goodwin, he continued to work hard and to treat the people of Marigold Bay with kindness.  In time, his little business turned around, and he became a very prosperous tailor who was well loved by all the villagers.  Goodwin never went to fish in the lagoon again, but he could often be seen sitting on the shore and talking to the waves, with a wistful look in his eyes.