NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?

CHAPTER 73

Today my twists are held back by a red ribbon and I'm wearing a black denim pants suit to hide my legs. My face is packed with camouflage so it's smooth and beautiful. But I can't allow myself to smile at the transformation because I only have four days left in the tin. So if it cracks, like it sometimes does, it'll have to stay that way. I look good in the mirror, like I'm interviewing for that evil receptionist's job, and not some janitor's position. But really? Shouldn't I? It would be a shame to get this close and not at least give it a shot. I wet my hands to neaten my hair. The crazy fish jumps straight into the sink. It immediately loses its glow. I reluctantly pick it up and toss it back into the bowl, then rinse my hands off and slowly return them to my hair. It swims towards me, dancing its fins as if in gratitude. I open the bottle next to the bowl and select the biggest flake. She darts up for it. Or is it a he? I don't know that much about fishes.

Anyway, enough of that. I am half hour away from being late and Stocatta Embassy is a fifteen minute brisk walk. It's time to leave if I want to preserve my reputation for punctuality. I rinse my hands off again and head for my room. But something chains my feet to the doorway. So I turn again and stare at the fish, still nibbling on its breakfast. Who do you belong to? How come I've never seen anyone fussing over you? And why are you always trying to kill yourself? Without thinking it through to the end, I grab the bowl and hurry to my room. I set it down on my dresser then return with its food on stealth mode. There. It's official. You're a criminal.

Better go all the way in then. If you must steal from others, pretend like it's a car. Change the colour, number plate; do whatever it takes to make this fish yours. I zoom in to examine its features. No, I can't tell just by looking. What does it matter anyway? If I say that it's a she, then it's final. Now what do I name this precious thing? I know. I'll call her Ruby; short for Rubrum.