The Fishmonger Who Refused the Catch of the Day

The harbor market smelled of salt and ice. Every morning, Marco arrived before the sun. He put his fish in neat rows on crushed ice. Marco was an honest man. He never sold old fish and he never lied about prices.

One Tuesday, Marco caught a beautiful tuna. It was large, bright, and heavy. The other fishmongers looked at it. "That is worth a fortune," said his neighbor, Beto.

At eight o'clock, a rich restaurant owner named Señor Vega arrived. He walked to Marco’s table. "I will buy it," said Señor Vega. "Name your price."

Marco looked at the tuna. "No," he said. The market went quiet. "I am not selling this fish to you today."

Señor Vega’s face turned red. "I am offering you a lot of money! Why not?"

Marco said, "Yesterday, your chef sent back my mackerel. He said it was not fresh. But it was fresh. If you do not trust my mackerel, you do not deserve my tuna."

Señor Vega walked away. Later, a young chef named Lena arrived. She had a very small restaurant. She looked at the tuna with serious eyes. Marco told her a fair price. Lena counted her money, but she was a little short.

Marco remembered being young and poor. "Take it," he said. "Pay me the rest next week. I know you cook with real ingredients. Also, you did not insult my mackerel."

Lena smiled and took the fish carefully. After she left, Beto asked, "Are you sorry you lost the money?"

Marco looked at his empty table. He felt warm and happy. "No," he said. "I am not sorry at all."