"Adopted By" Oneshots!

Catlynn The Confused Pet Owner

Cat's Age: 13 (This is during the events of the original ABH)

"Pets are a lot of responsibility, Sunshine, are you sure you want to do this?" Elle asked.

"Elle. It's a fish. Plus, this was your idea after all." I said.

I wasn't lying when I said that getting a fish was Elle's idea. She did some research and found out that watching fish swim helps reduce anxiety, so she decided to get me a fish and see how it works.

Only issue is, unlike most kids, I've never had a fish before. Or any pet.

As we reached the pet store, I giggled and ran over to the fish section. Elle was grabbing food and rocks and all the other things for the aquarium we had ordered online a week before. At the moment, it was just a tank with water and nothing else sitting in my room.

"You see anything you like?"

"Mommy! Goldfish!" I cried, and Elle ran over to me and the fish. "They're not that expensive, can we get more than one? Please?"

"I don't see why not." Elle said.

___________

The fish were set up in their aquarium, and we had splurged and gotten 7 tiny goldfish. Heather, Veronica, Martha, J.D., Kurt, Ram, and Olive.

"Okay, Sunshine, I'm leaving the fish food here, you know how to use it?" Elle asked.

"Yes, Elle."

"Are you sure you won't overfeed them?"

"Yes, Elle."

"Are you gonna kill your fish by accident when my back is turned?"

"No, Elle."

"Good girl. I'm gonna go make lunch, read the instructions on the fish food bottle while I'm gone!" Elle said, walking out of my room and closing the door behind her.

I smiled and opened the bottle of fish food. Without reading the instructions or anything, I dumped a handful of rainbow flakes into the bowl and waited as the seven musical-named fish ate the flakes happily.

___________

"Uh Mom? I think I killed Veronica. Or is that Heather? Can you put nametags on fish?" I asked. Elle ran into the room, where there was one dead goldfish floating in the bowl. Elle sighed and said, "Flush it and get in the car."

I scooped up the dead fish and threw it in the toilet, pushing down on the flush handle. "Did it, Mom!" I screamed. Elle came in and ruffled my hair. "Come on, let's go get you a new fish."

_______

This whole fish thing went on for a few days, until Elle came into my room and took the bowl out of my room.

"Mom! What are you doing?" I asked. Elle laughed and said, "You are obviously not responsible enough to take care of these things for now, so I'm gonna keep the bowl in the living room so I can help you take care of them."

"But Mom! They're my fish!" I said. Elle giggled and said, "You're young, Sunshine. You need some help taking care of them for now. They're still your fish."

"Mom?" I asked, and Elle turned towards me.

"Can we get a dog?"

"SUNSHINE!"