Tina finished gathering up Skys toys as she watched him completely fall in love with the cartoon that was on TV. Something about my kids and TV she thought as she quietly cleaned up and went into the kitchen to get dinner started. Things at the Porter-Kennard residence had been quiet ever since the peanut butter incident and Liz even went and attempted to clean her room all by her self. This of course consisted of her just throwing whatever clothes that were on the ground under her bed and shoving all of her toys in her closet. But it was a nice gesture.

DING DONG DING DONG

Hey Skybig sister is home from school

Sky didnt even so much as look up as Tina shook her head and went to answer the door. A few of the mothers from Lizs school had started a carpool agreement which was nice because it meant Tina or Bette only had to drive Liz and her friends home twice a week. With such a relaxed schedule now and with Nancy really helping out and watching Sky four days a week Bette and Tina felt like they had some form of a life back. Well most of the time that is. Like when they werent chasing Liz around trying to stop her from doing her next creation or plan or worse yet her next science project. Sky wasnt quite at that terror age yet, but with big sister looming around, Tina knew he would catch on quickly. Tina opened the door and greeted her very happy daughter with a big smile.

Hey sweetie

HI MOMMY!!! LOOK!!!

Liz was all champ as she held up her picture for her mommy to see. Tina knelt down and took the picture from her daughter and studied it carefully. The picture in her hands was of a huge yellow and orange goldfish swimming in a puddle of water which Tina assumed was supposed to be the fishes home. Tina looked at it and turned to Liz with a smile.

This is great baby. What made you draw it?

I wanted a picture of Fishyfishy.

Fishyfishy? Whos Fishyfishy?

This is Fishyfishy.

Tina looked up as Debbie, the driver, walked in behind Liz holding a bowl with a goldfish in it and laughing to herself. Tina looked at the fish then back at Debbie before looking at Liz.

Honeywhy do you have Fishyfishy?

Hes the class pet mom. And its my turn to have him.

Uh

Please mom??? Its only for one week.

One WEEK?

Yeah Tinadont worry it goes by fastand keeps them occupied

Debbie laughed as she set Fishyfishy down on the kitchen table. With one last smile at Tina she turned and ruffled Lizs hair on the way out. Liz walked over to Fishyfishy and smiled broadly.

Yeah mom meet Fishyfishy. Fishyfishymeet mom.

Tina peered down into the fishbowl with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She thought it would be fine to keep the fish in the house but she knew Bette would have another opinion about the matter. Just as Tina was about to say something Sky decided he wanted to investigate what his sister had brought home so he wandered into the kitchen and stared at the fish with big eyes. Liz saw her brother and laughed.

Skythis is Fishyfishy.

Pish?

No Sky. Fish. FUH-ISHFish. Fishyfishy.

Liz puckered her lips and sucked in her cheeks making a fish face and Sky stared to crack up laughing. Liz kept doing it and soon she had added her hands into the act and wiggled them near her ears imitating gills on a fish. Sky was rolling on the ground and the more he laughed the more Liz just kept on doing it. Tina watched her kids with a smile on her face before she decided it was time to interject.

Lizhoneywe need to talk

Aw mom

Now lookIm glad you want to take care of Fishyfishy and be responsible. But I dont think its a good idea to keep him honey. Im sorry but youre going to have to take him back okay?

Why mom???

Liz was starting to whine and Tina could tell this was going to be more than a, Im the mommy and what I say goes, lecture. Tina turned Sky around and sent him back to the TV still laughing about Lizs fish face as she sat down at the kitchen table with Liz. Liz looked at her with puppy dog eyes as Tina tried to explain why they couldnt keep Fishyfishy.

Look sweetheart, its a long story. But basically we cant keep him because your other mommy has a fish fear okay?

Fish fear?

Yeahfish fearsee when she was a little girl Aunt Kit and her friends took mom to the beach. Well one of Aunt Kits friends scared her really bad and told her that the fish were going to eat her toes. And ever since then she hasnt gone anywhere near a fish. So you seewe cant keep the fish.

Liz looked at Tina long and hard like she was trying to decide if Tina was pulling her leg or not. After a few seconds of silence Liz did the only thing she could. She started laughing. Hard.

