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| From phone camera |
Martha and her Collette
had spent much of their fish lives gracing the tank in Dr. Reman’s medical
office. Their job was to flutter their
golden fairy fins, float effortlessly from one end of the four foot tank and
then back again.
No sense of time ever
ruled in their world.
Martha and Collette
had normal fish expectations: food, swim, release waste products. Repeat. This was absolutely fine.
Then Jerome
arrived. Tiny Jerome.
His job was to buzz
around furiously, a gray and browned striped tiny shark-like fish. Jerome was not there for looks; he was there
to eat the waste products and clean algae from the rocks, wafting sea plants,
and the castle which served as a place to linger.
Jerome expected
nothing else, until he saw Collette.
Gazing into one eye on her side and then the other eye, Jerome sensed a
shift in the tank world.
What is more,
Collette sensed it as well.
Martha saw the
exchange and fluttered in between them. Jerome
sped down to the castle, behind a rock.
He waited, hoping that Martha would forget Collette and wander off to
the aerator.
Then, Jerome darted
out, flying through the water to Collette. Their side fins brushed lightly
against each other briefly, but just enough to send vibrations of deep emotion
shivering through them.
Martha broke up the
sensual caress and chased Jerome away.
Watching his retreat, Martha felt the same exultation Collette had felt, the same longing.
Jerome. Tiny Jerome.
Jerome the Gigolo.
One's imagination runs rampant while waiting in the doctor office.
