by Jon Lymon
Gloria Goldfish
Searches For
Lost Gold
© 2013 Jon Lymon
ALSO FOR CHILDREN BY JON LYMON
The Bird Who Flew A Bit Too Far (A Handwritten Tale)
Wesley Bear Escapes From The Zoo
One
Gloria the goldfish was swimming through the ocean at breathtaking speed, flapping her fins faster than ever, swishing her tail from side to side.
‘Quick, quick,’ she kept saying to herself, looking behind her at the splashes and bubbles she was leaving in her wake.
Through them she could see that whoever was chasing her was getting closer.
Gloria had to do something to get away. And fast. She swung sharply to the right, brushing through swaying seagrass before dashing through a narrow gap in the rocks to a clearing on the other side.
She stopped and turned around.
No sign of anyone. Phew!
Gloria turned back and…
PHHLUNG!
The goldfish who had been chasing Gloria swam straight into her, sending both of them somersaulting backwards in fits of laughter.
‘Got you!’ Millie exclaimed breathlessly, watching the string of bubbles caused by their laughter float toward the surface in an almost straight line.
Gloria was laughing so hard and breathing so fast she couldn’t speak.
The two friends hugged as they caught their breath.
From within the seagrass, another goldfish, Bertie, watched them, the waves their chasing game had created causing him to drift out from the blades of grass behind which he’d been hiding.
Gloria’s smile disappeared when she saw him. ‘Not him again,’ she grumbled.
Millie flipped around, her scales reddening when she saw Bertie watching them.
Slightly embarrassed, he swam toward the pair. ‘I-I-I was just passing,’ he said shyly, staring at Millie, barely noticing Gloria.
‘Passing what?’ Gloria asked. She looked around. Apart from the rocks and seagrass and lots and lots of water, there was nothing to pass around here.
Bertie ignored Gloria. ‘You’re looking nice today,’ he told Millie, who swooned a little, her fins bending inwards.
‘Thanks, Bertie,’ she said, pursing her lips as if she were preparing for a kiss.
Gloria huffed, disappointed that her friend was lapping up Bertie’s attention and behaving so strangely in front of him.
‘Come on, Millie,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and play somewhere else. It’s suddenly got a bit crowded here.’
She grabbed Millie’s fin and tried to pull her away, but Millie pulled her fin back.
Gloria was shocked. ‘Are you coming or what?’ she asked.
Millie glanced at Bertie who smiled back at her.
Gloria felt her tiny heart sink inside her. ‘I know when I’m not wanted,’ she huffed.
Millie swam over to Bertie’s side and he whispered something to her which caused her to giggle childishly. They both looked over at Gloria.
‘What’s so funny?’ Gloria asked.
‘Nothing,’ said Millie, still smiling.
‘Are you laughing at me?’ Gloria asked, feeling close to tears. ‘I thought you were my best friend, and best friends don’t laugh at each other.’
‘We’re not laughing at you,’ said Bertie.
‘I wasn’t talking to you, weirdo,’ said Gloria, not sure if that was the right word for what she meant.
‘Me the weirdo?’ he asked. ‘You need to take a look at yourself.’
Gloria felt her scales boiling. ‘I’m going,’ she said grumpily. ‘Are you coming, Millie?’
Millie shook her head. ‘I’m staying here.’
Gloria’s heart sank still further. Fighting back the tears, she swam off alone.