STORY : Danau Toba (English Version)

Once upon a time, there was a fisherman lived in a North Sumatra. When he was fishing in a river, a big fish was nailed. This fish had gold color all over its body. It was beautiful. The fisherman was very excited. He imagined a delicious dinner in his head. He put the fish in his basket and went home happily.

When he got home, he put the fish in a sink. He grabbed a knife to kill the fish. But when he almost killed it, he saw the fish eyes and felt pity. He took the knife away and put the fish in washbasin and added water in it. Dont worry, I wouldnt kill you the fisherman said.

Next days, the fisherman went fishing again. But this time he couldn’t get any fish. He went home with nothing in his hand. His stomach started to sing. He walked home slouching. He was surprised when he saw smoke came out from his kitchen.

Who cooked in my kitchen? He took a peep and surprised when he saw a beautiful girl cooked in his house. Why there’s a girl in my kitchen? He confused. Then the fisherman entered the room.

“Who are you?” asked the fisherman.
“I’m the fish” replied the girl.
The fisherman looked at the washbasin where he took the fish yesterday.
“You didn’t kill me yesterday, and I’m very thankful. I will return your kindness” continued the girl.
“well, I lived alone. I don’t have any family. If you want to be my wife, I will be happy” asked the man.
“Ok, but you must promise to me. if we have children, don’t tell him about me. If you tell him, the bad thing will happen.” The girl said.

And so, the fisherman and the fish girl were married. And then they had a child called Samo. Samo was very naughty. He couldnt be advisable. He always played and never helped his parents.

One day Samo was asked to deliver lunch to his father. On his way, he met his friends and forgot to deliver his fathers lunch. Samo played with his friends. When he was tired and hungry, he was resting under a tree and ate his father lunch.

Meanwhile his father waited him in starve and tired. His father went home and saw Samo played.

‘Where is my lunch?’ he asked.

‘Mmmmm.. I ate I’t Samo said afraid.

‘Why you ate it? you are stupid lazy boy. You are son of a fish!’ says his father

Samo was hurt. He went home right away and as he got home he told his mother about his father’s words. Samo’s mother was shocked. She was also deeply hurt.
‘Toba. You break your promise so I cannot live with you here anymore. Now you have to accept to consequence of what you did. Samo, now go to the hill, find the tallest tree and climb it’
‘Why mom? What will happen?’
‘Just do it, never ask any question. Good bye’

Meanwhile, samo run to the hill and stayed there.

Suddenly, the sky was getting dark. The storm was breaking the ears. The rain felt from the sky like giant hose sprayed water all over the place. And then the water came out from the land and getting harder. the mother was transformed magically to be gold fish again and disappear through the water. The water was getting higher and drown the village and formed a lake. The Samo’s place then was surrounded by the lake.

Now the lake was known as Toba Lake. Toba came from Tuba word means no mercy. And the hill in the middle called Samosir Island. Samosir means Samo di usir or in English : Samo have been evicted.

This story has become the first champion in the story telling competitions -at SMPK Santa Maria II-