The Legend of Toba Lake

Once upon a time, there was a fisherman lived in a North Sumatra. He went fishing early
every morning and always returned to his home at night time. One day,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. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t kill you” the fisherman said.
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 confused.
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.
The fisherman entered the room. “Who are you?” he asked the girl.
“I’m the fish.” The girl said.
The fisherman looked the washbasin and saw nothing in it. “The fish?” he asked incredulous.
“Yes. You didn’t kill me and I’m very thankful. I will return your kindness.” The girl said.
“That’s ok. I didn’t ask any return” the fisherman said.
“But I have to.”The girl insisted.
“Well, I lived alone. I don’t have family. If you want to be my wife, I will be very happy.” The
fisherman asked the girl.
The girl smiled and said “I’d love to but you have to promise me that if we have kid you can’t tell him
about me.”
And so, the fisherman and the fish girl were married. And then they had a child called Samo.
Samo was very naughty. He couldn’t 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 father’s 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.
“Mmm…mm.. I ate it” Samo said afraid.
“Why you ate it?” his father asked.
“Mmm..mm.. I was hungry after playing with my friend” Samo said.
“You were told to deliver my lunch but you didn’t listen.” his father was very furious. “I can’t handle
you anymore. You are very naughty. Go away from me. Don’t come home anymore.” His father
yelled and evicted Samo from his house.
 And his father said the words that he wouldn’t suppose to say. “You… fish’s son!”
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.
Sumo’s mother was very sad. “I told you don’t tell him about me” she said to her husband.
“Now I’m going back to be fish again. Good bye.” 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.Meanwhile, sumo run to the hill and stayed there. The hill then was surrounded by
the lake.Now,the island in the middle was named after the boy's name, 'Samosir Island'. We can still
visit the lake and this is the most beautiful lakes in Sumatra island, Indonesia.