Once I received in confession the visit of a guy (let’s call him Gaspard to keep his real name secret ) well-known in the area as one of the best fishermen of those delicious wee fishes.
The guy Gaspard , his voice hoarse with emotion , uttered the following words:
-“You certainly know for sure, my reverend , I’m a good christian, never missed a mass on Sunday , I consult the Bible more often than “People’s magazine”. Today I’m deep in trouble . Without boasting , I have huge successes as a fisherman to my credit (by the way I’ve just bought my wife a brand new Clio Diesel .)
Until the day before yesterday , when pulling my nets loaded with anchovy , my eye was attracted by one of my catch . A young , elegant , aritocratic female who was watching me with her eyes …………watering eyes, imploring for release , cause she said to me she was in charge of her bedridden invalid mother .
Now I have to tell you ,Reverend ,that I was moved to my deepest soul by her eloquent prayer and I delicately seized the little she-anchovy between my fingers and released her together with one ton and a half of her fellow anchovies.
In one split second, my decision was made . Never in a million years, I made the oath, I would never take the life of one of these unfortunate animals, even to pay for a good school to my children or bet on horseraces. My decision was irrevocable, i was to become vegetarian .
And today I only eat the vegetables and fruit that grow in my small garden . Is it a sin , my Reverend ? ”
“Go in peace ,my son !” were the only words I could answer to such an honest man.
But here is where things get worse ! Last week the guy Gaspard came back to tell me in confession ,with fever and shiver “God protect me , I’ve just murdered a lettuce in my garden!”
