Ben

Meet Ben

The little girl watched with deep interest as the fish swam from one end of the tank to the other. She followed the fish back and forth, both enjoying themselves immensely. The fish stopped and so did the girl, they were staring at each other through the glass when bubbles spilled from the fish’s mouth. The girl laughed, clapped her hands enthusiastically, and cheered. The fish was quite pleased with himself and began swimming in a figure eight pattern. The girl cheered some more.

“Yay! Good job Ben!”

The girl’s mother, Jenny, approached from behind and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Who are you talking to, Abby?”

“Just my friend, Ben,” replied Abby to her mother.

“Who’s Ben?” Jenny asked as she looked around the mostly empty aquarium. No weirdos at first glance.

“The fish, mom,” said Abby as she pointed to the fish directly in front of her.

“Fish don’t have names, sweetheart,” said Jenny.

The fish turned towards Jenny. It looked to her as though the fish was staring right at her with its fishy eyes. The look was questioning, as if the fish was confused at how Jenny could think that a fish could not have a name. But fish do not have ‘looks’ she thought to herself. Fish cannot convey feelings. Unless you counted a fish flopping around on land while trying to breathe as a feeling, which Jenny did not.

“Well, say goodbye. We are running late for dinner.”

“Bye Ben, see you soon,” said Abby as she skipped away while holding her mother’s hand.

Life of Ben

Ben could not remember how long he had been in the aquarium. He did have a sense of time, but it felt different as a fish. He was not sure how sleep worked for a fish either. Every night his body would tell him it was time to rest and so he would. Did he sleep? Ben was not so sure. But he always felt rested and he supposed that was all that mattered at this point. The days came and went as did the people gawking at him and so many other prisoners in the aquarium. Kids knocking on the glass, putting their ugly faces against the tank, and yelling at the fish like the fish understood.

“The little shits,” thought Ben.

Adults also knocked on the glass, which Ben considered to be worse than the kids. Adults should know better. But both kids and adults alike could be entertaining. Ben had once witnessed a young man who tried to abruptly kiss his date, only to receive a knee to his crotch. If Ben could have laughed out loud, he would have. Instead, a long trickle of bubbles came out of his mouth. Ben had observed another young man, who was more successful in his attempts to woo. He and his young lady friend were fairly intwined when a security guard found them. The aquarium was closed but they had snuck in and were too busy necking to realize the guard was approaching. The couple’s surprise at the intrusion was funny, but the security guard’s surprise when he found them was pure gold. The couple yelped as they jumped up half naked and began to run away.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” yelled the security guard as he fell backwards into a garbage can, in which he promptly became stuck.

Bubbles spilled from Ben’s mouth as he watched the security guard call for help and the young couple make their escape. On one particularly busy day at the aquarium, Ben had talked with a child who was visiting on a school trip. The boy had been chided for not keeping up with the class.

“Don’t be silly, Billy. Fish cannot talk and if you continue on with that silliness then you can visit the principal's office when we arrive back at school.”

The boy said nothing else about it. But he did blow out his cheeks and stick out his tongue as the teacher walked away. The boy looked back at Ben and smiled before running to catch up with his classmates. The boy made Ben think about Abby. He missed Abby and wondered when she would visit him again.

Ben’s Plan

It was not important to Ben how he ended up at the aquarium. Well, that was not true, it was very important. Because in knowing how he ended up in the aquarium told Ben who was responsible for it. That was the truly important part. The part that Ben must remember, fish or not. It was not important right now because there was nothing to be done about it. However, there was something to be done about his immediate problem, escaping the aquarium. Ben did not think all that hard about it. It was hard to think as a fish, anyhow. It was just a decision he had made one day, that simple.

“How many days had it been since he decided to escape? No matter, think forward think forward,” Ben told himself. It was hard but Ben came up with a plan. But he needed a partner in crime. The other fish were useless. Every time Ben tried to get them to do something, they would just float there looking stupid and confused. They always looked confused. “Y’all would be fish soup if you weren't in this forsaken aquarium,” said Ben. The other fish looked at him stupidly. “Useless,” he said after his final attempt.

It would have to be a person, not much better than a fish, unfortunately. But beggars cannot be choosers and Ben was desperate. So, Ben watched as people came and went, trying to decide who to communicate with. It was a difficult choice; Ben did not know how people would react. How bad could it be? The answer to that question became evident soon enough.

Bad News, Ben

The person Ben chose first was a dashing middle-aged man with dark hair slicked back. He was wearing a leather jacket with blue jeans and a pair of combat boots. Ben thought he looked badass and a badass is exactly what a good jail break needs to be successful. What was the name he was trying to think of...? Yes, that was it!

