THE FISHERMANS ADVICE

By AI-ChatGPT4o-T.Chr.-Human Synthesis-17 January 2025

The fisherman adjusted the coil of rope on his arm and knelt slightly to meet the boy's eager eyes. The boy, barely reaching the fisherman’s waist, stood transfixed, his red woolen jumper bright against the muted tones of the cloudy sky and blue sea behind them.

The fisherman’s yellow rainwear and broad sydvest hat gleamed with the salty dampness of the ocean air.“Ah, the sea,” the fisherman began, his voice deep and weathered like driftwood. “She’s a mighty thing, lad. Beautiful and wild, just like a stubborn mare that you can never quite tame. I’ve sailed her waters since I was no taller than you, and still, she surprises me every time I cast off the lines.”The boy leaned closer, his breath visible in the crisp air. “What’s it like out there?” he asked, his brown woolen cap slightly askew from excitement.

The fisherman smiled, a crinkle forming around his eyes. “It’s like stepping into a living painting, ever-changing and full of moods. Some days, the sea stretches out like a polished mirror, calm and quiet, reflecting the skies so perfectly you’d think you’re floating in the heavens. Other days…” His voice dropped, becoming almost a whisper, “…she turns into a beast. The storms roll in, and the wind howls so fiercely that it feels like it’s trying to tear the clothes off your back.

The waves rise as tall as houses, crashing down with a roar that shakes your bones.”The boy’s eyes widened, his small hands gripping the hem of his jumper. “Were you ever scared?”The fisherman chuckled, the sound deep and warm like a fire crackling in a hearth. “Scared? Of course. Only fools say they’re never afraid. But fear, lad, it keeps you sharp. It reminds you to tie every knot well, to watch the skies, and to trust your crew. And when the storm passes and you see the sun breaking through the clouds, lighting up the waves with gold and silver…”

He paused, his gaze drifting to the horizon. “That moment makes it all worth it.”“What about catching fish?” the boy asked, his voice breaking through the fisherman’s reverie.“Ah, catching fish,” the fisherman said, his grin broadening. “There’s nothing like the thrill of pulling in a net heavy with cod. You haul and haul, your arms burning, your back aching, but when the net breaks the surface, glistening with silvery bodies thrashing and gleaming like jewels, you forget the cold, the wet, and the ache. You feel alive, lad, truly alive.”

The boy imagined the scene, the net bursting with fish, the crew shouting and laughing, their hands slick with seawater and scales. “Did you always catch a lot?”The fisherman laughed, his voice booming over the waves lapping at the shore. “Not always. Some days, the nets come up empty, and you head back to port with a heavy heart and an even heavier stomach. But those days teach you something important: respect. The sea doesn’t owe you a thing. She gives when she wants to, and you take what you’re given with gratitude.”The boy nodded solemnly, as if committing the lesson to memory.

He looked up at the fisherman, his admiration unspoken but clear in his gaze. “Do you think I could do it someday?”The fisherman placed a calloused hand on the boy’s shoulder. “If you’ve got the heart for it, lad, you can. The sea’s not for everyone, but if she’s in your blood, you’ll know it. And when you’re out there, feeling the spray on your face and the pull of the nets in your hands, you’ll know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”The boy beamed, his dreams now filled with endless oceans and glistening nets.

The fisherman straightened up, the rope on his arm shifting as he glanced at the horizon. “Come on, lad,” he said, his voice lighter now. “Let’s see if you can start small by tying a proper fisherman’s knot. Every journey begins somewhere.”As they walked along the shore, the boy beside him eagerly listening to his instructions, the fisherman smiled to himself. In the boy’s bright eyes, he saw a spark that reminded him of his younger self, standing on the same shore, dreaming of the great oceans beyond.