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December 20 and 27, 2007 - Christmas with the fishes16A • The Suffolk Times • December 20 and 27, 2007 Christmas with the fishes This Christmas story is about a small boy who had an unbelievable experi- ence at Christmastime. It had snowed during the night, and when breakfast was over the boy couldn't wait to get out and explore the new world of won- der that had everything blanketed in white. He had to go down and see his old friend, the fisherman, who lived down by the creek. Walking in the snow was so much fun he almost went past where the old fisherman lived. When he got there he was invited in. How warm FOCUS and cozy the shack was. The ON fisherman asked the boy if he NATURE had ever heard b Paul the story about Y the Christmas Stoutenbuf'gh party the fish had every year. The boy said no, so the fisherman started to tell the boy one of the strangest tales he had ever heard. He told a tale you wouldn't believe about the fish — all kinds of fish — that were planning a Christmas party right in their cove. The boy's head spun and the more it spun the wilder the fisherman's tale became. On the way home and all that day the boy wondered how fish could possibly have a Christmas party under water. Even at dinner, the tale the fisherman told kept spinning around in his head. It was still spinning around when he went to bed and drifted off to dreaniland, where anything can happen and won- drous tales sometimes come true. It all started with the fish hanging around discussing the things that had to be done to make the party a suc- cess Mr. Sea Horse was put in charge of making things go right. He was the most reliable and he didn't swot around like most of the other fish. He calmly clung to a piece of seaweed with his tail and called out instructions to everyone. Someone said it would be dark at night so could they invite a whole bunch of moon jellies into provide their phosphorescent light. It was a kind of greenish light but no one minded that. Now they had lights Ms Scallop was given the job of staying at the entrance to the party, where all her little bright eyes would beckon those who were headed for the party. "That's another thing taken care W* said Mr. Sea Horse. "Now what's next? Jellyfish? Ali, yes" At first it was decided not to let the jellyfish come to the parry. But after a lot of discus- sion, they were allowed to come if they would turn off their stingers — so all night everyone was able to enjoy the graceful pulsations of their dance. Shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters and others were asked to help keep the water crystal clear around the work area. The reason the shellfish were chosen for that job was that they are designed to filter out all the stuff that makes the water cloudy. "Now let's see, we definitely need some kind of security, for there are always those who get out of hand and have to be dealt with, and that's where I come in," said Sharky the shark. "I'll bite their tail off if they don't behave!" That sort of cooled a lot of the fish down, but then, deep down, everyone Suttolk Times photo by Paul Sloulenburgh An old fisherman lived in this shack by the creek. Strange and wonderful stories were told there. Every year there Is a wreath on the door that is a welcome sign to passersby. Sutlolk Times photos by Christopher Papam Sea horses don't swim like most fish; they remain upright and hold onto something with their tail so the cur- rents can't carry them about. The male takes over the duties of carrying the eggs and delivers the young. Above right: If you search the water's edge you can find some beautiful jingle shells and scallop shells that make wonderful Christmas tree or- naments. Here is a live scallop as it pumps along the bottom to feed. See Dolphins have a brain almost as large as a human's. They are smart and alert how beautiful it is with all its bright and are able to be trained. Originally they were quite common in our local eyes surrounding the shell. waters but now they are only seen on occasion. knew most of Sharky's talk was just that — a lot of talk. The sea ducks were invited to the party, but they were always moving about, so you really couldn't count on them helping with anything. A small group of porpoises was told, -There's an old sunken tree that's been lying underwater for years See if you can get some help to get it to stand up straight to use for our Christmas tree." "No problem," they said, and off they went. The porpoises knew exactly where to get help; they're real smart. They got hold of the biggest lobster in the cove. With his big claw and all those legs, he said, he could hold the tree up straight as long as they wanted. Meantime, the group asked the por- poises if they could "collect some jingle shells, some colorful scallop shells and long pieces of kelp to decorate the tree." With this all going on, there'd be a lot of trash and debris drifting around. They would call in Mr. and Mrs Whelk, with their big shells; they'd be able to clean up things in no tire. The mud snails also had an idea. They would attach themselves to each other and make a long string of snails to help decorate the tree. Things were beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the little boy's dream continued. By now all the fish in the area were bringing in food and making plans for the entertainment to be ready for the big celebration, while others were helping to decorate the tree and doing odd jobs that Mr. Sea Horse wanted done. With all that was going on, they didn't notice the diamondback terra- pins putting their noses in around the food trays They, like the eels, had been sleeping the winter away until they heard all the noise and commotion and came to see what was going on. When the eels came out of their win- ter holes, they danced upright on their tails Everyone applauded, it was so unusual. Mr. and Mrs. Flounder danced ever so gracefully, sliding across the floor and then throwing sand over themselves as they dipped and glided along the bottom. The only one who just wouldn't get into the spirit of Christmas was old Grumpy, the toadfish. He refused to leave the old tin can he called home. He just lay there and pouted. No one crashed the party and most were well behaved, so Mr. Sharky was able to join the celebration. The climax of the evening came as they all gath- ered around the beautifully decorated tree and sang Christmas carols and ended the evening by all calling out, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!„ When the little boy woke the next morning his head was full of the fishes' Christmas party. He didn't dare tell his father about his dream because he knew he wouldn't believe it. He de- cided to keep it to himself, as his own Christmas secret, or he might just share it with the old fisherman because he would be the only one who would be- lieve him. What do you think he did? The Suffolk Times • December 20 and 27, 2007 LQhristmas ffwi"th ta fishe � T f .'Gtr •. -.