My son bought me a new fountain.
Recently, I decided I might like some fish in it and I ventured into the local pet shop.
I thought there were goldfish and that was it, but no.
For example there are Ryukins, Lionheads, Catfish; Sucking Catfish, Red and White Ranchu; Zebra and Leopard Danio, Orandas and Shubunkins.
Get the picture?
All I wanted was a couple of fish.
I settled for five tiny swimmers. I took them home, read the instructions and put them in their new home, and they have never been seen again.
So, my son decided this was not good enough, he chatted to a knowledgeable friend, and went back to the shop and bought six larger sized goldfish—they happily swum around, came up for air and gazed around, everyone was delighted.
I was left with strict instructions that they were to be fed, every day for the first week, and I have to be truthful—I forgot, for two days.
Mea Culpa
I thought oh no, when I remembered, and I ran out, with food in hand, found one floating, belly up. Oh the shame.
It was one of the expensive ones too.
I raced back to the shop to replace it, and as the girl there knows my family; she was sworn to secrecy.
I drove home, and followed her instructions; immerse the plastic bag in the pond for a while before releasing them. The other direction was to be gentle or the fish would be stressed, are there fish tranquilisers?
I was congratulating myself on my subterfuge, but then I had an awful thought.
We have this front doorbell thing, it films everyone coming and going, and my son checks it during his lunch break.
There was his mum, for ALL the world to see, bag of goldfish held carefully in one hand (so as not to stress it) tin of fish food in the other, there was no denying it.
I owned up.
I have not had any more belly ups since, but even at my age the lesson is there, always tell the truth or it will come out.
Mind you, if I had snuck round and come in the back way, he might never have known.
After all one goldfish looks very much like another.
