L in the Alphabet Soup

Lyla didn’t have many friends, but she did have a goldfish, whom she loved very much.

His name was Lord Bubbles, and he lived in a large round bowl on the dresser in her new room, right next to the window. She had just moved to a new house with her mom, and everything felt strange — the room, the street, even the sound of the birds in the morning.

But Lord Bubbles stayed the same.

Every day after school, Lyla would race home, sit beside the bowl, and talk to him.

“Hi, Lord Bubbles. Did you miss me?” She liked to pretend he nodded when his fins fluttered.

Her favorite part was watching him swim through the tiny pink loop that hung from the castle in his bowl. He’d dart through them, float to the top, and blow out a line of bubbles — just like his name.

He always made her smile.

Until one day, he stopped! No more loop-swimming or bubble-blowing. He floated slowly in circles as if his heart wasn’t in it.

Lyla watched him for a long time. “I think you’re lonely,” she whispered, resting her chin on the dresser. “Just like me.”

The following day was Saturday — her day with her grandfather. But this time, Lyla had a plan.

She found Pinky, her piggy bank, and opened the rubber stopper at the bottom of the bank. She shook and shook until she’d emptied the bank. Then, she counted each coin carefully — twenty-seven pennies, fourteen nickels, twelve dimes, and nine quarters, totaling four dollars and forty-two cents.

Grandpa smiled as she shoved them all into a purple coin purse. “Going treasure hunting?” he asked.

“We’re going shopping, Grandpa. I’m going to find Lord Bubbles a friend.”

*****

At the pet store, there were rows and rows of fish — gold ones, white ones, long-tailed ones, and a few that looked like they had mustaches.

But one tiny fish caught her eye.

It wasn’t flashy or fancy. It was just curious. It swam up close, staring at her through the glass, then zoomed in a perfect circle. She did it over and over again.

Lyla smiled, having made her decision. “That one.” 

*****

Back home, she placed Lady Luna gently in the bowl with Lord Bubbles. At first, nothing happened. They swam on opposite sides of the bowl.

Lyla’s heart sank. “I’m sorry, Lord Bubbles. I thought you’d like a friend.”

But just as she turned to walk away—

WHOOSH!

Lord Bubbles zipped through the pink loop, and Lady Luna followed. He spun around and did it again like he was showing off.

Then—

Blub. Blub. Blub.

Lord Bubbles surfaced and blew out the longest trail of bubbles Lyla had ever seen. And Lady Luna? She darted right beside him, flicking her tail. Lyla laughed with glee.

Just before dinner, there was a knock at the door. Lyla opened the door, and a young girl about Luna’s age stood there. She held a small bowl with a goldfish inside. “Hi! My name is Melonie. I live next door.”

Lyla smiled. “Hi, I think I saw you in school. We just moved in.”

“I know. I saw the big truck bring your things. And I also saw you through the window. Were you talking to your fish?”

Lyla’s face turned a soft pink. “I suppose you think talking to a fish is strange?”

Melonie shook her head. “No, I talk to Sprinkles all the time. He used to swim and blow bubbles —”

Lord Bubbles — that’s my goldfish’s name. He loves to blow bubbles. And he loves his new friend, Lady Luna.”

“Sprinkles doesn’t like to do it anymore.”

Lyla looked at the little fish swimming slowly around the bowl. “I think Sprinkle might need a friend, too.”

*****

Later that weekend, Lyla returned to the pet store, opened her coin purse, and counted out the very last of her savings — coin by coin.

She chose a gentle orange fish with fluttery fins and a quiet, curious face. She named it Sunny. Then she carefully carried the bag next door and rang the bell.

When Melonie opened the door, Lyla held it out and said,

“By royal order of Lord Bubbles and Lady Luna — and me too — I deliver a gift for their new friend, Sprinkles. It’s a happy to meet you surprise!”

Melonie’s eyes filled with happy tears. “He’s beautiful.”

Lyla grinned. “He’s friendly too.”

*****

That night, two fishbowls glowed softly through side-by-side windows. Lord Bubbles swam with Lady Luna. Sprinkles swam with Sunny.

And Lyla, curled under her blanket, whispered, “And I’ve got a new friend too.”

Though Lyla couldn’t hear her, Melonie was whispering it, too.