“So… you don’t grant wishes?” the man asked.
“I’m not that kind of magic fish,” the fish said, wriggling in the net. “But I can dance… I can dance right across the surface of the water. If you let me go, I’ll give you a performance that you’ll never see the like of again.”
“I’m not sure I believe you,” the man said.
“Why not?” the fish asked. “I’m talking, aren’t I? That’s pretty clearly magical.”
“I don’t see the connection between being a ‘magical talking animal’ and a ‘magical dancing’ one,” the man said. “Plus, if I dump you out of the net then you’re already free whether you dance or not. You know? I think I’ll take you home and let you show me what you can do there.”
“And then you’ll let me go?” the fish asked.
“No, I’m pretty sure I’ll still be hungry then,” the man said, and he dumped the net out into his bucket.
