The Fish and The Turtle: how chanting made me calm

By Imani Frierson (Age 5)

It was my birthday. I was very excited! I had just gotten a new fish tank. I only had to wait three days to get my fish. Three days passed, I asked my mom if we could get the fish but my mom said I wasn’t on my best behavior. It seemed like weeks and weeks passed.

One day, I was cleaning the yard with my granddad. When he cleared one section, we saw a small turtle. We went upstairs and I told my older sister and her friend that we found a turtle.

My granddad said, “I am going to put it in the fish tank.”

“You are not supposed to put that in there,” I replied.

Soon my mom came home. She announced, “We can go to [the pet store] to get the fish now girls.” I told my mom what happened with the turtles.

She said, “Dad, I don’t think you should have put the turtle in the tank”.

We arrived at the pet store. The man at the pet store told us that we couldn’t get the fish until the water was tested because we let him know what granddad did. I was very mad. I wanted to get my fish!

We got in the car. We stayed in the car and chanted for 4 minutes.

Mom asked, “How does granddad feel about you?”

I replied, “I think granddad loves me”.

Mom said, “Granddad knows you like animals right?”

And then I said, “Yes!”

And then mom said, “Did granddad know he was going to mess up the water by putting the turtle in the tank.”

And then I said, “No, he loves me and he wanted me to have an animal. It’s better to have a turtle than no pet.”

We went home. I asked everyone to clear the kitchen so I can have a conversation with granddad.  He apologized and I didn’t hurt his feelings. The next day, he took me to the pet store. The water got tested and I got to have my fish!!

I got three glow-in-the-dark fish and a Black Balloon Belly. I named the Black Balloon Belly Black Rose, one glow-in-the-dark fish I named Charlie, one I named Lola, and the last one, Paige.

I picked up the turtles the next day after school. I went behind the gate and let them go. I told my granddad, "I really miss my turtles especially the one that fooled us but I am glad I got my fish." I was able to talk to my granddad calmly because I chanted.  Best of all, I didn’t hurt my granddad’s feelings.