Why the Ocean Looks Blue
A Parable by Claire Bear

Once upon a time, many centuries ago, many people thought the sea looked a little bland, being clear and all. That’s where our story takes place. There was a man by the name of Gus, and he was one lucky fellow. Gus won everything he entered: contests, lotteries, etc.


One day as Gus was walking down the road, he happened upon a sign advertising an eating competition. Thrilled at the thought of winning yet another game, he signed the form right away, not paying attention to the bold block words saying the name of the food he would be eating.


About a week later, Gus set off to the beach where the contest was to be held. When he saw what he would be snacking on, he stopped dead in his tracks.


Blueberry pie.


That was a problem. A big problem. Gus only ate red fruit! He absolutely despised anything blue. Winning a little over fifty challenges had caused to be a bit of a snob. However, his reputation told him that he had to do it. For the glory.


So Gus plopped down at the table the pie was balancing on, gazing at the food with his nose turned upward. He picked one up delicately, realizing that the layer of dough that concealed the berries to their chamber was quite thin. What to do? He could eat the cake part easily enough, but what to do with the berries? If he ate the bread, he was bound to get a bit of the blueberry as well.


Gus thought and thought some more, but the beautiful sea was terribly distracting. That’s it! The ocean! He could plunge the blueberries to the depths of the sea!


With this thought fresh in his mind, he gathered his posse together, whispered his plan to their ears and they nodded eagerly. Gus sent them to retrieve a handful of buckets to finish the scheme.


The group of judges looked at the anxious faces around them. One particularly large man stood up and blew a shrill whistle that broke the eerie silence. Gus began his ingenious plot. Whenever the judge’s sharp eye glazed over his every move, Gus popped another pie into an awaiting bucket. After several moments, another judge flew up and commanded each contestant to stop eating. Counting up the pies that were left in front of each person, the judge announced Gus the winner. His prize was a silver fishing boat with gold trim, great for the ocean’s choppy water.


There was a man named Ricky who had actually eaten the pies in front of him, though he had lost. By two pies, no less! Not knowing Gus had cheated, Ricky bounded up to him and slapped him on the back, congratulating him. Still giddy about getting second place, he dove into the sea, lapping back and forth over the frothy water. Unfortunately, Ricky hadn’t checked his watch, and had swam too early.


He received a horrible cramp.


Luckily, a judge heard the commotion and swam to his rescue. While there, the judge spotted a peculiar trail of something blue. After sending Ricky to safety, he gathered up the other judges and they examined his find.


As they whirled under the water, they discovered the path was made completely of blueberries! Following it, they found that the track led straight to Gus! For a long, uncomfortable moment, they discussed what to do.


Hearing the sound of feet, Gus looked around nervously as the group of judges stormed upon him like an angry mob.


One of them accused him of cheating! Gus stuttered for a few minutes, and turned his face from the crowd that had appeared. He nodded, ashamed that he had been discovered. The men nodded, and gave the second place winner the boat and a trophy.


The moral of this story is that cheater’s never prosper. If you ever spend the day at the beach, then you’ll most likely see the rich color of blue that the ocean appears to be. Most people jump up and down in glee, getting a pail to hold the water in to take home as a souvenir. After a confused moment of holding the bucket, the holder realizes the water is clear: no color. Disappointment rushes through that someone, (perhaps you) and they remember the awful thing Gus did.


Learning his lesson, Gus never entered another contest again for as long as he lived.  



THE END