CUTIS was not an ordinary boy. In his small village, he was known for being both clever and curious, but also a little impulsive. He loved trying new ideas—sometimes without thinking through the consequences. His mother often warned him, “CUTIS, think twice before you act. One small mistake can grow into something bigger than you expect.”
One warm afternoon, CUTIS was sitting under the mango tree in front of his house, feeling bored. The air was heavy with the scent of ripe fruit, and the buzzing of cicadas filled his ears. “I want to do something exciting today,” he thought. Just then, he remembered a story his friend had told him about using a small fishing net to catch fish from the river and selling them at the market. The idea sparked in his mind—fast money, adventure, and something new to try.
Without telling his mom, CUTIS grabbed an old net from the shed, slung it over his shoulder, and ran toward the river. Along the way, he imagined himself returning home with a bucket full of fish, his mother praising him for being resourceful. He didn’t realize that the net he grabbed was actually his father’s special net—meant for a bigger job—and it had been carefully repaired over weeks to prepare for the upcoming fishing season.
When CUTIS reached the riverbank, the water glistened under the afternoon sun. He waded in, casting the net with enthusiasm. At first, things went well—he caught a few small fish and felt proud. But greed got the better of him. He moved deeper into the river, hoping for a bigger catch. The current was stronger than he expected, and in his excitement, he dragged the net across sharp rocks.
Rrrrip!
The sound was sharp and unmistakable. CUTIS froze. When he pulled the net out of the water, his heart sank—it had a huge tear right in the middle. Fish slipped through the hole and swam away. His father’s hard work had been destroyed in just minutes.
Panic bubbled in CUTIS’s chest. He knew the net was precious, and repairing it again would take weeks. His father needed it soon for their family’s main fishing trip, which brought in enough income to last several months. Without it, they could lose their best chance to earn money for the season.
CUTIS’s first instinct was to hide the net and pretend nothing happened. He stuffed it behind a pile of reeds and hurried home. But guilt followed him like a shadow. That evening, at dinner, his father’s cheerful talk about the upcoming fishing trip made CUTIS’s stomach twist.
“Tomorrow, I’ll check the net and make sure it’s ready,” his father said with a smile. CUTIS could hardly swallow his food.
When the morning came, his father went to the shed—and the truth came crashing down. “CUTIS!” his father’s voice was loud and sharp. “Where is my net?”
CUTIS tried to explain, but his voice trembled. “I… I just wanted to catch some fish… I didn’t mean to—”
“You didn’t mean to?” His father’s disappointment was worse than anger. “Do you understand what you’ve done? That net took weeks to fix. Without it, we can’t go on the trip. We’ll lose our income this season.”
His mother stepped in, her eyes soft but firm. “CUTIS, hiding your mistake made it worse. If you had told us right away, maybe we could have found another solution.”
The weight of his actions settled heavily on him. CUTIS couldn’t bear to see his parents struggling because of him. That night, he made a decision—he would fix his mistake, no matter how hard it was.
The next morning, he walked to the village market and asked the net repair man how much it would cost to mend the damage. The price was high—too high for him to pay. So CUTIS offered to work for him, cleaning his workshop, carrying supplies, and running errands in exchange for the repair.
For two weeks, CUTIS worked harder than he ever had in his life. The days were long, and his friends teased him for “being a servant,” but he ignored them. Slowly, he earned enough to pay for the repairs. When the net was finally ready, CUTIS carried it home with pride.
His father examined it carefully, then looked at CUTIS. “You worked for this?”
“Yes,” CUTIS said quietly. “I’m sorry for what I did… and for hiding it. I wanted to make it right.”
His father’s stern face softened. “You’ve learned a hard lesson, son. Mistakes happen—but it’s what you do after that shows your character. You took responsibility. I’m proud of you for that.”
The family made it to the fishing trip, though they had to shorten it by a few days. They didn’t earn as much as usual, but something more valuable had been gained—trust.
From then on, CUTIS thought twice before acting. He realized that excitement without responsibility could lead to disaster. And he learned that honesty, though difficult in the moment, prevents pain from growing.
Years later, CUTIS would tell his own children the story of “the torn net,” not to embarrass himself, but to remind them that even serious mistakes can lead to meaningful lessons—if you face them with courage and make things right.
