Little Fish, Big Pond

He was a little fish in a big pond and constantly felt anxious about his fate, so he swam over to Amazon and bought a shark suit. Now he felt safe from predators above, who would see the shark fin and be scared of approaching him. He could focus on the dangers from below without concern that a monster-clawed eagle would swoop down from the sky.

Thus, he traveled alone, afraid of everything, while presenting a threatening appearance himself so no one would ever suspect that insecurities and fears besieged him day and night. He traveled throughout the pond in this way, always keeping his shark disguise visible above the water line. After some time had passed, he was able to relax and search for the most delicious morsels in obscure places. One day, he was feasting on succulent bits of seaweed when a real shark came by and laughed at him.

“Why are you bothering to wear a costume?” asked the shark. “You’re too small for any predator to bother with.”

Relieved, the little fish slipped off the uncomfortable disguise.

And then the shark ate him.

~*~
©️2023 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted.

Written for Christine’s Simply Six Minutes (187 words).