Breaking Down. Something was wrong with the pump. Here we go again thought Molly, but this time Mother noticed straight away. ‘Henry, can you take a look at the aquarium pump? It’s vibrating, but there are no bubbles.’ It took Father most of the day to get the pump working properly. Mother kept out of … Continue reading Pond People 26

Breaking Up. Andre was intrigued by the sudden appearance of a bed of plant debris lining the gravel. To Flash’s amusement, the boy set up tests to try and determine how intelligent the fish were. He devised different casings for the brine shrimps to see if the fish could get into them. After baiting his … Continue reading Pond People 25

Happy New Year. More weeks passed. The mirlings recovered from the family’s holiday. The shelters they’d made for themselves behind the plants became more home-like. The children brought their friends to see the tank, and the mirlings learned humans weren’t all the same colour after all, although the range was limited. They brightened their unexciting … Continue reading Pond People 23

Scents of Home. When the family came home there was little movement in the tank. The fish hung listlessly in the water or rested on the gravel. Flash had stopped looking out for humans and crawled into cover as the children bounded into the kitchen. Andre paused by the tank. ‘What’s that smell?’ ‘Yeuch!’ ‘It’s … Continue reading Pond People 22

Dreams. Flash hadn’t told anyone about his nightmares. When he first joined the pond, he would dream every night that he was back in the pet shop. Over time, the dreams came less often and, although his confidence was dented by his encounter with the cat, the nightmare hadn’t returned. He could tell himself he … Continue reading Pond People 20

Home Improvements. Each day, flakes were scattered on the water’s surface and the children’s father would watch the fish feed. One afternoon he brought home a carrier bag which he placed on the table. It bore a picture of a strange fish which had a smile that Molly thought wasn’t at all fish-like. ‘You’ve been … Continue reading Pond People 19

Settling In. It was a relief to be out of the bowl and no longer exposed on all sides. Behind the tank was a wall, so the mirlings could walk behind the stones without fear of being seen. Molly thought they should stay under cover anyway when the family were around. She addressed this advice … Continue reading Pond People 18