No Dogs or Cats Allowed

My dad’s rule, and I was
never inclined to debate it.

I had a pet goldfish though
when I was very young.
A few in fact. And
I gave them toys,
cleaned their tank
watched them play,
and talked to them.
The only time I was sure
I was connecting with them, though
was when I moved to
drop food flakes for them.

I would call them to surface
just before dropping the flakes
to pretend they heard me
and listened.
When they died,
my dad and I would flush them.
And that was the beginning
and ending of my
animal experiences.

© 2010 Shari Lynne Smothers

Day 25 prompt: Write a poem with an animal in it, or the title; details here from 2010 November PAD Chapbook Challenge