“Rockabilly, so cool,” said Ben enthusiastically. The man reacted at once, but not how Ben hoped. The man in the leather jacket screamed at the top of his lungs.

“What the hell? What in the fucking hell, man? I mean, what the fuck? Oh shit, I knew I took too much!”

One of the aquarium employees walked over quickly. “Excuse me, sir?”

The man jumped, screamed once more, and ran as fast as he could towards the nearest exit, setting off the fire alarm in the process.

“Not a badass. And not a good start,” said Ben.

Sometime later, Ben was not sure how long, he saw a second person who he thought could help. She was very bubbly and looked at everything with an eye of someone who truly cared. When she approached Ben’s tank, he could see she was wearing various buttons on her floral sundress. ‘Fish have feelings’ read one. ‘Chickens don’t have nuggets’ read another. Ben was sure this woman would help him; she was a friend to animals after all, if her buttons were to be believed.

“Hello,” said Ben as casually as he could. The woman looked around but no one was paying attention to her.

“Hello,” said the woman out loud, but to no one in particular. There was no answer.

“Over here, the aquarium,” said Ben, still trying to convey a casual tone.

The woman turned towards the aquarium still unsure of who was speaking to her. This time she said nothing out loud but instead spoke in her own mind.

“Hello...?”

“Ahh, see, I knew you’d get it,” said Ben happily.

The woman continued in her own head. “What’s going on?”

“Well, you see, I am in a bit of a predicament and I could, I mean I would greatly appreciate your help in solving my little problem. You seem like someone who cares, you know?” Ben waited as the woman thought about it, still confused but also, a little intrigued.

“Who are you? Where are you?”

“Oh yes, my apologies. My name is Ben and I am here, in the aquarium,” said Ben.

“Well, yes and so am I.”

“No, no, you misunderstand. I am part of the exhibit, here in the tank. See?” Ben swam up in a helix formation and then dove back down. He spun around and stopped where he had begun. The eyes of the woman grew as big as sand dollars. Ben thought she was either fascinated or.... “That,” said Ben as the woman had a meltdown right in front of him.

“Oh my god, it’s true, it’s true! We were right! Animals can talk and they have feelings,” the woman was beside herself with excitement. Was it vindication for her many years of animal rights work? Or was her reality broken with the fact that she was talking to a fish? Either way it did not matter because the fear hit her then.

“Wait... have they been spying on me? That fucking cat, I knew she was conniving. She wants me dead; I just know it. Oh god, and she knows all of my secrets.”

The woman was rocking back and forth and sitting with her head between her knees when the police arrived.

A few days later, or maybe it was longer, Ben was watching the watchers when he noticed a little boy standing at the glass separating wet from dry. Of course, how could he have not thought of it before. Kids, they were always more receptive than adults. Truly, he has had conversations with a handful of children visiting the aquarium. Ben figured it was because they were kids and their imaginations could stretch far enough to accept the things that did not make sense. He was sure he could convince this kid to help. Ben did not think about the fact that a child is hardly capable of helping a fish break out of the aquarium. Although it did not matter in the end.

“Hello young feller, how are you on this fine day?” The kid just stared at Ben, who was slightly annoyed at the dumbfound look he was getting from the kid. “Yes, I am a fish, you have a problem with that?” Again, the child said nothing. Then Ben noticed a growing pool of liquid gathering at the kid’s feet. His mother was mortified and she scalded him with her every step as she dragged him from the room.

Ben was starting to feel depressed. He was sure he had ruined three human lives because of his scheming. Sure, those first two people were probably already on the cusp of madness, but it was that little push from Ben that sent them over the edge. That woman was probably inside of a padded room by now, and that poor little dumb boy? He might need years of therapy to get over the fish who scared the piss out of him. Ben thought about the challenges that lay ahead for the kid. No seafood or fish markets, always being triggered by SpongeBob SquarePants, terrible. Just terrible.

Ben’s Best Day

With all hope lost, Ben pondered how long he would live. How long would he live in the aquarium? How long would he live as a fish? It seemed to Ben that the answers were all the same. Until he was dead. It was not a comforting thought, but it was the truth. He became known as the sad fish to the people who worked at the aquarium. A veterinarian was called more than once to determine if Ben was dying. But he was not dying, he was perfectly healthy.

“But he does look mighty sad,” the vet would always say. They even put the name on his tank. His name was not Sad Fish, it was Ben Fishe.

