Dave Is Dead

Dave the Fish, that is. We had a plecostomus that we inherited from Brytton and Madeline, who inherited it from Seth and Abby. He was named Dave because Seth and Abby know so many people named Dave they figured, we need another Dave around. I thought it was too confusing at my house when I'd say things like, "Dave's hiding under that rock again." or "Dave, quit sucking on the other fish!" So I gave him the nickname of Carl. He died last week. Even though we got off to a rocky start, I was sad to find him belly-up on the bottom of the tank. Here is a little eulogy I wrote for him:

Carl, Beloved Pleco

You lived your life sucking algae;

Your job was to keep fish tanks clean.

You did it well.

You were admired despite your eerily bulging eyes,

Your dull brown-bespeckled scales

And your fat, gaping orifice through which,

The world could see your insides.

Drew and Owen thought your name was

Dora.

They speak of you and often search the tank

In hopes of watching you clean a plastic plant

Or one of your fellow tank-mates.

You are missed.

Carl was preceded in death by The Frog, Roy and Siegfried. He is survived by Dori, Woot and D.C. Though not very old by Pleco standards, Carl lived a long, full life of swimming; hiding behind plastic plants, fake rocks and miniature boats; and keeping things generally neat and tidy in the fish tank. The cause of death is unknown. The funeral services were held in the main-floor bathroom where Carl was lovingly dumped into a watery grave.