by Gianni Rodari
The The Fisherman Fisherman from from Cefalù Cefalù
- Andiamo a pescare? - disse la mattina dopo il bambino di mare con la sua vocetta sottile sottile. Andarono, e il bambino di mare disse: - Rema diritto fin che te lo dico io. Ecco, siamo arrivati. Butta la rete qua sotto. Il pescatore ubbidì, e quando ritirò la rete la vide piena come non l'aveva mai vista, ed era tutto pesce di prima qualità. Il bambino di mare battè le mani: - Te l'avevo detto, io so dove stanno i pesci. In breve tempo il pescatore arricchì, comprò una seconda barca, poi una terza, poi tante, e tutte andavano in mare a buttare le reti per lui, e le reti si riempivano di pesce fino, e il pescatore guadagnava tanti soldi che dovette far studiare da ragioniere uno dei suoi figli per contarli. Diventando ricco, però, il pescatore dimenticò quel che aveva sofferto quando era povero. Trattava male i suoi marinai, li pagava poco, e se protestavano li licenziava. - Come faremo a sfamare i nostri bambini? essi si lamentavano. - Dategli dei sassi, - egli rispondeva, - vedrete che li digeriranno. Il bambino di mare, che vedeva tutto e sentiva tutto, una sera gli disse: - Bada che quel che è stato fatto si può disfare. Ma il pescatore rise e non gli diede retta. Anzi, prese il bambino di mare, lo rinchiuse in una grossa conchiglia e lo gettò in acqua. E chissà quanto tempo dovrà passare prima che il bambino di mare possa liberarsi. Voi cosa fareste al suo posto?
Adapted Adapted from from Favole Favole al al Telefono Telefono by Gianni Rodari by Gianni Rodari AA fisherman fisherman from from Cefalù Cefalù went went fishing fishing and and catched… catched… guess guess what? what? AA little little fish, fish, as as small small as as the the little little finger. finger. He He was about to throw it again was about to throw it again into into the the sea sea when when he he heard heard aa really really soft soft voice voice saying «Don’t throw me, don’t saying «Don’t throw me, don’t throw throw me!» me!» -- The The voice voice came came from from inside inside the the fish: fish: the the fisherman fisherman opened opened it it and and found a very very small child. «Who found a very very small child. «Who are are you?» you?» the the fisherman fisherman asked. asked. «I «I am am the sea child, if you keep me with the sea child, if you keep me with you, you, I’ll I’ll make make your your fortune». fortune». The The fisherman accepted, fisherman accepted, but but not not very very willingly: willingly: he he had had already already seven seven children, children, and and this this one one ate ate more more than than the the others others all all together! together! The The day day after, after, the the sea sea child child told told the the fisherman: fisherman: «Let’s «Let’s go go fishing» fishing» and and ordered ordered him him to to cast cast the the nets nets in in aa certain point. So he did, and when certain point. So he did, and when he he drew drew them them back, back, there there was was plenty plenty of of first first quality quality fish! fish! «I «I had had told told you» you» said said the the sea sea child, child, «I «I know know where where the the fish fish is!» In a short time, the fisherman is!» In a short time, the fisherman turned turned rich, rich, and and was was able able to to afford afford two, three boats, and he caught two, three boats, and he caught lots lots of of fishes fishes and and earnt earnt so so much much money money that that one one of of his his child child must must study study to to become account and count become account and count them them all. all. But But as as long long as as he he became became rich, rich, he he forgot what he had suffered forgot what he had suffered when when he he was was aa poor poor man, man, and and treated treated his his sailors sailors very very badly, badly, and and if if they they protested, he fired them. protested, he fired them. The The sea sea child child was was not not happy happy and and warned him: «What I did, warned him: «What I did, II can can undo!» undo!» But But the the fisherman fisherman closed closed him him into into aa shell shell and and threw threw him him into into the the water. water. Will Will he he manage manage to to free free himself? himself? What What would you do if you were would you do if you were him? him?
What will the sea chil
d do then?
The sea child managed to free himself and everytime that the fisherman from Cefal첫 cast his nets, the child told the fish to go away!
The old ha rbour in
Cefalù ph.b y Salvatore Lumia
Gianni Rodari (1920-1980) is one of the most celebrated Italian writers, known worldwide for his works for children. A former teacher, he was a journalist, and he had the merit of bring the children’s literature a new spirit. In 1970 he won the Premio Andersen, an international award for children’s writers. Here you can watch a video with Rodari reading and talking about children. This story, from «Le Favole al Telefono» (“Fairy Tales Over the Phone”, 1962), is set in Cefalù and show us how wealth often makes you forget thankfulness. Our ending is a rewarding for all those people who worked for the fisherman and were mistreated by him… and for fishes too!
Claudia Vitali, Clara Conte, Silvia Valentino, Lidia Di Maria, Eva Arato, Class VF - age 9/10 Direzione Didattica Statale G.Pitré-M.Rapisardi, Palermo, Italy