HAHHAHAHAmommy has fish fear? But theyre so little

I know babybut nevertheless she doesnt like fish okay? So you are going to have to take Fishyfishy back tomorrow. Okay?

Okay

Promise?

Promise

Okaywhy dont you go spend time with him now while you can

Okay

Liz picked up Fishyfishys bowl and headed to her room. Sky was right on her tail and as soon as he wiggled into her room he grabbed for the bowl.

No Sky. Fishyfishy stays in the water. You can only look at him.

Oohhh

Sky was intrigued with Fishyfishy and for a little while Fishyfishy and Sky bonded while Liz said hi to Bob. Bob peered at the bowl curiously wondering if the thing in the water was a treat for him. Yeah right like he could ever get that lucky.

Meanwhile out in the living room Tina was shaking her head at the thought of having to explain to her wife that along with the two kids and the hamster they were now the proud part-time parents of a fish. Good grief.

RING RING

Hello?

Hi babyjust called to say Im on my way home and wanted to see if you wanted me to pick up dinner.

No its okayI cooked.

Okaybe home soon thenlove you.

Love you too.

Tina giggled to herself as she hung up the phone. Boy was Bette going to be in for the shock of her life.

Back in Lizs room her and Sky were feeding Fishyfishy and watching him swim back and forth back and forth in his little bowl. Sky laughed every time Fishyfishy moved but Liz was concerned. The bowl seemed too small for him especially if he was going to grow up and be the big fish he could become. She had a plan.

Come on Sky

Liz picked up Fishyfishy and along with Sky the three of them trooped outside to the back yard. Bob watched them go with a jealous look in his eye. HE used to be the one Liz and Sky went off with. Now there was a new pet on the block. Well well just see about that thought Bob as he planned his attack against the goldfish.

Outside Liz and Sky walked over to the edge of the pool. Liz figured that the water in the pool was the same as the one in Fishyfishys bowl so she dumped him into the pool and gave herself a very satisfied smile.

Therenow he has a bigger home

Sky giggled and the two of them watched Fishyfishy swim around happily in the large, chlorinated water. Yikes.

Babe Im homewhere are the kids?

Outside

Tina kissed Bette hello as Bette set her stuff down. She looked out the back door and saw that Liz and Sky were sitting near the pool.

HEY YOU TWO NOT TOO CLOSE

Theyre fine babesit down

Bette sat down as Tina sat on her lap. Bette looked up at Tina with a surprised but happy smile and Tina kissed her on the lips before breaking the news.

Your daughter brought home a fish.

A WHAT?

Bette nearly threw Tina off of her as she stood up and charged outside. Tina went after her but didnt get there in time to stop Bette from questioning Liz.

Liz!

Liz jumped when she heard her mommies voice. She turned around with a sad look on her face. Bette was about to yell at her when her mommy instincts kicked in and she just bent down instead.

Liz whats wrong?

Fishyfishy

Yeah Lizabout the fish

Hes dead

What?

Liz pointed to the pool and Bette could see the goldfish belly up floating near the side. She felt sick to her stomach at the site but for her daughters sake she had to remain calm. Difficult as it may be.

Liz why is that thing in the pool?

Well I thought that he might want a bigger home. So I put him in thereand now hes dead

Liz looked sad and Bette felt all her resolve melting away. She scooped her daughter up into her arms and smoothed out her hair.

Its okay Liz. He died because he cant swim in that kind of water. There is stuff in that water to keep it cleanhe needs fresh water.

But I have to bring a fish to school tomorrow.

Bette looked at Tina with a sigh. Tina just smiled and shook her head and Bette knew what she had to do. Bette gave Tina one last hopeful look but Tina just nodded no and motioned for her to go on.

Okay Liz its okaywell go to the pet store and get you a fish okay?

Really?

Really..but you HAVE to take it to school tomorrow understood?

Yes mommy

And with that Bette and her mischievous daughter went off in search of Fishyfishy II while Tina and Sky hung around the house. As Bette and Liz left Sky pulled on Tinas arm.

Fish?

No honeyno more fish

No fish

Sky looked sad and Tina just shook her head. Oh nonot another one she picked up Sky and went back into the house. The last thing she needed was another one of her kids wanting a fish and she could almost guarantee that Bette was going to be grumpy after brining Liz home from the pet store. She just hoped that if nothing elseALL they came home with was a fish.