HOW TOMMY WAS TAKEN BY A SHARK

[Vic Jefferies]

HOW TOMMY WAS TAKEN BY A SHARK

It was down along the Hawkesbury where Tommy learnt his trade
and the waters of that river supplied the living that he made.
He was a fisherman by profession though a gentleman self designed,
but not the sort of gentleman of the “Please and Thank” you kind.
No, he was more the sort of fellow this country used to breed,
'cause if he saw that you were battling he would offer you a feed.

Then one night while Tom was fishing on that big river in the dark,
he found he'd caught within his net the very strangest sort of shark.
It was in fact the weirdest fish in a whole lifetime he had seen,
for brightest purple was its skin and its eyes were luminous green.
As Tommy struggled to haul it in (it took all his strength to try)
the big shark whispered quietly, "Oh Tommy, please don't make me die."

Poor old Tommy was astounded, but as he shook his weary head
once again the shark's voice sounded and this is truly what it said,
"Tom, I know you have caught me fairly and your living you must make,
but you know all you'll get for me is what they are paying for flake.
Tommy, if you will only free me I will tell you what I’ll do,
I promise on my life, I will bring a thousand fish to you.”

"No, they wont be toads or catfish or that common sort of rot,
I promise you sincerely, they will be the type people like a lot."
Tommy smartly tossed overboard the remainder of his rum,
and remembered how his father had warned this day would come.
As he quickly peered around to be sure no one else could hear
he said, "I never had this problem when I stuck to drinking beer!"

"I can’t believe that drinkin’ rum (hic) could bring a bloke to thish -
Here's a man sittin’ in the dark talking to a flamin’ fish!"
Then Tommy carefully weighed it up, the choice was hard to make:
a thousand promised fish against a certain ton of flake,
but because he knew the price for flake was really very low,
Tommy decided to take the punt and let the big fish go.

Though as he carefully freed the shark and it headed for the deep,
Tommy shouted loudly after it, "You make sure your word you keep,
or next time that I meet you fish, I will drag you into my boat
and your speakin’ days will finish because I’ll slit your slimy throat!"
Tommy patiently sat and waited beneath the waning silver moon,
trying hard to convince himself it would all be over soon.

The shark was gone perhaps an hour plus a minute or maybe two,
then Tom heard it quietly whisper, "See I have kept my deal with you.
Beneath your boat there's a thousand fish all just waiting for your net
and I reckon they'll be the easiest catch that you will ever get!"
Old Tommy quickly cast his net and as it slowly sank below,
he wondered what he'd catch and should he have let the big fish go.

His hopes were for a thousand flathead, jewfish,whiting, flounder, bream,
but poor Tommy, all too quickly saw how the shark had taken him,
for there upon the deck lay gleaming, as bright as his brand new knife,
the largest can of sardines that he had seen in his entire life
and inscribed upon the side of that shining silver tin was,
' This container is guaranteed to hold one thousand fish within.'

Now old Tommy doesn’t go fishing on the river anymore,
he spends his time quietly sitting by its steep and rocky shore
and passing strangers often wonder why it is he spends each day
staring at the waters of that river in a most peculiar way.
Though he will tell you if you'll listen what happened in the dark
and how he’s glad to be here after being taken by a shark!

( I heard some talk among the film critics just the other day
and they seem to think that Tommy's shark is now in the USA.
They said there's a million dollar movie headed for our screens
that stars a monster talking shark whose eyes are luminous green
and as the movie finally ends the shark with great aplomb
gives a very cunning wink and says, " One thousand thanks old Tom!")

Vic Jefferies

[Heather]

What a great yarn Vic. Reeled me in. Thanks for the laughs!

Heather

[Vic Jefferies]

Thank you Heather. I thought you might say there was something fishy about the tail.

Vic

[r.magnay]

...the years haven't affected your imagination mate!.... ...good job!

[Vic Jefferies]

Good on You Ross,

Don't worry Mate,the years are taking their toll. This is an old one, but I am glad that you enjoyed it!

Regards As Always

Vic

[Bob Pacey]

Did not know that you wrote fairy tales Vic.


Not the expected ending is always good.


Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

and I thought it was going to be about Tommy Raudonikis coaching the Cronulla team

[Vic Jefferies]

Thank you Bob and Maureen. Tommy Raudonikis now there is a legend worthy of a poem!

Vic