I have a fish called Graham and recently poor Graham has had issues with his filter (which was very expensive and only bought about nine months ago) I’ve had a whole series of filters, and they have all been pretty hopeless, even though I have asked advice each purchase. They are made of black plastic so it’s really difficult to see the different component parts – even my daughter with great eyesight struggled. They are very difficult to take to pieces in order to clean them, replace filters, etc… and I could go on, but back to the story.
I went to buy a new filter and for once I had a really helpful and friendly assistant, and I told him about Graham and he didn’t roll his eyes and look bored like some assistants have done. I told him that Graham was on his own but seemed perfectly happy. He told me that a little while ago the pet shop had a tank of fish, including one which was slightly deformed and only had two fins. He seemed healthy otherwise, and swam at an angle, waving his fins as if he was walking on the bottom of the tank. Sadly no-one wanted to take him home.
A gentleman came in and purchased several of the fish’s cousins in an adjacent tank, and remarked on the lonely fish “walking” round his empty tank. The gentleman left with his purchases… and ten minutes later he returned. He had been sitting in his car thinking about the lonely fish, and wanted to buy him! Because he was a little “different”, the price on the fish was reduced to £0! Several weeks later the gentleman returned to buy some more fish food and a few water-weeds, and reported that his fish was doing well, happily walking round the bottom of his tank, and was now named Ian. What a happy end to a fishy tale!
I told Graham about Ian, and he was very happy for his fellow pisces.
Lois Elsden 