What would you do if you were a fish?
Strange question. Strange life. But seriously, what if you were a fish?
The past four weeks, I’m amused and
entertained by the behavior of six fish creatures in our hexagon-shaped
aquarium. My daughter Shiloh Ruthie has been
harping about an aquarium for the longest time ever, and finally four weeks
back, her dream came true.
It was a weekend when the hubby finally
set up the hexagon-shaped aquarium. I had to mention the shape because I found
it unique. Naturally it was designed by the hubby who is an artist. So one
cannot question his motivation on the aquarium’s shape.
I was at home when the first live fish
came in. It was a medium-sized fish, which at first looked like a gold fish to
me. I was delighted because it was medium-sized already and most of all,
because it was given free.
Alas! I learned quickly that this fish
creature was banished by the previous owner because she (let’s assume the fish
is female, or would you rather male?) is a predator fish! She attacks smaller
fishes until they gradually die. And so when the kids came, we started
arguing about the predator fish. Now, isn’t that fun? The family of four argued
about a fish.
That weekend, I decided to buy another
fish specie. This time, we chose a fish with big eyes with the safe assumption (or
so we thought) that the Predator would get intimidated by the bulging eyes. The
fish name is “Extremities”.
When Extremities finally made it to
the aquarium water, and we were counting on his bulging eyes to intimidate
Predator, here comes Predator on the attack! Ha! Talk about intimidation.
From then onwards, Extremities had to
fend for herself by staying away from Predator, and ultimately finding herself
a safe sanctuary - a big shell that we have decorated the aquarium with. As I
ponder on the pitiable situation of Extremities – she is held hostage in her
own habitat, and worst, by her own kind, I can’t help but situate her story with
us – humans. It’s an analogy. So, even in fish life, there is predator and
victim; tyrant and slave; friend and foe; mighty and little; proud and meek;
arrogant and humble.
Extremities only surfaces during
feeding time but immediately returns to her sanctuary after taking a bite or
two. She is so intimidated by Predator.
The next weekend, we bought four more
fish creatures: a pair of Ryukins and a pair of hammer heads – which my
daughter insisted are shark variety. No use arguing with the kid when her mind
is set – about the fish.
We hoped and prayed that Predator
wouldn’t hurt anyone lest, she’ll be banished to oblivion. Alas! the same thing
happened. Predator immediately took a liking to one Rayukin and started hurting
her. Poor thing. So immediately, Predator was banished to the pail where she
stays up to this day for wanting of a recipient. Poor thing.
The moment her shadow left the
aquarium, fish life became alive. Extremities swam up and joined the rest of
her kind. What joy she must have felt now that she is free. She must have
shouted FREEDOM!
Then, lo and behold! We saw something
magnificent unfolding before our very eyes. Extremities changed colors. Now I
understand why she is called Extremities: she can change color from very light
to very dark and in-between. It’s beautiful seeing her transformation from a
light-colored fish to a black one. Then, she sheds black for gray retaining
dark stripes like a zebra before turning light again.
Analogy, in fish life, when one is
truly free; a fish creature shows her true colors and beauty. Sounds human.
(This article was originally written for a column in a local newspaper.)
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