R.I.P. Chuck

Today I write with a solumn heart and a grossed out stomach. Our beloved Chuck the fantail passed away today after a week long battle with dropsy. For those of you that don't know what that means dropsy is a symptom of an underlying condition. His tummy started to swell on one side and then his scales puffed off his body giving him a pine cone look. He wasn't eating much and wasn't moving much so we quarantined him and doctored him the best we knew how (all our knowledge coming from the internet). Alas, it wasn't enough. Chuck went the way of the buffalo. I have a very sensitive gag reflex when it comes to dead fish. I can hardly stand to look at them let alone flush them. Unfortunately for me Chuck croaked when I was home alone for lunch. I got home and the bathroom door was closed because Sam had put him in there in hopes to warm the water up. I didn't dare go in there so I just went about eating my lunch and watching the 12 o'clock news until I absolutely had to get ready for work. I opened the door and to my disgust and sadness he was floating pitifully on his side and I saw him take his dying breath. In a panic I texted Sam who was in class and asked if I should flush him or what but Sam didn't respond fast enough so I took the bucket and dumped all of its contents into the toilet and with a quick flush and a rush of heebie-jeebies deceased fish was gone forever. I have a love hate relationship with these animals. When I lived at home I had a few years where I couldn't even look at the fish bowl, especially when I was eating. *bleh* In a tank they are more asthetically pleasing but ask me to change the water or flush a fish and you run the risk of reviewing my most recent meal in reverse. So, rest in peace Chuck. You will be missed and soon replaced because Gordito looks so small and lonely without you there.