This story is quite popular and has been around for ages. Here is my version of it, where I have added a lot of characters and conversation:)
Once upon a time, in a little village, there lived a man whose business was to sell fish, and so he did. Every morning, he used to sort out the best catch, arrange them up neatly for people to buy in a little space in the village market. Just outside his shop, he had a little black board that stood blank, and a white chalk to write with by its side. (Quite unlike the white board and colorful markers we get these days).
Along came the village policeman. His wife wanted to cook fish curry for him that night when he returned home from work so she had sent him early in the morning to buy fish from the market. The village policeman bought the fish, and then he happened to glance at the black board while the man was wrapping up the fish.
“What’s the use of having a board here and keeping it blank? You might as well write something on it. How about advertising what you sell?” he remarked before leaving.
The shopkeeper thought over this, took up the chalk and wrote FRESH FISH SOLD HERE in bold capital letters.
Soon along came the village headman’s wife. She was someone who simply couldn’t resist commenting on everything and everyone and most people, even in the village, avoided her. She took one look at the board and said, “What do you mean by HERE? Everyone known that your fish is sold HERE and not there and not anywhere else. Quite evident isn’t it?” She remarked smugly.
The shopkeeper thought over this, took up a wet rag and wiped out the word HERE from the words, so it read now as FRESH FISH SOLD in bold capital letters.
Along comes little Somu, a mischief monger if there ever was one and one cheeky lad. He read aloud what was written on the board and in his usual cheeky voice said, “Uncle, Uncle, what do you mean by fresh fish sold? Who gives fish away for free in a market? It is not like you are generous Karna from our mythology, we all know you are here to do business!!” and so saying he quickly ran away before the shopkeeper could think of a fitting reply.
The shopkeeper thought over this, took up a wet rag and wiped out the word SOLD from the words, so it read now as FRESH FISH in bold capital letters.
Ratna was the village belle whose main activity each day was to cook for a large household of twenty people!! Along she came with thoughts of making fish curry for the entire household when she saw the sign on the board. “What do you mean by “fresh fish?” she commented, “Are you selling stale fish by any chance and want to hide that fact? Fish has to be fresh else who would buy them” and so saying, took her packet of fish and went away.
The shopkeeper thought over this, took up a wet rag and wiped out the word FRESH from the words, so it now read as FISH in bold capital letters.
Kanthamma was the oldest woman in the village. Some believed she was more than a hundred years old. Yet she had more energy and enthusiasm than all the youngsters of today. She loved a good gossip and would never hesitate to dole out advice whether it was needed or not. Along she came, with her walking stick and chewing on betel leaves. As she passed the shop, she held up her hand to her nose. “Poooh!” she said, “what an awful smell.” Then she looked up and saw the sign that said just one word FISH. “Well young man” she said to the shopkeeper, it is quite apparent that you are selling fish. Why I could smell it a mile away and it almost made me retch!! You don’t need to tell the world you are selling fish!” and so saying, she walked away, still holding her nose.
The shopkeeper thought over this, took up a wet rag and wiped out the word FISH from the words, so now there the blackboard stood, blank and empty as before.
A man in his early thirties came by. No one knew who he was. No one had seen him before. “Probably from the next village” thought the shop keeper to himself. The man went up and bought fish from the shop keeper. Just before he turned to go, he saw the black board with its white chalk by the side, empty with not a word written on it.
“I say young man” said the man to the shop keeper, “I am not one to comment on anything.” He said, “but I couldn’t help noticing the board with nothing written on it. “
“What’s the use of having a board here and keeping it blank? You might as well write something on it. How about advertising what you sell?”
THE BEGINNING
