Goodbye Toby....it was good while it lasted

Last night Darcy discovered the turtle was gone.

This was the conversation:

Darcy: "Mom? Did you give Toby away?"

Me: "Why would you think that?"

Darcy: "Because the towel is gone."

Explanation: Toby was living in a plastic container. The container was on top of a towel that was on top of our bookcases in the library. When I took Toby outside every day for sunning the towel would remain on the bookcase.

Me: "Why were you looking for Toby?"

Darcy: "I went to feed him."

Me: "Well, Darcy, Daddy took Toby away 13 days ago, so if he had still been here at home he would have been damn hungry after 13 days as you didn't bother to feed him any other time."

Darcy: "I actually noticed it last night."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Darcy: "I walked by and noticed the container wasn't there."

Me: "Where did you think Toby was?"

Darcy: "I thought he was still outside."

Me: "You noticed he was gone at 10:30 at night and assumed he was still outside yet you didn't bother to go outside to get him and bring him inside?"

Darcy: "Well......yeah."

Me: "This is why you shouldn't be a pet owner."

Also: Madison had not realized Toby was gone, but she heard me talking to Kelly about feeding the fish while we were at Disney. Then I said to Kelly (only because Madison was listening, and I was still counting how long it took them to notice the missing turtle) something about feeding the turtle. Only Madison thought this was code for Kelly to come and get rid of the turtle just as I had gotten rid of Kelly's cat. Because that is what friends do our world......we get rid of pets when the need arises.....

The turtle is happily living his life in his natural habitat. He is swimming in a larger area and enjoying food and the company of other turtles. Life is good. He thanks us for finding a better home for him. All is good.

Our two fish are still living at home with us. We love them. Madison and Tom care for them without any fuss. Life is good for me all of us.