Author’s note: The first line of this story was offered by Elizabeth.
It happened at last but not the way I had hoped.
I didn’t have to stay in the river anymore. It was too crowded anyway–too many grand hippos, uncles, aunts and cousins left too little privacy. Too many family members shared the food that was mostly just grass. An occasional fruit would lead to fights among cousins where I always lost, being the weakest one. Also, too many fishes poked their noses in my business, gossiping about who I spoke to and how it all went.
I couldn’t get away from them fast enough.
So, I was happy, at least in the beginning, that I wouldn’t have to share my food anymore. Ever since they brought me here in that trailer, I had had more fruits everyday than ever in my lifetime. And I had the little pond all to myself without any gossiping fishes or frogs or uncles or aunts or cousins…
There was no one to fight for food and no one to gossip with or about…
I finally got the wish I didn’t want anymore.
Short Stories | Fish-eye Perspective 