The End Game-El Pescador
Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Juan Perez looked out at the pristine turquoise ocean from the patio of his small casita in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. A soft breeze rustled the palm fronds of the tall palms surrounding his home as he watched his young children, Andres and Alejandra laugh with excitement as they splashed in the waves.
Juan ‘s wife, Carmen, was on the phone in the kitchen with her best friend Betina catching up on the daily chisme. Juan chuckled lightly to himself as he overheard the chatter.
Juan was a fisherman and had spent his life on the ocean next to the small seaside town where he had grown up.
He felt a sense of contentment deep in his heart as he sat watching his children play.
Although their life was a very modest one, he was happy.
One morning as Juan pulled his launch onto the shore, he was approached by an elderly gentleman tourist who was strolling along the beach.
“Good morning!” shouted the gringo.
"I have been watching you this past week and have noticed your boat is filled with more fish than any of the others.
“How’d you do that? None of the other boats even come close.” Juan paused and thought for a moment.
“Bueno,” said Juan, “I guess I have the skills my father taught me.”
“So, tell me about your day.”
“Bueno, I get up early about 4am. Then out on the ocean fishing until noon."
“And what do you do with the rest of the day?” asked the gringo.
“Well, I take the catch to the vendor at the market.”
“And then?”
“Well, I come home and Carmen prepares my lunch...very modest actually, but rico tacos and frijoles.”
“And what do you do after lunch?”
“Well, the children come home from school and we’ll play on the beach and splash in the water."
“And then?”
“Well, Carmen and I will take a little siesta.”
“And after your siesta, what do you do?”
“I go into town and play guitars with my friends and have a few beers. Then back home and climb into my hammock with Carmen and hold her close as we watch the beautiful stars.”
The gringo slowly scratched his head and said, “You know, I think I would really like to invest in you…We could build a successful business.”
“Why?” questioned Juan.
“Well, you could build a fleet of fishing boats and become a prosperous businessman.
“You could build a big, beautiful house, buy a new car, and have a large business enterprise. With my backing, you could be one of the biggest fishing operations in this region."
Juan quizzically stared at the gringo. “And then? What?”
“Juan, think about it…You would retire a rich man!”
“And then, what would I do?”
“Well… You would go fishing in the morning just for fun, and when you came home, you would spend the day with your kids on the beach. You would relax in your hammock. You would have a leisurely lunch with your wife.”
“And after lunch, what would I do?"
“Well, I guess you would play guitars with your friends and have a few beers in town.”
Juan’s mouth curved into a little smile.
The gringo finished. “Then you would come home and spend the evening with your wife watching the stars from your hammock.”
“Gracias señor. I must go, it’s almost time for lunch.” Juan shook the stranger’s hand and began to walk away.
“But don’t you want to be rich?” the gringo called to Juan.
Juan stopped, paused for a moment, and turned back to the tourist.
“Ah, but you see…I am already a rich man.”
Juan walked along the shore to his humble casa with a smile on his face and an even bigger smile in his heart.
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