1) The narrator is a goldfish who has always lived alone in a pet store aquarium and dreams of being taken home. One day, the narrator's wish comes true when they are scooped out of the aquarium. 2) However, at their new home the narrator is placed alone in a tank with no decorations. Through the clear walls, the narrator sees another tank filled with other goldfish and feels lonely. 3) Over many months, the narrator practices jumping in an attempt to escape their solitary tank and join the other fish. After weeks of practice, the narrator successfully leaps between the tanks, rejoicing in their newfound companionship.

1. Elizabeth Spencer
FYS 100
Harold Blanco
4/2/14
Fish Bowl
My story begins a few months ago when I was just swimming around in your average pet
store aquarium. I had been there my whole life. Every time I saw a person walk by, I hoped and
prayed that they would take me out of this aquarium. Unlike everyone else in my tank, I wanted
to see the world! Whenever the worker would put the net in to scoop one of out, I would be front
and center ready to go and everyone else in the tank would try and hide. Then on one sunny
June day, I got scooped out of the tank. I was so happy I was flipping my tail as fast as it can go.
When I got to my new home, they put me in a tank all by myself. There was no castle,
not plants, just me and some good ole H2O. I wasn’t use to this tank and since the walls were so
clear, I would run into the walls from time to time. After a few hours of being in this tank I all of
a sudden felt this huge shake. I looked outside of the clear walls to see everything moving and
spinning. My owners were moving me! The waves were tossing and turning that I lost my
balance from time to time being taken over by the waves. Then all of a sudden they sat me down
on a new table. When I looked over I saw this faint blobs of orange in the distance. As I swam
as close as I possibly could to the wall, I noticed that there were other goldfish in another tank! I
was so happy that I wouldn’t be alone anymore. I kept thinking that they were going to move
me.
Days, turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and I was never moved from my tank
into the others. I could see the other fish laughing and taunting me because I was alone. I

2. couldn’t take it anymore. I decided that I was going to jump. If I didn’t get there, I was going to
die trying. It wasn’t fair for me to be in this fish tank all by myself. I started trying. I had to
think of the best way for me to get in there, because I only had one chance. The other fish
started watching me as I practiced making my leap. I would swim up to the surface as fast as I
could and jump straight up. I had to see how far I could go. I practiced for about a week. Then
one day, right after my owners had feed us, I decided today was the day. I started in the middle
of the bowl, taking a few practice jumps, I decided this is it, the next one I’m jumping for real. I
swam as fast as I could at the correct angle and BAM! I was out of the water. I looked down for
a second to not see anything under me but the table. Then I felt a cool, wet feeling as I entered
the next bowl. I couldn’t believe that I did it. The new fish greeted me and threw a party. This
was the happiest day of my life!