goldie the goldfish
This is a story about a happy little goldfish that lives in an aquarium and belongs to a little boy named Jack. Jack calls the little goldfish Goldie because he thought that was the best name for a goldfish. Now that makes sense, doesn’t it? Goldie doesn’t do any tricks like a dog does, but every day when he sees Jack getting the fish food, he swims in circles and even jumps up out of the water a little. Jack enjoys watching Goldie’s tricks.
Doing tricks makes Goldie happy too, but he also is sad that, being a fish, he doesn’t get pet on the head like a dog or cat. When Jack feeds Goldie, he opens the lid on top of the aquarium to drop in a few little pellets of food, and, sometimes, Goldie will poke his head out of the water and give Jack a little kiss on his finger. Jack will smile and say, “Aww, thanks Goldie. I love you too,” but he never touches Goldie. One of Goldie’s favorite things to do is to watch the tv that is on the counter across from his tank and his favorite shows are the ones where he sees people and animals hugging, but Goldie knows it would be very hard for him to be hugged because, well, he’s a fish.
Goldie has been in the aquarium for three happy years, and is used to being by himself, but wouldn’t mind having some company too. One day when Goldie was swimming around the tank, he saw Jack walking towards him. Jack was looking at Goldie and talking. Goldie moved closer to the glass so he could hear what Jack was saying. It sounded like he said, “Would you want to have a friend, Goldie?” Goldie’s eyes got very big and he just stood perfectly still so he could hear anything Jack said better. He noticed that Jack was holding a box that he laid on the table next to the fish tank. Goldie couldn’t figure out what Jack had in the box. It couldn’t be another fish because it was just a box with no water.
Finally, Jack took the top cover of the fish tank and laid it on the floor, then reached into the box and took out a turtle! Jack held the turtle in his hand and put it close to the tank’s window. He held it so Goldie could see the turtle, then said, “Goldie, this little turtle was in the grass in the back yard. He looked lost and it also looks like there is something wrong with his back legs. There is no water back in the yard where he could go, so I thought that maybe we should take care of the little guy. Winter is almost here and I’m not sure he can take care of himself in the cold. He seems to be a very nice turtle. He doesn’t bite. I think you will like the company. What do you think?” Goldie couldn’t believe his eyes! A friend! Goldie swam around in circles and jumped out and back into the water several times and shouted, “Absolutely the turtle can live here,” but Jack only saw Goldie opening and closing his mouth because usually humans can’t hear other animals talk.
He looked at Goldie and said, “We will give it a try and if it doesn't work out then I will find a pond to put him in. Right now, though, I have to put this big rock in your tank so the turtle will have a place to climb out of the water once in a while. Turtles aren’t like fish, they have to get out of the water every now and then to breathe. You will learn more about him after you are with him a few days. I think you will like having him living with you. He will be company for you.” Jack took the big stone and put it in the corner of the fish tank. Goldie looked at the big rock. He wasn’t sure if he liked it being there, but if it meant having a friend, he would learn to live with it.
As Jack gently placed the turtle on top of the rock, he said, “I forgot to tell you, Goldie. The turtle’s name is Shelly. I’m sure you could guess why I named him that!” Jack watched Shelly for a couple of minutes, then said, “Okay, I have to go, but I will be back in the morning to see how you two are doing. Goodnight Goldie. Goodnight Shelly,” and with that Jack was gone. Now it was just Goldie and Shelly together.
Goldie poked his head above the surface of the water, looked at Shelly and said, “Hi! I’m Goldie! Do you think you are going to like it here?” Shelly looked down at Goldie in the water and said, “I don’t know. I think it’s too early for me to tell how this will be. I am scared though. And I don’t know if I will like you or not.” Goldie laughed so hard that bubbles came out of his mouth! He said, “YOU’RE scared? You don’t know if you will like ME? How about me? I’ve lived here by myself for many years and all of a sudden, now I have to share my tank with someone I don’t even know. I am probably more scared than you and how do I know I will like you?” Then Goldie calmly said, “You know, if I must say so myself, I think I am a nice guy, so you have no reason to be scared.” Shelly looked at Goldie and said, “I think I am a nice guy too, so I’ve been told. It seems like you and me will be living together for a long time, so we better try real hard to always be nice to one another.” Goldie said, “You are right, Shelly. We will both make sure to always be nice to one another.” Then Goldie said, “Well, it is getting late so we better get some sleep so we can be nice to one another tomorrow.” Shelly laughed and smiled a big turtle smile then said, “Thanks, Goldie. I’m not as scared anymore. I think you are right – you are a nice guy.” Goldie said, “And you are too!” Shelly then said, “I sleep on my rock, where do you sleep?” Goldie said, “I sleep down here in the corner of the tank where it’s darker.” They both said good night to each other and went to sleep.
