A Fish Story

If you read this post, then you know that we recently added some fish to our outdoor pond.  You may also know that it took over a week for me to actually be sure that the fish survived in their new home.

Aaaaaaaaaanway...

Our fish were thriving and growing....huge.  Katherine and I would go out and watch them swim every afternoon.  On Wednesday, as we were going inside, I noticed the larger of the two fish was trying to pull a "Finding Nemo" and swim into the filter.  I quickly turned the pump off, only to realize that our "little" guy was stuck head first in the filter.

I grabbed the fish net and tried to free him but couldn't, watching helplessly as his limp tail swayed in the water.  I ran and told Jason about the possible fatality, only to return to see the fish had not only freed himself, but was swimming....barely.

He was injured, but continued to swim.  We watched as his breathing slowed, and his fins barely moved.

We stood over the pond watching.  The smaller of the two fish kept swimming in circles around the injured fish.  He was worried about his buddy.  It was so sad.

I stood over the pond yelling.  "LIVE!"

"KEEP SWIMMING!" (You're welcome for the second Finding Nemo reference.)

I'm sure the neighbors thought I was crazy.  I threw some extra fish food into the pond, hoping the extra food would keep him healthy.  We eventually went back inside, and I just knew when I came back out later our fish would be dead.  I was so worried about the healthy fish that I went that afternoon and bought two more fish just in case the injured fish died.  I didn't want Healthy Fish to be alone with the "corpse."

The next morning as I let the dogs out, I hesitantly made my way to the pond to check on our fish.  I found all four fish swimming happily through the water.  Even our injured fish was swimming like nothing had happened.  I couldn't believe it.

When I told Jason the good news, his response was "I'm sure glad I didn't go out there and end his suffering like I going to."

A day later, we found one of our new fish lifeless.  Poor guy.  I was in the middle of the first verse of Amazing Grace when Jason scooped him up and flung him over the fence into the bushes.  So much for Fish's memorial service.