About two weeks ago, Cullen and I took a trip over to the Carrefour in Chaoyang district. We went upstairs to the appliance and housewares department. We decided to purchase a toaster-oven so we could make some tasty chocolate chip cookies and other quick and easy treats and dinners. This purchase took some time to decided on, considering that there are only 2 of us, but we have been used to having an oven for a while. We finally decided on a toaster oven and started to meander about among the other odd appliances and devices and into the dishes and eating implements.
On the end-cap of one of the aisles, almost directly in the center of the store was a beta fish display. There had to be about 3 rows deep and 4 rows high of beta fish in little cups with lids that had a single hole punched out of the top so the betas could have air. One of the sales associates had put two of the betas in a cup and was watching them fight. It was very peculiar to see someone do this and not get reprimanded by the other sales associates around, even the manager.. or so she appeared to be, didn't say much to her. The betas in the jar just looked oddly at each other. In the three minutes it took me to pick a beta, neither of them had started attacking the other.
A fish bowl was no where to be found, all they had was the little plant with a glass bowl under it for filling with water... I was told that this works for the betas, so I was willing to give it a try.
After completing our trip to the supermarket, we hurried to put our new scaly friend into the bowl. I wasn't going to rush the choice of a name for him. It's very important, a name. He couldn't be just any fish, he was special. George or Randal just wouldn't do. I didn't think that Freddie or Thomas would do either. I held him tightly the whole taxi ride home, pondering what his name would be. His shiny blue body with beautiful streaks of white and lovely inconspicuous hints of red. I couldn't rush this decision.
For two days I contemplated... agonizing over what name would please him... what name would fit...
Considering that he was from a French supermarket, I thought... yes, it would have to be a French sounding name.... so Francois it would be.
He is quite happily swimming about in his tiny bowl with the plant threatening to bloom above his head. The beautiful green jack-in-the-pulpit adds some life and joy to our little apartment. It's a new set of friends we are pleased to welcome and overjoyed to see happy and healthy.
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