Indonesia
La Upe and The King of Fish
La Upe is an orphan boy living in the South Selawesi. Thanks to the patience in facing of all the trials and torments, he was awarded from the divine. What was his trial and what help was given to him?
In a village in South Sulawesi lived an orphan named La Upe who lived with his father. His mother died when he was little. When he was ten years old his father remarried a widow from another village, I Ruga.
His dad wanted La Upe to have a mother who took care and loved him. But, it was quite the opposite. Every day I Ruga torture and beat La Upe when he was on the paddy field.
One day, La Upe was told by his step mother to go fishing in the river. After some preparation, he went to there. After spending almost half a day, he didn’t even get a single bite. He’s beginning to worry. “Oh my, I surely will get some beat up if come home without fish today,” La Upe grumbling.
Eventually Upe given up and decided call it a day. Just when he pull his rod, a big fish jumped and took his bait, Upe slowly pulled his his rod the river bank. There he saw a big fish hooked up on his bait. For his surprise, when Upe was about to put the fish to the container, it started to speak like human.
“Please sir, have marcy on me. Don’t kill me! I am the king of the fishes. If you would just release me, I will grant what you want. Just be casting “The King of Fish Spell”, anything you wish will be done,” said the fish.
La Upe released the fish back to the river. He came home empty handed. “I am sorry mother. I did catch a big fish but then I released it back to the river,” he said.
I Ruga was furious. When she was about to beat him, La Upe recalled what the big fish told him. Immediately, he cast the powerful spell. “Please attach my mother to the door, on the name of the king of fish spell!” I Ruga was then attached to the door. She screamed to La Upe to help release her from the door. La Upe refused, instead he left her there and went out. Not long after that his dad came home. He was shocked when opening the door, it was very heavy. La Upe’s father pushed the door as hard as possible. When it was open, he saw his wife on the door, attached.
I Ruga told him everything that made her got attached to the door. La Upe’s father took off to find him, asked La Upe to came home and forgive his step mother. La Upe followed his dad home and remove the charm by casting the spell. I Ruga was removed from the door and beg for forgiveness to her husband and La Upe.
La Upe grew up to be a handsome young boy. One day he saw the beautiful king’s daughter was resting by the window of the castle. Aware that she was being watched, the princess turn to La Upe.
The secretly they arranged meetings without the king’s and queen’s knowing. They confessed to each other and eventually agreed to marry. Then La Upe and his parents came to propose the princess. They were rejected by the king and queen for not being on equal status.
Upon arriving at home, La Upe looked for a way to marry the princess. After gave it a hard thought he came up with something. Before executing the plan, La Upe told the princess that what he was going to do was only a scheme.
La Upe He Upe sneaked in to the princess’s room. With his spell, he attached the princess on the bedroom door. Moments later, the residences of the castle turn into an uproar, including the king and the queen.
King ordered all the royal physician to help the princess. Until the late morning, nobody succeeded. The king decided to hold a contest. One by one participant contest pulled their ability to release the princess. None succeeded. Until down to only one participant, he was La Upe.
He came to the castle and approached the princess who was attached to the door. Upe casted his magic spell. Miracoulsly, the princess was removed from the door with a happy smile. Everyone was stunned watching it. The king and queen were amazed to see what La Upe can do. He and the princess were married and the lived happy.
RETOLD BY: NURUL L. IRFAN
ILUSTRATED BY: CAECILIA SANDY
