My First Pet

I watched his gold scales shimmer

in the faint glow of my nightlight...

I was so scared of the dark

so I pulled him gently from the water

and watched him dance in my hands.

He looked so happy,

and I knew he'd keep me safe

from all the ghosts who were peeking in from the hallway.

I laid him on my pillow, right next to me,

and watched him breathe slowly.

Now his eyes were glowing

under the milky way of plastic stars

that shone down from the plaster heavens

of my ceiling.

He started breathing real heavy,

I knew he 'musta been scared of the dark too

so I read him a bedtime story

and petted him through every word.

It took him a while to fall asleep

but once he did I gave him a goodnight kiss

and pulled the blanket over my head.

No ghosts or icky dead things will get us now Swimmy...