...'s Nephew's next door neighbor's daughter's goldfish, Carl!

[Note to self: Call John Williams and inquire about theme music for under $4.75.]

Carl could remember vividly his previous life back on his home world of Hempsteadspetemporium. He remembered the excitement of eating, swimming, eating again. But then, one afternoon;

*ding-a-ling* (The sound which signaled to appearance of the great Emperor Misterempstead himself.)

"Ah, good afternoon Mrs. Fries. Nice to see you again. Welcome to Hempsteadspetemporium, and how may I help you today?"

"Well, actually, you see... It's my daughter's goldfish. The one I got here last month...."

"Say no more. I understand. Goldfish are right over here.  Do you see one that bears a resemblance?"

".............Yes. Yes! That one, there."

Carl could see the Emperor reach for "The Net." The Emperor ceremoniously touched the surface of the water with The Net and began the sacred chant, "Hearf-isheef-isheef-ishee-hearf-isheef-isheef-ishee."

It was an eerily beckoning sound and Carl felt himself mesmerized....drawn toward its strange power.

"Hearf-isheef-isheef-ishee-hearf-isheef-isheef-ishee."

The Net moved slowly through the water. Helen tried to leap into it, but The Net, guided by the Emperor's powers, shook her away. It knew precisely who would be chosen today. The Net glided past Doug, Plillipe', Krankor, Bobby Sue Ellen, Herbert, Tiny, Victoria, Leslie, Ahnuhd, Henry, Pat, Nadirah, Manfred, Winifred, Wilbur, Nellie, Joe, Leticia, Lyle, Tammy Faye, ....

 It circled the tank.... Francielli, Becky, Sasha, Henry #8, Larry, Bobo, Xaviar, Violet, Polly, Manuel, Kyle, Young Eagle, Kelly, Fong, Cyd, Taylor, Simba, Phyllida, Jean Luc ... 

Then, it circled the tank again.....

Carl watched it approach and in a final swift motion,.... it snatched Steve from the water.

"That's the one!" the woman exclaimed, "That's the one. That one looks just like Sushi-Q."

Carl watched as Steve was dropped into a holy baggie and sealed securely.

"How much do I owe you?"

"No charge for this one, Mrs. Fries. Can I get you anything else?"

"No, no thank you. This will be perfect. Thank you. I have to get Sushi-Q in her tank before Julienne gets home from Sousaphone practice."

"Come see us again."

"B-bye."

*ding-a-ling*  And Steve was gone. Carried Home forever.

"One day, that will be me," Carl uttered to himself, and then shouted it for the whole tank to hear, 

"ONE DAY THAT WILL BE ME!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*ding-a-ling*

"Welcome to Hempsteadspetemporium, and how may I help you today?"