Joshua was a hit around my work place and he quickly became a favorite among customers and employees. Duffy took a liking to him fastest because she is the receptionist and at times Joshua was the only one keeping her company during her time at the front desk. Day after day Joshua became a fixture in the office and we started calling ourselves the Beta's in his honor. (I'm serious, I have a birthday card that says "PS GO BETAS" on the inside of it.)
He really was a good fish. The only time he was remotely considered to be misbehaving was the time he went all "Flipper" on us and jumped out of his bowl. The first time he did it we thought for sure he landed in the hood of Duffy's sweatshirt but that was a false alarm.
He survived unfortunate events like the time I lost his fish food and started tossing in dog food crumbs....or the time I had him on top of my fridge and then moved and forgot about him for a week-but when I came back to the old house he was still alive and better than ever. When I went on vacations Sawyer's family diligently took care of him and I know he enjoyed his time there. Joshua was living a stress free life and was very much loved and appreciated.
Disaster hit yesterday, February 3, 2011. I was on my way to work when I got a call from Duffy; I had just talked to her so I knew something bad had just happened. It had been unreasonably cold for Tucson, AZ and all over town water pipes were breaking and people's heat was not working.
"Hello?!!?" I said in a panicked voice.
There was silence and then a quiet, "Hey"
"What is wrong?" I ask, dreading the answer.
Duffy took a deep breath and then spoke these words,"....Joshua died in the freeze last night!"
I gasped uncontrollably, shocked and saddened by the news. I start throwing out phrases like "I feel so guilty!" "He was such a good fish" and "What are we gunna tell the kids?!?!" I tell Duff I'm turning into the parking lot now and I'll be in soon.
I walked through the door and there is Duffy, alone at the front desk. She has moved Joshua to the back closet because the sight of him floating at the bottom was just too much for her. I just looked at her, with her Uggs, two sweatshirts, leggings, and scarf...she was first to break the silence. "It's a sad day at the office...we lost one of our own."
We start making up a plan as too what we are going to do next. Duffy insists on a proper burial and nixed the flushing down the toilet idea. As we were standing there just looking at our floating fish Duffy chimed in," I feel like if we had a reality show this would be the point where they would cut to a montage of all the times we had with him, swimming, happy, alive." I called Sawyer and she too was shocked but after everything else he had survived at least we know he's mortal now.
One by one co-workers came in and we had to tell them about losing Joshua. Later last night facebook status's were dedicated to our finned friend:
Duffy: Joshua, you were my best friend and unselfishly kept me company everyday at the front desk. I love you! Go BETAS<3 NEVER FORGOTTEN
Gemma: R.I.P Joshua. you were a wonderful mascot and I always enjoyed feeding you and singing your name. BETAS LIVE ON
Mae: Today was a sad day at work...we lost one of our own. REST IN PEACE Joshua! You were the best BETA FISH an office could ask for.
Today Duffy and I are going to decide whether to purchase a second beta, it has already been determined we will be buying a different bowl and possibly giving the new fish and name starting with J or the middle name of Joshua.
