Rumor has it that Her Majesty, The Queen Soama, our first [female] leader of Khmer people, the visiting Chinese ambassador Zhou Daguan, His Majesty The Emperor Jayavarman VII, a devout Buddhist, Emperor of the Khmer Empire and Oknha Khleang Moeung, Khmer national hero sat enjoying afternoon ginger green tea in the temple garden as Oknha Son Kuy, Khmer national hero told his story about the golden fish (not really made of gold) The day however was golden and ginger pretty too. It was said or implied that Earl, you know, the one from Atlantic City NJ, recorded the events as they unfolded in time. It is perhaps suggested that the originator of the historical events or story if you will, was an invention of none other than he himself. (We use the word “historically”, loosely here, as it might have been written as early as yesterday.) The story goes like this according to the ever vigilant Mr. Schumacker or so we are told;
One day and perhaps on another, the rain came down upon the tiny pond. It was so much water for such a little pond. We all thought something was wrong. Rain fell in all directions including up which at the time seemed peculiar if not impossible. Who ever heard of rain going up up up? The wind was so strong. It danced. It swirled. It lifted. It made strange things happen. We like it when peculiar comes around.
No one ever taught the baby goldfish in the pond the art of swimming, nor how to go glug but they all did it.
Education on fins was never part of the itinerary of little fishes.
The rain came down so hard, so fast, so vicious, it almost tastes delicious. Everything in the pond from top to bottom began to swirl around and began to move downtown. Everything just simply lifted up, fish and water and all. The world was changing faster than usual. It was very scary. at first the pond became a stream and then it grew into a river moving through, raging, roaring like a lion down the street. It took the baby goldfish with it without warning, without a doubt, without permission, so figure that one out.
It was true though, as true as true can be because I saw it with my own two eyes which see in all directions at one time. There was so much rain it was insane. It inundated, punctuated the good time (whatever that means...but it must be important because inundated and punctuated are very big words and very big words should be listened to and respected.) Rain was coming steadily, filling up sidewalks, rolling down streets like a roller coaster, moving sideways too, through street signs without warning and traffic signals, not even stopping for red lights. Everybody knows that running red lights is illegal and against the law.
We are not sure about rain and rivers running through stop signs. Maybe a law is in the law books but the truth is, we are too young to read big legal books but this story is not about that any way so lets move on.
The little goldfish found themselves in a strange new world. They did not know what to do. Thank goodness they were still in water. A fish out of water looks pretty silly and it doesn't hold for a promising future to be alive. Being out of water for them isn't very kind, isn't nice and could even be considered rude in certain circles.
All over the countryside it continued pouring. The town was saturated to its core and to its depths in wet. The rice farms and plantations were drenched. Even the schools were overruled by nature and inclement weather at their doors. They had to close for the afternoon but not worry. Weekends are times when classes are not in session and for that it is a blessing.
Due to the prevailing conditions already mentioned, everyone questioned; Would it rain forever? No one really knew but it was open to speculation. Not even the fish could predict the future and you know how smart fish can be when swimming from the shore.
People who had holes in roofs could not stop the rain from doing what it does, like coming through or coming down for hours.
Clean floors did not desire this. Rain even poured down on freshly polished shoes which did them little good. Beds were saturated. Floods got under them and carried all away. Foundations lifted without permission and simply floated with them on their way. Beds becoming rafts floated right out the door with people on them, drifted down the streets at great speeds in directions not of their choosing. Newly made rivers formed and grew to overwhelming disasters, while children on the artificial shores were standing clapping.
Unnatural shore banks appeared from nowhere to point the way to safety, while houses swayed in back and forth reflection on the day, going up and down on rolling waves with them in laughter. It is funny how that sounds but every word is true. Girls wondered if goldfish cried. It is hard to tell because they are always wet and under water, covered in the stuff to be exact.
All the fish, big and small, including all the pond ones were relocated in a flash. They ended up in giant oceans full of salt far away from home, perhaps ending up in Canada but most likely Cambodia but we don't know. There would be no more pond for them. Getting used to the taste of salt would prove to be difficult or even hard. Too much salt is not very good for the diet or being healthy.
Such a dangerous trip as this must be so frightening. Transitioning from pond to oceans can't be easy. Conditions are sometimes tricky for little fishies. Baby goldfish just keep on doing what they do so naturally and easy. Little fish just keep on swimming. They don't even have to think. We know how difficult that can be. They will never learn Cambodian Khmer we fear. Swimming is their specialty. Thank goodness for the sea. Fish never run out of water. There is so much of it. Drinks are for free and bait tastes delicious.