“Assholes,” said Ben as he watched the sign being installed. Then he went to sleep. Or whatever fish did that was comparable to sleep. Things went on like this for a long time, although Ben was not sure how long. Then one day, everything changed.

A young lady had approached Ben’s tank without him noticing. When Ben did notice, he pretended that he did not, then turned away to wedge himself between two rocks. If he did not pay attention to them, perhaps they will leave him alone.

“Hello, Ben,” said the young lady with a sweet softness that was familiar to Ben. “Sorry it took me so long to come back,” said the young lady, this time her voice was filled with sorrow. “I’m so sorry, Ben.”

Could it be? Ben turned and faced the person standing there. Yes, it was true, it was Abby. Sweet, beautiful, and kind Abby. But she looked different, she looked.... older.

“Abby?” Ben asked, “Is that really you? How long has it been? Is it soon?”

Tears filled Abby’s eyes as she told him. “It’s been longer than soon I’m afraid.”

“Oh, well that’s okay. How long until your mom comes back?”

Abby was still crying as she stifled a short laugh when Ben asked her about her mother. “Oh Ben, you don’t know how long it’s been?”

Ben was confused, it could not have been that long. He looked questioningly at Abby, who’s eyes fell to the sign on Ben’s tank that said ‘Sad Fish’. Ben followed her eyes but was taken aback by what he saw. The sign hanging proudly for all to see proclaimed that he, Ben, was the oldest fish of his kind. A fish that should have died years ago, but was still alive and well and it was a miracle of nature. Ben would have been proud if it were not for the fact that the bottom of the sign still read, ‘Sad Fish’.

Abby told Ben that her mother had seen her acting strangely at the aquarium whenever they visited. And that after the last time they came, her mother told her that she would no longer be going to the aquarium. She had tried to visit, of course, but her mother thwarted every attempt before finally threatening Abby with boarding school. It had been nine years since that day.

“I thought about you every day. I knew that you were special, Ben. I knew that one day I would come back and you would be here to greet me. And look, you are,” said Abby with a broad smile. “Do you hate me? For taking so long?”

“What? Of course not. How could I hate you, Abby? You have been the only light in the darkness. Plus, my sense of time is not what it used to be. Suddenly, Ben had a thought. It was hard earned and it took him a moment to think it out but he had it now. Abby, it was supposed to be Abby all along. Children were incapable, sure. And adults had no imagination, that was clear. But Abby was no longer a child and she was here, talking to Ben as two old friends would after years apart. It was Abby!

Goodbye, Ben

Abby seemed apprehensive at first. “Okay, let us assume that I get you out of the tank without any trouble, how will I get you out of the aquarium? They have cameras and guards, Ben. It’s not like I can carry you out like a baby.”

“Why not?” Ben asked. He pointed towards the side of the room where a number of strollers were parked, waiting to be rented by mothers who foolishly brought a baby to the aquarium. They did not advertise it, but strollers, like food in a movie theater, cannot be brought in from outside. Abby looked from Ben to the strollers and back to Ben again, then she smiled.

Ben waited anxiously for Abby to return. He did not know how much time had gone by or how much longer he would have to wait. Why was time so hard for him? He was thinking more clearly than ever before but time was still a mystery to him. Finally, Abby returned to the aquarium looking anxious. She had something wrapped up and slung around her neck. The object was firmly held close to her, like a baby. Which is exactly what it was supposed to look like. Timing would be everything.

Abby stopped near the guest services area and bent down to tie her shoe. She stood up when she was finished and walked casually towards Ben. As she neared the tank, a scream pierced the general quiet of the aquarium.

“A snake, a snake is loose!” Ben did not see who said it but the distraction worked. Within seconds Abby had the fish out of the tank and inside a large bladder of water. It was a tight fit but Ben knew it would not be for long. He could not see, but he felt Abby moving quickly and quietly. A jerk, a drop, and a sigh of relief as sunlight fell upon Ben for the first time in who knew how long. When she arrived back at her car, Abby dumped the bladder into a larger tank already filled half way with water.

“Thank you, Abby....”

“Shaw, my name is Abby Shaw.”

“Well, Abby Shaw, my name is Ben Fishe, once a man, now a fish. One day I hope to be a man again.” Ben was not sure what the look on her face meant, did she not believe him?

“Your last name is really Fish?” Abby asked, laughing unapologetically.

“Fishe, with an E thank you very much,” said Ben in mock annoyance.

“So, Mr. Fishe, where shall we go?”

“New Orleans,” replied Ben. “There is someone there who can help us. Now drive!”

And without a second thought, Abby drove.

The End