14
Catch of the Day

Tom Jenkins enjoyed fishing and spent most of his time by the river.

He enjoyed being in the fresh air and being on his own. There was no one to trouble him and the time passed happily for him.

Unfortunately, he was not a very good fisherman. He either fished in the wrong place, used the wrong bait or pulled in his line too quickly. Whatever the reason, he never caught anything big enough to eat.

However, he did not like to admit this to his wife. He thought she would complain if she knew he was wasting his time. She would try to stop him from going fishing. She might even make him take her shopping!

It was very important to Tom, therefore, that she thought that he was a good fisherman.

For this reason, on the way home from the river he always visited the local fish shop and bought something. Then he told his wife he had caught it and they had a good fish for their dinner.

One evening, after yet, another day's unsuccessful fishing, Tom stopped at the fish shop as usual on his way home.

“I'll have three perch please, ”he said to the shopkeeper.

“And throw them to me, as usual, so I can tell my wife I caught them.”

The shopkeeper laughed and said, “I suggest you take a nice salmon instead.”

“Oh why? ” Tom asked.

“Your wife came in an hour ago and said, ‘When Tom comes in, make sure he ‘catches' a salmon.'”