I wrote this a few years ago now on the subject of the two goldfish that comprise the current official menagerie of our family, (Excluding the local wildlife of squirrels, magpies, pigeons and urban foxes) It is particularly relevant and not a little bit poignant because one of them died and the other is shortly to be repatriated to the Aquarium Shop as we are no longer able to keep him. The reasons are complicated.
Here goes....
Having written the foregoing I am somewhat ashamed to admit that my two goldfish, constant companions to me in my work-room over the last 3 years remain without any names whatsoever.
I can explain this, partly, in that they were acquired as participants in the Iranian New Year Festival in 2015.
Amongst various symbols of renewal and tradition for Nowruz the fish represented life and creation as they swam around the glass bowl on a ceremonial table. I fully expected our Iranian friend to claim ownership of the fish and take them with him but no. It appears that after the New Year in Iranian Families the symbolic goldfish have served their purpose and just disappear.
So, a few years further on and they are just behind where I sit at my desk, although in a much larger tank. The bubble and murmur of the filter and pump are hardly noticeable to me now although from time to time the fish flick the surface with their tales to disturb my concentration. This is usually as feeding time approaches or if they require a staring match through the thick glass of the tank which they seem to enjoy doing.
As for giving them names, well, I am pretty close to doing that with the catalyst being something that the pair of them have recently done within the few cubic feet of their environment.
It is only in the last week or so that, unbeknown to me and very much behind my back (actually behind where I sit) they have undertaken a large civil engineering project.
Half of the floor area of the tank is now exposed glass, devoid of any gravel or objects. In a painstakingly slow process by mouth or fin the two fish have created a sloping shelf or underwater beach from the small aggregate stones and pebbles that runs from the middle of the tank all of the way up to the outfall of the pump/filter.
Apparently this behaviour is quite normal for goldfish but in this case normal is not a word I would use.
The creation is geologically and topographically perfect over its 30 degree slope. In addition some sizeable stones which were collected during family holidays and excursions for their unusual shape and texture have been manoeuvred into very natural looking positions within and at the foot of the gradient.
This will have been no small feat given their density and ,what I had thought, immovability.
I have been so engrossed in my own work that this major redevelopment scheme has gone unnoticed for so long.
I cannot say which of the fish has assumed the roles of architect, designer, project manager and general labourer although they are very different in size and manner being from two distinct breeds
I can imagine that the larger of the two, a chubby, bossy and belligerent classical Carp shaped fish would be the instigator and the much smaller, delicate and flowing tailed one a bit of a fawning acolyte.
Yes, the fat fish is very bright orange, quite flamboyant and self assured and yet not in possession of the sharpest mind. His companion is subservient but I suspect very clever and a little bit devious in appearing to go along with the whims and fancies of the dominant partner and by doing so getting exactly what it wants.
I can therefore have the naming ceremony here and now.
The pair of fish will henceforth be called Trump and Kush.
There is some satisfaction in having reached this point but I am now a little bit concerned about what the outcome of the further fish tank based activities of Trump and Kush might be- a golf course, a wall or as a launch pad for aggression and mayhem in their own little world...............................................or beyond.
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