The next morning Harley’s eyes burned. The water had gotten even cloudier. Harley looked around for Sushi. Where’s Sushi? Harley thought. He swam around for a minute and found him by the heater in the top corner of the tank.
Harley called out, “Sushi.” There wasn’t a response so Harley swam over. “Sushi? Hey, you okay?” Harley said with worry in his voice.
Sushi wiggling his fins ever so slightly to stay a float. “Hey Harley, I’m not feeling too good.”
“Hang in there. We’re going to get out of here just as soon as the big head comes over and opens the lid,” Harley reassured.
“I don’t think I can do it, Harley,” Sushi said weakly. “I feel pretty frail.” There was a pause. Harley didn’t know what to say so Sushi continued, “Hey, listen. You should check on Bubbles. I don’t think she is doing too well.”
For the first time Harley had dropped the tough guy act, “Where is she?”
There was another pause for Sushi to gain some strength. “She’s done there, on the rocks.”
Harley swam done to her. He stared at her. He checked her tail and fins. He looked at her gills and watched her eyes. There was no movement. Harley went in close and gave her a nudge. There was no denying it, Bubbles had died. Harley didn’t want to believe it. Harley nudged her again and again, still no movement. He nudged her again and again and again, still nothing. Sushi swam down to Harley and Bubbles.
“Harley,” Sushi said softly. “Let her go.” Harley nudged her again; it was obvious she was gone. “It’s alright, Harley. She’s in the big pond up there in heaven.”
Harley was quiet. The big head turned on the light. Harley looked up. He looked at Sushi. The hood swung open. Harley darted. He swam and swam as fast as he could. He was at top speed approaching the surface of the water. All he had to do was make it out through the opening in the hood, and then he would be free. He wouldn’t have to die like Bubbles did. He wouldn’t feel sick like Sushi. He wouldn’t be confined in a tiny tank with food and poop. He would be free.
The event played out in slow motion. He shot out at full speed, the cool air brushed past his mouth and dorsal fin. Soon he would be free. But something happened. He never felt that same air feeling on the rest of his body. His body arched and he headed back down into the water. His belly never even left the water. It was utter humiliation, a severe blow to his ego. He drove at full speed and didn’t even come close to the top of the tank. How would he ever be free now?
Sushi saw what happened and knew that Harley would be disappointed. He watched as Harley swam dejectedly into the rock sculpture. Sushi decided to let him be. Sushi had his own problems to deal with. Sushi was fighting but he felt death coming through the glass. Death had already taken Bubbles. Now, Bubbles was being taken away by the big head. Sushi and Harley wouldn’t be breaking out today.
…Tune in next week to find out what happens to Sushi and Harley.
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