The Circle of Life

A few weeks ago Paul (my boyfriend) and I took Lexi to a local fair and happened to win a couple of goldfish. Looking back, I'm not sure why I thought it was such a good idea in the first place. I knew I would be the one changing the water, feeding them, and dare I even say it, eventually flushing the little golden guys...

Regardless, there we were at Wal-Mart purchasing the $11.00 starter kit, including a one gallon glass bowl, some rocks, some de-chlorinater, and a small sample pack of food as the new addition to the family waited patiently in the car in the zip-lock bag which had served as their temporary home for most of the day. I decided to let Lexi name them, seeing as these were her first pets ever. Without contemplation she instantly decided on Big Swimmy & Little Swimmy.

When we arrived home, we immediately got the new members of the family settled in. We decided that the open spot on the counter would serve as their home from now on. They looked so happy. Life was good.

Things were going great for a week straight... or so I thought. The following Sunday we arrived home sometime early evening and I was helping Lexi do something. Paul called me into the kitchen. I could tell something was wrong. The look on his face was half genuine concern, half smirk. I knew it couldn't be good. Our conversation went a little something like this...

Paul: "I think Big Swimmy Died"

Jackie: "Noooooo. No he's fine it's only been a week, I changed the water and fed them."

Paul: "No I tapped on the bowl and everything... he's dead"

Jackie: "let me see, and stop laughing."

I proceeded to walk over to the bowl, and this is what I found.

We broke the news to Lexi a few minutes later. She was heartbroken... for about five minutesFinally, after sharing a few fond memories, and shedding a few tears, we said our good byes.

Wish us luck that Little Swimmy lives a bit longer than Big Swimmy did. I don't want to have to explain the circle of life to my child again for a very, very long time.