« N. V — ..LIN 1 Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenbu old fisherman lived in this shack by the creek. Strange and wonderful stories were told there. Every year there reath on the door that is a welcome sign to passersby. This Christmas story is about a small )oy who had an unbelievable experi- ;nce at Christmastime. It had snowed luring the night, and when breakfast was over the boy couldn't wait to get )ut and explore the new world of won ler that had everything blanketed in white. He had to go down and see his )ld friend, the fisherman, who lived sown by the creek. Walking in the ;now was so much fun he almost went past where the old fisherman lived. When he got there he was invited in. How warm FOCUS and cozy the shack was. The O N fisherman asked the boy if he NATURE had ever heard the story about by Paul the Christmas Stoutenburgh party the fish had every year. The boy said no, so the fisherman started to tell the boy one of the strangest tales he had ever heard. He told a tale you wouldn't believe about the fish — all kinds of fish — that were planning a Christmas party right in their cove. The boy's head spun and the more it spun the wilder the fisherman's tale became. On the way home and all that day the boy wondered how fish could possibly have a Christmas party under water. Even at dinner, the tale the fisherman told kept spinning around in his head. It was still spinning around when he went to bed and drifted off to dreamland, wnere anyLnmg can nappen ana won- drous tales sometimes come true. It all started with the fish hanging around discussing the things that had to be done to make the party a suc- cess. Mr. Sea Horse was put in charge of making things go right. He was the most reliable and he didn't scoot around like most of the other fish. He calmly clung to a piece of seaweed wit his tail and called out instructions to Someone said it would be dark at night so could they invite a whole bunch of moon jellies in to provide their phosphorescent light. It was it kind of greenish light but no one minded that. Now they had lights. Ms. Scallop was given the job of staying at the entrance to the party, where all her little bright eyes would beckon those who were headed for the party. "That's another thing taken care of," said Mr. Sea Horse. "Now what's next? Jellyfish? Ah, yes." At first it was decided not to let the jellyfish come to the party. But after a lot of discus- sion, they were allowed to come if they would turn off their stingers — so all night everyone was able to enjoy the graceful pulsations of their dance. Shellfish like clams, mussels, oysters and others were asked to help keep the water crystal clear around the work area. The reason the shellfish were chosen for that job was that they are designed to filter out all the stuff that makes the water cloudy. Suffolk Times photos by Christopher Paparo horses don't swim like most fish; remain upright and hold onto iething with their tail so the cur - :s can't carry them about. The e takes over the duties of carrying eggs and delivers the voung. "Now let's see, we definitely need some kind of security, for there are always those who get out of hand and have to be dealt with, and that's where I come in," said Sharky the shark. "I'll bite their tail off if they don't behave!' That sort of cooled a lot of the fish down, but then, deep down, everyone Fabout, ost of Sharky's talk was just a lot of talk. sea ducks were invited to the ut they were always moving so you really couldn't count on elping with anythin g. all group of porpoises was told, e's an old sunken tree that's bees nderwater for years. See if you t some help to get it to stand up t to use for our Christmas tree." 0 --No problem," they said, and off they went. The porpoises knew exactly where to get help; they're real smart. They got hold of the biggest lobster m the cove. With his big claw and all those legs, he said, he could hold the tree up straight as long as they wanted. Meantime, the group asked the por- poises if they could "collect some jingle shells, some colorful scallop shells and long pieces of kelp to decorate the tree." With this all going on, there'd be a lot of trash and debris drifting around. They would call in Mr. and Mrs. Whelk, with their big shells; thev'd be able to mauve ngnt: it you search the water's edge you can find some beautiful jingle shells and scallop shells that make wonderful Christmas tree or- naments. Here is a live scallop as it pumps along the bottom to feed. Se how beautiful It is with all its brigh eyes surrounding the shell. ,olphins have a brain almost as large as a human's. They are smart and alert nd are able to be trained. Originally they were quite common in our local ,aters but now they are only seen on occasion. clean up things in no time. The mud snails also had an idea. They would attach themselves to each other and make a long string of snails to help decorate the tree. Things were beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the little boy's dream continued. By now all the fish in the area were bringing in food and making plans for the entertainment to be ready for the big celebration, while others were helping to decorate the tree and doing odd jobs that Mr. Sea Horse wanted done. With all that was going on, they didn't notice the diamondback terra- pins putting their noses in around the food trays. They, like the eels, had been sleeping the winter away until they heard all the noise and commotion and came to see what was going on. When the eels came out of their win- ter holes, they danced upright on their tails. Everyone applauded, it was so unusual. Mr. and Mrs. Flounder danced ever so gracefully, sliding across the floor and then throwing sand over themselves as they dipped and glided . along the bottom. The only one who just wouldn't get into the spirit of Christmas was old Grumpy, the toadfish. He refused to leave the old tin can he called home. He just lay there and pouted. No one crashed the party and most were well behaved, so Mr. Sharky was able to join the celebration. The climax of the evening came as they all gath- ered around the beautifully decorated tree and sang Christmas carols and ended the evening by all calling out, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" When the little boy woke the next morning his head was full of the fishes' Christmas party. He didn't dare tell his father about his dream because he knew he wouldn't believe it. He de- cided to keep it to himself, as his own Christmas secret, or he might just share it with the old fisherman because he would be the only one who would be- lieve him. What do you think he did?