El Mohán - Colombian

My name is Mateo, and the Magdalena River is my best friend. I love the way the sun sparkles on the water in the morning and how the colorful macaws chatter in the trees. But sometimes, when the mist curls over the river like a soft blanket, the grown-ups tell stories about a mischievous guardian who watches over the fish and the riverbanks. They say he has wild hair, glowing eyes, and loves to play tricks. This is the story of the day I learned about the legend of El Mohán.

One sunny afternoon, I went down to my favorite fishing spot, but my special net, the one my abuela wove for me, was gone. I looked everywhere, behind the smooth gray rocks and under the big green leaves of the plantain trees. My heart felt heavy. Just as a tear rolled down my cheek, I heard a sound—a playful giggle coming from a dark cave by the water's edge. Peeking inside, I saw two eyes shining like fireflies. A strange, hairy figure with moss in his long hair stepped out, holding my net. But instead of fish, it was filled with the prettiest, shiniest river stones I had ever seen. It was El Mohán. He didn't say a word, just smiled a wide, toothy grin. He pointed with a long finger toward the middle of the river. There, a family of capybaras was splashing and playing right where my net would have been. I suddenly understood. El Mohán wasn't stealing; he was protecting the animals' home.

El Mohán gently emptied the shiny stones from my net, handed it back to me with a wink, and disappeared back into his cave. From that day on, I always made sure to fish in a way that wouldn't bother the river animals. And before I leave, I always find a beautiful, smooth stone to leave on the shore as a thank-you gift for the river's guardian. The story of El Mohán is told all along the rivers in Colombia. It reminds us that nature is full of magic and secrets, and that we must be its friend and protector. It inspires artists to paint pictures of his glowing eyes and musicians to write songs about his playful laugh. And it reminds kids like me that even if we can't see him, the spirit of the river is always watching, reminding us to be kind to the water and all its creatures.