R.I.P. Sumo and Sophie

The votes have been cast. The verdict is in. Only the now silent voice of those who have passed have a say in this poll: I am going to be a horrible mother. This majestic creature you see above was Sumo. He was a loving betta. Never asked much from me. Just clean water, food and the occasional tapping on the glass. He was kind and gentle. He would even let you touch him if you really wanted. And I killed him.

It was a day like any other. Sumo was swimming around in his poop infested water so i decided i would clean his bowl. Unfortunately for Sumo, I don't own one of those fish nets that smart people buy to safely transfer their fish from bowl to their holding cell while the cleaning takes place. The method of pour and catch always seemed to work....until this last time. Sumo and I made a pretty good team. His custom was to swim away from the suddenly gushing water until only a few pints were left and then I would move the bowl over the cup to catch him safely. I gasped in horror as I realized something had gone terribly wrong. I had only just started pouring the water out and suddenly I heard a "plunk" sound as he came whooshing out of the bowl and promptly slipped right down the drain. Ken, of course, heard my reaction and came running over while shouting "WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT HAPPENED?" And finally, "WHERE IS SUMO?" I retold the story to him while pointing at the drain. Ken then yelled, "WELL REACH IN AND GET HIM!" Not an outrageous request except that there was a garbage disposal down there. To spare you, dear reader, any gory details, yes, i turned on that garbage disposal to put him out of his misery.

Now here is the really sad thing. I never could have known the full ripple affect this would have but Sophie, in missing her companion so much it was unbearable, passed away 2 weeks later...last night. I have decided to discard their bowls because they remind me of them too much. So Sumo and Sophie, you will be missed. You were well loved in life and have left a hole in these two hearts.