Legacy

Popeye the Pelican was the finest fisherman in the harbor and he knew it. Every morning Popeye would go out and catch a pouch full of five mullet fish.  He’d then come back and perch on the wharf rail right next to a post.  Swifty the Seagull always sat on the post next to Popeye.

Popeye caught the most fish of any pelican and he was very proud of it. Popeye would start bragging early and keep it up for a long time.  While Popeye was the best fisherman, Swifty was the fastest bird in the harbor.  Swifty only needed one fish per day, but he wasn’t much of a fisherman.  However, true to his namesake, he was really swift.

The first thing each morning when Popeye opened his mouth to brag, ol’ Swifty reached right in that pouch and grabbed a fish.  He was almost faster than the eye and so clever that his presence in the pouch-dipping wasn’t even felt.  Swifty would just sit there devouring the fish while Popeye continued to brag. Of course the other pelicans observed all this each day and would almost fall off their perches laughing.  Popeye thought someone must have told a joke.

It goes to show if one has his mouth open at the wrong time, no telling what might get out.