The Goldilocks Project

Goldi and the Tres Pes

By Sharonlea Bayles

The sassy Goldi knew she was hot stuff. After all, her scales glimmered brighter than any other fish in the tank. She flipped back-flips showing off her golden hues every day, until the net came. On the day of the great net adventure, Goldi's glittery scales and wild antics attracted the net to her. It scooped her up before she knew what had really happened. Gasping and flopping around as she trembled in fear, she knew she was fish food. The net slid into the water releasing her inside a foreign tank. Goldi swam behind an ornamental plant near the bottom of the tank.

After the net disappeared, she peered around the tank. Filled with under water plants made of plastic and other ornaments, she liked what she saw. “Maybe Owner gave me my own tank to show off my glimmer,” she thought. She began exploring the enormous tank.

Near the middle of the tank sat a cozy cottage. Inside the cottage she saw three bowls of fish flakes. She tasted the biggest one but it was too fishy. Next she tried the middle bowl. “Yuck, crawfish,” she said with her mouth still full. The smallest bowl looked the best and tasted so good that she scarped every bit in one bite.

Goldi felt tired from her struggle in the net and from the gorging so she sat in the tallest chair the cottage offered. “Too hard. I'll bruise my gills if I sit here.” She glided to the middle sized chair. “Too soft.” She darted to the littlest chair forcing her body into the small frame. “Ahh, just right.” Creak! Crash! She fell to the floor as the chair busted into hundreds of pieces. “Ouch! That really hurt my back. I better lie down.” She swam to the bedroom where she saw three beautiful beds. “Perfect.” Goldi plopped onto the biggest bed but after tossing and turning for a few minutes she moved on to the next bed. “This middle bed looks all right.” She dove onto only to find the pillows smothered her. “Phew, I'm exhausted.” She sprang onto the littlest bed and promptly fell asleep with little fishy snore bubbles rising into the water.

While Goldi dreamed and snored, three fish arrived home. They were tired from their game of leapfrog. They looked forward to eating their food which they had left cooling. “Does anyone notice something wrong with our home,” asked Little Pes. “Yeah,” responded Big Pes, “someone's been eating my food.” “Mine, too,” replied Middle Pes. “Ditto,” added Little Pes, “and mine is all gone.”

“Well, I'm too tired to eat anyway. Let's sit and play Go Fish,” said Big Fish. All three struggled to sit down. “Oh, is this uncomfortable,” complained Middle Pes. “Someone has been sitting in my chair. “Mine too,” said Big Pes, “Mine Three,” replied Little Pes. “Man, you're really having bad luck today,” replied Middle Pes. “I know.” Big Pes stroked Little Pes with his fin. “It'll be fine. Maybe we should get some sleep. Come on.” The three zipped into their bedroom where each swam to his own bed. “Whoa,” said Middle Pes. “Who messed up my Spongebob pillows? “And my Superman blanket,” asked Big Pes. “And my Go, Diego, Go sheets,” replied Little Pes. “I think she did it,” he said pointing. All three schooled around her staring. Each pushed and bumped the others until finally Goldi woke from the noise. She panicked fro a moment before realizing they were only guppies. She gulped them down becoming even larger and more dazzling. She enjoyed her new cottage until Giant fish arrived in the tank. Giant enjoyed his new cottage and his delicious glittery meal with delight.