The next morning Jack came to feed them. He had some green leaves for Shelly and fish food for Goldie. Jack lifted the top of the fish tank and put the green leaves on Shelly’s rock. Shelly had gone for a swim, but as soon as he saw the leaves, he swam over to his rock as fast as he could. He was so hungry that when Jack looked at the rock again, the green leaves where almost gone. Goldie also ate his food very quickly. Jack said, “Boy, you two are so hungry. I don’t have any more food with me, but I’ll be back soon with more. Hope you don’t starve before I get back,” he said with a chuckle. Shelly looked at Goldie and said, “Now what are we supposed to do?” Goldie said, “Well what do you usually do after you eat your food?” Shelly said, “I really don't do anything. Sometimes I just take a nap.” Goldie said, “That’s a good answer! It’s nap time!” Goldie swam over to his corner and Shelly climbed up on his rock, and before you could count to ten, they were both sound asleep.
After an hour or so, Shelly woke up and saw that Goldie was still sleeping. Shelly swam over to Goldie and with his back legs he gave Goldie a kick. Goldie jumped up out of his sleep, looked at Shelly and said, “What was that for?” Shelly said, “I just wanted you to wake up. I missed talking to you.” Goldie was so happy to hear that. No one except Jack ever talked to him and even that wasn’t too often. Goldie swam in a circle around Shelly and said, “What do you want to talk about?” Shelly said, “I want to hear about when you were a little fish.” Goldie laughed and said, “What are you talking about? I am still a little fish!” Shelly said, “I mean when you were a baby fish.” Goldie said, “There really isn’t too much to tell. When I was a baby, I was living in a fish tank with a bunch of other fish in a pet store. Then Jack’s mother came in with Jack and they bought me and a small fish bowl, then took me home. I was in the little fish bowl for about 6 months and then Jack’s mother bought this aquarium that we are in now. That is my whole life story. I told you it wasn’t too interesting. Now it’s your turn to tell me your story.”
Shelly said, “Well, your life story sounds better than mine. I had many, many brothers and sisters and we always had a good time playing. We would jump into the pond and go for a swim, then come out and play in the grass. About a week or so ago, my mother told all my brothers and sisters and me that it was time to head to our winter home. She started walking through the tall grass, and we all followed her, but I had a very hard time keeping up because my legs don’t work that great. They started getting farther and farther ahead of me. I ran as fast as I could, but I couldn’t keep up. I was worn out, so I had to stop. I decided to just stay where I was, but I didn’t really know where that was. There was lots of grass to eat, but not much water, so I was really lucky when Jack found me and put me in the tank with you.” Goldie said, “I’m sure you miss your family, but I’m glad you are here with me now. You will be ok. After all, you have me to watch over you.” Shelly laughed and said, “Thanks Goldie! I really like being here and I’ll watch over you too!” The door opened and there was Jack with their food. Shelly said, “This actually turned out great! I have a nice home and I get my meals brought to me every day. And I have an awesome fish friend who I can talk to and who will take care of me. I really am lucky.” Goldie said, “You mean WE are lucky!”
Time has gone by and Goldie and Shelly are still the best of friends. One day Jack came in carrying a plastic bag. Jack held the plastic bag up for Goldie and Shelly to see and inside the bag was a tiny little frog. Jack said, “I saw this little guy in the pet store and he was in a tank all by himself just looking out the glass at the people walking by. It reminded me of you Goldie when you were just a baby all alone in the pet store. I saw how happy you and Shelly were having each other that I figured maybe this little guy would be happy living with the two of you. I know you will treat him nice.” With that Jack put the bag in the water and opened it so the little frog could swim out. As soon as he swam out of the bag, he went right over to Goldie and rubbed his head against Goldie’s head. Then the little frog went over to Shelly and rubbed his head against Shelly’s head too. Goldie and Shelly looked at each other and just smiled the biggest smiles. “Welcome to our home,” Goldie and Shelly said at the same time. “I think we should call you Froggy,” said Goldie.
Well the three of them became the best of friends and were very happy to be with one another. They would play all day, take naps together, but one of their favorite things to do was to talk and watch the tv on the counter. So, if you have a fish or turtle or frog of your own, be sure to talk to them because they may just be able to know what you are saying and they would enjoy the company! And leave the tv on for them too!
Enjoy being with animals and remember always be kind to them.
