Fish tails

Please note that while based on a True Story, names and gender assignations are for storytelling purposes only.

Mr. Pleco and Ms Cory Catfish live in a flowerpot. There are two entrances on the ground level and also a very large picture window, but for the most part Mr Pleco and Ms Cory live in the windowless upper level. Mr Pleco prefers darkness and it is hard to know what Ms Cory prefers. Also hard to know is the exact nature of their relationship, or what it is that they do in private, in the dark. Perhaps the relationship is romantic, or possibly platonic, or more likely simply a matter of convenience: they both like the privacy of the dark.

Mr Pleco stands in front of his flowerpot house

Their immediate neighbours, the Tetras, are not exactly noisy, but they are quite rambunctious and stick their noses everywhere. They have been admonished on more than one occasion not to enter the flowerpot, Ms Cory chases them away. They occasionally and very cautiously peek through the main entrance but I doubt they see anything of note. They know they are not welcome there. Amongst themselves they play hide and seek games, play fight and chase each other around in a form of fish tag.

The nosy neighbours

Mr Pleco rarely appears in public but when he does he is most formal in appearance and demeanour, dressed all in black standing upright against the wall and moving about most solemnly. When he first moved into the neighbourhood he had the entire place to himself, but did not care to be seen at all. The privacy of the flowerpot appealed to him immensely and immediately. Ms Cory moved in later, about the same time as the nosy neighbours. She was accepted into the flowerpot but the Tetras most definitely were not.

Recently Ms Cory discovered a counterpart just beyond one of the glass walls of the neighbourhood. Oh my, wasn't she excited! The new catfish was just as excited as she was, as they zoomed back and forth trying to make contact. A far cry from the taciturn Mr Pleco, this new companion was a most delightful playmate. If only they could breach the wall! It would be so lovely!

Ms Cory gazes at her new playmate, who is barely visible beyond the glass wall,
while nosy neighbours watch

Mr Pleco stands with his back turned to Ms Cory's antics. As far as he is concerned, Ms Cory's new playmate is but a mirage, not to be taken seriously. She will return to the dark safety of the flowerpot soon enough. He simply stands by the main entrance and waits for her.