this is the story of mr. bubbles and fancy cakes. this story is based on a true story in my life, however, when my good friend Scott Salai was in need of a story for his english compisition class, i let him borrow my story.
the names and some of the minor details have been changed to protect the guilty.
On a whim, we decided to get something by which we could remember one another. I suggested 52. color televisions. However, that was out of our budget. Instead we settled for two goldfish. They cost a grand total of twelve cents. We paid cash - exact change.
As we continued shopping, we began to think of possible names for the two doomed fish. In jest, I began to suggest names that I attained from products as we passed them. "Crest and Tampax!" I declared. This suggestion was quickly shot down. After other equally idiotic propositions such as "Trojan and KY", we finally arrived at Mr. Bubbles and Fancy Cakes as suitable names for our pets. Mr. Bubbles was the name of a bubble bath and Fancy Cakes was the name of a Little Debbie snack cake, which, by fate, had been placed on a display in the middle of the Health and Beauty section.
Afterwards, my sister went to school and we each took care of our own goldfish. Mr. Bubbles belonged to me. Alas, I was not nearly responsible enough to care for a creature as fragile as a goldfish. Slowly, the water in the bowl became a pale shade of green. It got to the point where when I changed the water, Mr. Bubbles would act sickly until the water became contaminated once again.
My sister's goldfish did not have this problem. Fancy Cakes lived in crystal clear water. Christina even purchased water additives to make the fish healthier. There was no expense too great for dear Fancy Cakes. The fish had a large bowl, exotic food (given at regular intervals), and a green plastic plant. Mr. Bubbles, on the other hand, was forced to live in a clear oversized coffee cup I had borrowed from my mother's cabinet. He also endured infrequent meals of the cheapest food I could purchase from the closest store I could find. He did not even have rocks, let alone a plant.
Sometimes my sister would send me a picture of Fancy Cakes, which she had taken with a web cam. Once she even sent me a video tour of her dorm room featuring the fish. I too had a web cam, but I told her it was broken. I was too embarrassed to reveal the horrific conditions in which the poor fish lived.
During spring break I attended a band trip all the way down to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The excitement leading to the excursion caused me to forget I even owned a fish. This was one of the best weeks I had experienced all throughout high school. I went on a tour of the Smokey Mountains, saw several movies, and even saw a wild bear. While I had one of the best weeks of my life, Mr. Bubbles ended his.
Upon my return I was shocked to see that Mr. Bubbles had not died. He had exploded. Floating at the top of his coffee cup was a tiny fish spine with two fillets hanging from each side. The rest of him was nowhere to be found. I immediately felt guilty and wondered how to break the news to my more responsible sister.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we chatted on instant messenger that night. One of her first questions was, How is Mr. Bubbles? I solemnly broke the news. She was consoling and remarked, I'm surprised it lasted this long! Although I was a bit angered by her well-placed judgment, I quickly got over it.
The following summer, my sister came home from school. When I first looked upon the well-fed Fancy Cakes, my guilt was rekindled. It being summer, my sister decided to head on a one-week shopping trip to Minnesota.s Mall of America. During this week she entrusted Fancy Cakes to my care. My previous failure to support life made me all the more determined to ensure the safety of this well cared for fish.
One week later my sister returned from her trip with several bags of purchases. From one bag she drew out a CD by one of my favorite bands, Live. I asked her what else she had purchased on her trip. "Some clothes and a couple of treats for Fancy Cakes." I replied, "Fancy Cakes?"