HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-09-25, Page 50i : a,4!
FIsH':y
by Rachel Cop. Goldfarb
y son won a•goldfish
with two 25 -cent
tickets at a fair last
week. His good
fortune cost me
$21.49, a large hunk
of self-respect, several nights'
sleep, and a substantial portion
of my future peace of mind.
It all started innocently
enough when my dimple-
cheeked cherub plunked a ping
pong ball into a bowl of blue
water at a local school carnival.
His eyes sparkled as if he had
just been presented with the
keys to a chocolate factory.
He tenderly cradled his little
goldfish.(within its plastic
bubble), making polite
conversation in an effort to get
to know his new pet. He turned
and fondled the tiny staring
creature until I was sure its eyes
crossed.
We lunched out after the fair,
and guess who sat, drawing
curious stares from our fellow
diners, on our table as we
gobbled our burgers (no one
had the heart to order fish
fillet).
Before we could take the little
guy home, we needed to
purchase a few basics for his
comfort. The aquarium store
stocked (and advised us to take
home) a bag of glistening blue
gravel, de -chlorinator for the
nasty faucet water, a large
crystal bowl to serve as his
palace, a ceramic pagoda for
recreation and aesthetics, and
three playmates.
Supplies and additional fish in
hand, we completed the trek to
a home we had decided to share
with four other living creatures.
We assembled the goodies and
settled the little critters into
their comfy aquatic domain.
Naming the fish was an
exercise in self -degradation.
After suggesting about 97 names
for each of the fish, I came up
with one name which didn't
embarrass my children.
I named mine Gill, in
recognition of one of his most
prominent features.
My son named his fish
Friendly, because he was; my
daughter named hers Bubbles
because she occasionally blew
one. My husband named his fish
Oil, since the little guy was
black and gold (and black gold.
is, of course, oil.)
Sto
y
All was lovely fora time.
Each morning our offspring
checked the bowl and engaged
in patter with their pets. They
faithfully fed, cleaned and
exercised the scaly beings,
exhibiting responsibility their
father and I were delighted to
witness.
But then the dreaded moment
arrived. A panicked little boy
appeared at my elbow early one
morning, moaning, "Mommy,
Friendly won't move!"
I questioned him about
Friendly's physical position and
determined that the fish had left
his life. (He was floating at the
top of the water on his side). He
was deftly deposited in a
flushing grave and all attention
turned to my despondent son.
He had thrown his head down
on his fleshy arms at the kitchen
table and was sobbing big
moans for his lost friend. No
amount of assurance that I
could give him that Friendly had
not suffered woiild quiet his
pitiful pain.
He finally collected himself
and prepared for school. On his
way out, he asked me to dispose
of the goldfish -shaped Cheddar
cheese crackers in our pantry
because they reminded him of
his recent loss.
Well, the package was new,
but 1 tried to be compassionate.
I tossed the box out but put the
munchies into a plastic
container.
More death followed. That
afternoon, Gill and Oil were in
a similar position and condition
to that of Friendly's that very
morning. They joined him in his
fate, leaving only Bubbles to
swim around the roomy bowl.
Three days later, Bubbles bit
the dust. Her demise left our
daughter no less broken up than
our son, who had just learned
to smile again after the earlier
tragedy of his loss.
She cried and questioned why
her fish had to die, too. With
no answers to offer, I could
only hug her until she was all
cried out.
A couple of weeks have
passed since our family suffered
the four deaths. The place is
quieter, without the young fish
racing around their bowl, and
sadder for me, having witnessed
the loss of my children's
naivete. They no longer expect
everyone to live fore'er.
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