Huge Fish Eats Child
Okay, not really. But it sounded like a fun topic.
My wonderful husband wanted to dust off the old family aquarium and set it up for our son. We had a thirty-gallon tank for the first few years we lived in this house and it was fun…initially. Until I learned that cleaning a 30-gallon tank was a pain in the patootie. 
So, when our son was still an infant, I traded the fish for store credit at a local pet store and boxed up the aquarium.
A side story, if you will. One of the last fish I had to get out of the aquarium (before taking the thirty or so fish to the store) nearly proved to be the death of me. I hate touching fish. Can’t stand it. Especially twitchy fish who jerk around like they’re Linda Blair, possessed by demons. We had one mother of an algae eater, probably two pounds or so, about eight inches in length. Yes, really. And I had to somehow transport him to the pet store. He was too big for a Zip Loc, so I got a bucket. He was too big for my fish net. Somehow, I managed to nudge him into the large bucket and I thought I was home free. Then he decided to take his own leap toward freedom (cue the “Born Free” soundtrack) and landed on the carpeted office floor, flopping around like crazy. Instead of scooping him back in the bucket, I threw a towel on him and screamed, “Honey!!! Help!!!” My marvelous husband leaped up the stairs and proceeded to rescue the poor demented critter while I quivered in a shrinking mass of pitiful fish-nerves. Did I mention I hate touching fish?
So when the idea came up of reviving the tank, I compromised. We could put the smaller tank up, on the condition that I would not have to clean it. He agreed. (The angels sang, the heavens opened forth….) 
Tonight my son picked out three Neon Tetras for the tank. I’m hoping that they survive for quite a while because I’m not quite ready for the Pet Death conversation.
In other news, I received an interesting letter from Dorchester on my first book My Wild Irish Rogue. This book, I believe, has lots of potential but it has issues that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The letter informed me that, while I did not make the finals for American Title, she thought the opening chapter in the heroine’s point of view was hilarious (her exact word. And yes, I’m thrilled with that.) :headspin: She wrote (handwriting, people! NOT a typed letter!:hello2: ), “I would have preferred if the wry wit continued.” She marked my weakness (it had a checklist too) as the hero.
Huh. Maybe that was my problem. Maybe my hero wasn’t as developed, not quite man enough for the heroine. Well, there you go. Now I know what to fix. So entering the contest was a good thing for me and I have a better sense of my strengths and weaknesses. 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 9:09 pm | Viewed 785 times
MaryF Says:
Cool comments, Michelle! Good luck getting it fixed up!
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
:banana:That’s great that you got personal feedback, Michelle
Mary Says:
Good luck. Sounds like a lot of things are going on.
Suzanne Says:
I hate cleaning fish tanks, too, which is why we no longer have one!
kacey Says:
Just say no to cleaning fish tanks. The dh does ours, or we wouldn’t have one.:mrgreen:
Great personal feedback!!
Melissa Says:
We just bought our daughter another Beta fish…just a small fishbowl, so cleaning it isn’t too big of a deal. But I’m not ready for the “where do fish go when they die” talk again - my daughter asked me if we would flush this one down the toilet again if it died.:whistle:
Those are GREAT comments and it gives you something to work with. VERY important!!!
Jill Says:
Nice info from that editor, congrats!
Kelly Says:
Just something I’ve learned from my own mother regarding fish. When cleaning your son’s fish tank, it’s best not to do it while preparing supper, just on the off chance you put the fish in a pot to hold them and then accidently set the pot on the wrong stove burner. And it’s also a good idea not to compound the problem by answering your son’s question of what’s for supper with the answer ‘uh…fish?’.
Bosey Says:
Wonderful feedback!!! Take it and run!
Bosey
Tori Says:
Great feedback, Michelle!
Michelle Says:
Kelly, you are too funny. LOL! :crazyjumping:
Danica Says:
That sounds like an awesome letter!!
Teresa Says:
That sounds like great feedback!! Wonderful!
Larissa Says:
Excellent feedback! Makes me want to read your story.
Get it published. Now. Thank you. 