Antoinette Amaryst Zytka Firmansjah

SMP Santo Yusup Jalan Jawa

Story Telling Script: THE ORIGIN OF CATFISH (IKAN LELE)

Once upon a time in a village, there lived a man named Le. Le has a long moustache. Le was
a poor and lazy man. Every day, le would borrow money from his neighbors to buy foods.
The neighbors felt so sorry for him and lent him money. They tried the best they could do to
help him. But, after sometime the neighbors felt useless to help Le because every time the
neighbors asked him to help them. Le always answered, “No! I don’t have time!” or, “No! Ask
someone else!” One by one the neighbors left Le and didn’t help him.

On the way home, Le saw an old lady by the river. The old lady seemed sad and frustrated.
“What’s the matter, old lady?” asked Le. The old lady seemed startled then relieved. “Oh,
young man! I’m so glad to see you! I need your help!” said the old lady, “I was on my way to
the market to buy food for me and my husband. I accidentally dropped my bag of golden
coins into the river.” “Can you help me to find it?” “No. I’m so busy!” shouted Le. “Ooo...
please help me. My husband and I are starving,” begged the old lady. “No! Don’t you see
that the river is too muddy? And the stream is too strong.” “But please.... I will share my
money with you.” “No! I’m too tired! Go find it yourself,” said Le one more time and he left
the old lady there.

“Haaaaah... I forgot that I have no food for tomorrow. Hmmmm... maybe I should go back
and help the lady so I can have the money to buy food tomorrow,” said Le to himself. So, Le
returned to the place he met the old lady. When he arrived, the old lady was nowhere to be
seen. Then Le thought of a greedy thought. “Hmm... If I find the money now, I can have all
the money to myself,” thought Le. So he rolled up his sleeves and pants and jumped into the
river. After a while,”Horray! I find the bag!! I’m rich. Ahahahaha! It’s all mine!” shouted Le.
And suddenly Le heard the old lady’s voice. “Child! You are back! And you found my gold
coins. Thank you so much. You are so kind. Come! Come! I will share my gold coins with you
as my gratitude,” said the old lady. Le turned back, saw the old lady by the river and he got
angry.

“What did you say, old lady? This is your gold coins? I don’t think so. I found it so it’s all
mine. Finders keepers!” said Le. “Don’t be like that, young man. I already told you I
accidentally dropped my gold coins in the river. Please, give it back to me so I can buy food
for me and my husband.... I promise to share the gold coins with you,” begged the old lady.
“This is my money! Your money is somewhere out there. Find it yourself,” said Le. “Ooooo...
young man, I’m too old to do that. I beg you please,’ begged the old lady once more. “No!
These gold coins are mine. It’s all mine,” said Le.

The old lady’s face turned angry. “How dare you, Le? You greedy and evil man. You even
dare to take an old lady’s gold coins. You must be punished, said the old lady. And suddenly,
the old lady turned into a fairy. Le kneeled and was very afraid. “I-i-i-i-I’m sorry. Here is your
money. Take it all,” startled Le. “No can do, Le! You will be punished,” said the fairy. “I’m
sorry. I already learned my lesson. I promise I will change and be a good man from now on,”
begged Le again. “No, Le! I know you will not change. So, from now on you will live in this
river and look for food in the mud just like when you looked for my gold coins,” said the
fairy. The fairy waved her hand and in a blink of an eye they disappeared. Some of the
villagers that saw that happened immediately searched for Le. “Le, where are you? Le? Le! Le,
where are you?” shouted the villagers. Suddenly, from the water, a new fish with a
moustache just like Le emerged. And from that day on, the villagers call the fish lele or in
English, catfish.

THE END -----