I CAN BLOW BUBBLES THROUGH YOUR ALIBI
[NOTE: To really understand this story, you have to start at the beginning…]
When one fish dies, one can say many things…
- Paul was the smaller, naturally weaker fish – he didn’t have as much of a chance
- He’d been through a lot already in his short life surviving the fair and the floor
- At least we still have strapping Paul Jr.!
But when two fish die, suddenly it goes from unfortunate circumstance to serial fish killer.
Though not a word has been said, I still stink of the crime committed. While going through the irrational emotional roller coaster that these two little fishies set me on, my family laughed at me and empathized, laughed with me and ridiculed, laughed and told me to suck it up. Now that both fish are history – silence.
Paul Jr., the bigger, heartier fish, lasted 2 days longer than Paul. His emotionless stare seemed happier that he swam the full circumference of the tank. He bobbed around enjoying his pirate ship. We discussed getting Paul a companion, but wanted to see how this fair fish would fare first.
I tried bribing the kids with hamsters because I prefer furry and sawdust mess to fish any day.
We concluded that while our cats were blissfully unaware of the fish at this point, we knew that wouldn’t be the case if we had hamsters.
Sadly, Monday morning before school, Carson said “Where’s Lauren’s fish?!” My mind immediately thought:
- Oh Carp! The kids are joking
- If it jumped out of the tank, the kids better find it
- If we can’t find it, the cats better find it because I don’t want a zombie fish apocalypse
Quickly without much fanfare, the fish was flushed. This was becoming too familiar a scene and we still made it to work on time.
I would never intentionally hurt animals. I floundered with fish ownership but it’s just not something I do well. My family forgets that my childhood fish were thanks to my dad’s TLC. My family has fallen silent, no last words, no condolences. Perhaps they’re suspicious that a double fishicide took place here and afraid that if they mention it that I might send them to… sleep with the fishies.
R.I.P. Pauls
Great fish tale but do remember feeder fishes , the ones you win from carnivalas, and or the ones you buy from a pet store are the ones that won’t live too long. Unless you get a huge 5 gallon tank , chemicals, filter, rocks and lots of TLCs, they won’t that long. Lucky if it’s survives for a month! Definitely fishicide not homicide.
Thanks for the pep talk! If I am going to get fish again it will be with more bells and whistles and then I will get some red fish to go with the gold fish – USC!! Thanks for wandering through!