The Mattanza Joseph and his family lived on the island of Sicily. He lived there with his father Kevin, his mother Liz, his little sister Ellie and his uncle Mikey and Auntie Meg. Joe’s father was the best fisherman in the village, he would catch the biggest tuna for Uncle Mikey to cook, Meg would set the tables and his mother would bring beautiful flowers from the hills and sing to baby Ellie. Every spring the men of the village would follow Joe’s father to the boats and set out to sea to catch the tuna. They would chant............ “Mattanza, Mattanza, Big Fish, Fast Fish, Strong Fish, Slippery Fish” Joe’s father would pull the fish from the sea and take them back to the village. Uncle Mikey cooked them with herbs, Meg poured the wine and the lemonade for the little ones, Joe’s mother gave tiny bits of fish to Ellie and everyone was full and happy. One year Joe’s father sailed to sea, the fishermen chanted.......... “Mattanza, Mattanza, Big Fish, Fast Fish, Strong Fish, Slippery Fish” But no fish came. They returned to the village. Uncle Mikey was sad because he had no tuna to cook. Auntie Meg was sad because no-one was eating at her pretty tables. Joseph’s mother was sad because no-one saw the beautiful flowers she had gathered. “There are no fish” said Joe’s father. “We must find out what is wrong.” They set out to sea, Joseph’s father rowed, Uncle Mikey steered and Joseph kept lookout, they all chanted............... “Mattanza, Mattanza, Big Fish, Fast Fish, Strong Fish, Slippery Fish” But no fish came. They sailed further than they had ever gone before, past Gibralter and to the Atlantic Ocean, and they saw a terrible thing. A huge ship, as big as an island with a red sun flag, and it was sucking up all the tuna fish. “What shall we do?” asked Joseph. “I know” said Uncle Mikey “We need the Rainbow People” and he began to splash the water, Joseph and his father began to splash as well, they splashed and splashed and between them they made a rainbow. Out from the rainbow sailed a beautiful ship, it was painted emerald green and it’s crew were handsome and beautiful and brave and strong. The Rainbow People sailed up to the big black ship with the red sun, they sailed around and around it, they shouted and made noise. “Raaaa” they shouted. And Jospeph’s father shouted “Raaaaa”. And Uncle Mikey shouted “Raaaaa”. And Joseph shouted “Raaaa.” The people on the black ship became fearful, because of all the noise everyone could now see that they were stealing all the tuna fish, they pulled up their anchor and sailed away. The Rainbow People sailed away with a last, mighty “Raaaa”, just in case the bad ship should think to come back. Joseph and his father and Uncle Mikey sailed back to the village, his mother and Auntie Meg were waiting on the harbour, they were very pleased to see them. They all chanted.............. “Mattanza, Mattanza, Big Fish, Fast Fish, Strong Fish, Slippery Fish” And the fish came, Joe’s father caught them, Uncle Mikey cooked them, Meg served them on her pretty tables, Joe’s mother sang and danced for Ellie and Ellie laughed. Everybody was happy again.