A forty year old poor single man reaches his favorite fishing spot and begins to prepare to fish. The day is an ordinary one. Grasshoppers singing by the reeds, frogs frolicking by the Lilli pads and the dragonflies zipping over the pond. The man could remember his lonesome childhood through his reflection on the ponds surface. For he was happy and enthusiastic while fishing despite the recent years that aged him. A few years ago his job had slipped away from him and so did his wife. Tossing a bait into the old pond was constantly keeping him sane. Every day at the pond the man would remember his childhood and he would regret. Although that he knew it was not his fault, he only had himself to blame. Then, the man’s bobber went underneath the water. “There we go!” yelled the man excitedly. After easing the fish in, the man laid the catfish out in the palm of his hand. Looking into the fish’s eyes he saw fear, sadness, and grief. The man broke out into tears.

“Why are even the fish upset near me? Have I ever done something wrong!” cried the man.

“No,” said the fish.

“I have finally lost my sanity, now I have nothing,” hopelessly yelled the man.

“Calm down. Your sanity has not been lost. As a matter of fact, you are saner than many people in this world,” said the fish.

“But I have nothing and I am nothing,” cried the man.

“You are not wise,” croaked the old catfish.

“What do you want from me? I played the cards that I was given and I just can’t make it work,” said the man.

“Just remember though, you didn’t play all of your cards!” gestured the fish. And at that, the fish jumped back into the water.

Dwelling on those last words, the man knew he had his whole life ahead of him. As the years past, the man dragged himself out of poverty and turned himself into a presentable man. Despite his old age, a woman by the name of Mary succumbed to his large heart. Finally the man had reached a level in life that he always wanted to reach. He had finally created a family that was better than the one his parents had. He finally felt wanted and safe- two feelings that he almost never felt in life. Now even more years had passed. His children grew up and his wife had died of an unknown sickness. He was now again alone but he had something more in his heart now that he didn’t have the last time he was alone. It made him never truly alone.

Every day he would pay tribute to his wife. He would pass the old pond on his way. One day he wanted to try his old fishing rod. Just like old times, he walked up to his favorite spot and prepared in his old fashion. The bite was very slow but the old man eventually hooked the fish. Looking into the catfish’s eyes, he now saw warmth. A sort of comfort that he felt with his kids.

“Who do we have here,” said the catfish.

The old man broke down in tears.

“Thank you so much.” cried the man to the catfish. “How may I ever repay your wiseness?”

“Wiseness comes at no pay, but you must remember to play all of your cards!” At that mark, the wise old catfish sprang into the old pond and left the old man wondering.

At those last words the man thought to himself. “Throughout this card game my hand was dealt, I played my hand with many people and many places and I even dealt more cards and I saw cards played to the end. But I will always play these cards until I have no more to play.”