Tim and Humu
(The Fish That Taught Tim to Swim)
By Don Swann II
Copyright © Don Swann II 2012
All Rights Reserved
Published by Fatt Wallet/Piggy Tails
Digital Edition
In my days as a child I was lucky enough to grow up in a wonderful place with so much culture
and beauty, with the people that made my youth an experience rich in many things. My hope in
some small way I can help children to vividly imagine such a place until they get to experience
it, firsthand.
There once was a shy little boy who lived by the ocean and dreamed of the day he would swim
surf and play in the water he loved and his name was Tim.
Tim loved the ocean because it was blue, his favorite color too, but he couldn’t swim very well,
so Tim would sit on the sand, on the beach and watch everyone else play and have fun and
sometimes he would even dip his biggest toe in, afraid of the water, afraid to swim.
So Humu watched from a distance at this young boy, who shouldn’t be afraid of Humu’s sea.
Then one day Humu swam up to the shore while Tim sat on the edge of the water and introduced
himself. He said “Hello, my name is Humu and what is your name?”
Tim was surprised, but not because the fish spoke. He was surprised because he knew whom
Humu was, but he didn’t wish to be rude.
“My name is Tim and it is nice to meet you Humu.” Tim calmly said.
“I noticed that you sit on the beach, buy you never swim, Tim. Why won’t you come in the
water and play?” Humu asked.
“I’m not a good swimmer, I am sorry to say.” Told Tim.
“That’s okay Tim, get in the water and I’ll teach you to swim.” Humu gladly said.
Now Tim had many offers to teach him to swim, but with a royal prince of a fish offering, he
didn’t wish to offend. So Tim carefully walked to the edge of the water and got in, the two went
off and swam.
Tim wanted to swim with his new friends, the fishes of that very sea.
So on that day that quiet little boy learned to swim taught by his new friend, who was a fish, by
the name of Humu. Short for Humu humu nuku nuku apua’a, now that is quite a long name, for
a Hawaiian fish, royal in name. He was the official State Fish and quite important too.
Humu was a dazzling fish, with so many beautiful colors and was something to see, graceful in
his movements in the shallowest part of the Pacific Sea.
Even though it was called an ocean, everywhere Humu could swim, which was quite far, he
called the sea. Because he thought that it was funny that in it, he could also see.
They swam for hours and Tim never knew that he could have this much fun and before they
knew it, they were each called home.
“Thank you Humu for teaching me to swim, I’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll play some more,
okay?”
“That’ll be great” Humu said. “Goodbye Tim, my mother is calling me home.”
So the two parted ways to each go home, until the next day was to come.
The next day Humu arrived at the very same cove to find Tim already in the water wearing a
mask, a snorkel and fins, Humu offered a smile to his new friend, as Humu taught Tim to dive
and helped him practice to swim and showed Tim the sights. The two went off swimming down
the beach, to another area where the dolphins meet.
Tim met an octopus that delivered the mail, using all of his arms, making quick work of a
neighborhood, he saw the sea horse march like it was a horse’s parade and even saw all of the
brilliant colors of the life underneath and got a chance to look up close at the pink corals growing
under the sea.