Mother had forbidden it, or would if she had known about it anyways. East fashioned a fishhook from one of her sewing needles by heating it on a candle, he strung it to plain thread and dug garden worms. 

He snuck out to go fishing by the sea with the village boys, and cast his makeshift line into bountiful waters. An elderly fellow fishing on the same wharf noticed the youths and came by to observe, he laughed when he saw their measly hooks and said to them, that saltwater fish cared not for garden worms.

And perhaps the sea had heard the man, and thought to teach his pride a lesson. Or perhaps the waters were bursting. For not long after the snide remake was made, East’s bamboo rod tugged in his hand. So he wrestled with the sea, and pulled a long slippery sea-beast onto the deck of the wharf. A snake! He cried, hair standing on ends and jumping back.

The elderly fellow laughed at this, stating to East that his catch was a fine eel, who was prized for numerous dishes. East’s fear turned to glee, and when he returned home that night he found his mother forgiving when she was presented with the fruit of his labors. In the evening, mother prepared the fish, and the family feasted on fresh eel with rice.