I tried to help him and almost broke his heart. Boo has a lovely little Beta named "Sharkey". As most of you know, death of aquatic life is as frequent in our home as the number of "Last Chance to Save" credit card applications received in the mail per week . But it is always a sad and tearful event. This time it was almost my fault.
You see, Ben was busy as all eight year olds are. There are Lego things to build, and race cars to wreck, dogs to chase or bikes to jump ...you get the idea. I noticed that Sharkey's small home was getting soft, furry and green. His little fins slapped slowly at his sides. He was not talkative, no, he barely moved his mouth at all. In fact, he was very still; VERY still lying in that tiny fern. I thought I'd help out and clean the tank.
I looked around for the net to move him to another container but couldn't find it. Well, okay no one is watching I'll just reach in and grab him. Sharkey must have been napping because when I reached in there, he went directly insane and swam like a Cheetah runs. I was the boob trying to catch him ending up just stirring the tank water, slopping it all over and creating a waterspout. At LAST I trapped him in the fern but when I dragged him to the top he Kamikazeed right out of my hands and onto the carpet. I heard a soft "whump" but lost him in the shadows behind the dresser.
That stupid dresser was too heavy to move so I had to pull out the drawers and set them on the bed. I stacked the drawers; six of them. I moved the shell out and called for Sharkey....no not like Dr. Doolittle, more like: "What the "Fuffis"...stupid fish...where ARE you...If you die I'll ki...." I know you get it. I found the little dickens gasping for ... water? covered in a dust bunny, a "onesie" Lego and a little Walmart Happy face. FABULOUS. I scooped him up and began to clean him off. There was no movement; no gasping, no flopping. I feared it was Kaputz for the blue buddy.
"Ohhhh NO!" I muttered and rubbed him a little. Nothing. I was frustrated and mad at myself. "Good job Mom." I thought and as I rocked back I knocked the drawers over...all his clothes fell, drawers crashed and Sharkey never moved. Not to be daunted by death, I shook the carcass from my hand into a cup of ick water. I picked up the tank and sloshed down the hall. I completed what I'd started...one of the hangups of being a mom...no matter WHAT! I'm gonna finish SOMETHING I started today...come Hell or high water!!! Bad pun I suppose, in hindsight. I washed the fern and cleaned the filter...lalala. I went back and plopped in the blue blob. I could fake it and act surprised when the body was discovered. It happens in Forensic Files all the time.
But Ben came bounding up the stairs too soon and stopped short. "What happened?" He wailed. I felt the color flood my cheeks. I was caught. I was thinking of how I was going to have to explain ONE MORE death in this house. "Mommy? Are you cleaning my room or messing?"
I laughed. "Cleaning Boo. AND I cleaned your fish tank." Short of Tahdah and the game show arm wave, I stepped aside. May as well get it over with. Boo stepped up and surveyed.
"Thanks Mom. He really seems to like it. Cool."
"What? He's not dead?" I snapped and turned to look.
"Noooooo....." Ben cocked his head. "Was he before?"
"Noooooo.....just sleeping." I stammered.
"But you thought he was..."
"Yes." I didn't lie.
He looked at the mess on the bed that spilled on the floor.
"Am I gonna get in trouble for that?"
"No. Am I gonna get for Sharkey?"
"No. Not this time."
Whew. I got off lucky. It was a draw.
