Raging Dad

Sonny's fish, the late Lucy.

Today we laid Sonny’s fish, Lucy, to rest. She died a violent death, her fragile fins irreversibly damaged by Michael’s cruel fish, Leaf.

Since Connie has experienced the ups and downs of pet ownership, we decided that the boys could have goldfish for their birthday. When they joined the Raging Household, all seemed well in the world for the two fish. Leaf seemed a bit aggressive when it came to feeding time. We noticed that sometimes Leaf would chase Lucy around the tank, which seemed cute. Then Lucy became a Kubrick-like recluse, refusing to emerge from the decorative pirate skull that should have been her playpen.

It was hard to tell what exactly was happening to poor Lucy. Once I walked into the room and thought that I saw some kind of skirmish going on inside the skull. It appeared that Leaf was poking repeatedly at Lucy in the shadows, in the dark of the pirate’s cranium crypt.

The treacherous Leaf.

Last night Lucy came out one last time to bob at the top of the tank. She breathed in the cool water but did not feed, her appetite long gone. The remains of her fins allowed her only limited mobility, but it was enough to take her to the top for one last swim.

This morning we found Lucy wedged in between the side of the tank and the filter intake tube. She was gone.

Sonny, who had been prepared for the possibility of her early demise, seemed to feel the need act sad. He sniffled a bit, and asked what we would do with Lucy’s body. I said that we would probably flush her down the toilet.

Raging Mom shot me a glance, and corrected, “Actually, guys, I think we should bury Lucy in the backyard.” Damn, those moms are smart.

I looked to Sonny, whose turned down mouth was charting a course upward, cried out, “Let’s flush her down the toilet!” Any shred of sadness gone, things were right in Sonny’s world again with the thought of sending Lucy down the shoot.

This morning we laid Sonny’s fish, Lucy, to rest. She was buried in the backyard near the wisteria, her grave marked by Sonny’s favorite rock, the one called “bonebreaker.” Her eulogy was Raging Mom talking about natural course of life ending in decay and blending with the earth to provide nutrients that bring life and sustenance to the plants. It sounded lovely, and I am sad that I missed it.

Sonny told us that his next fish will named Sara. How lucky to be a little boy filled with wonder and hope!

Lucy, the girl with kaleidoscope eyes.

Song of the day: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” The Beatles.