The Importance of Water - a free short story for you.

The relentless hounding is so draining. Every night, as soon as I walk in the door, they pounce.

'Dad. Can we have a pet? We'll look after it, we promise, Dad. Please, you won't have to do anything.'

'Dad, Florence wants a cat, but dogs are better. Don't you think having a dog would be great, Dad?' Aubrey pleaded.

'Dogs are fine, Aubrey, and cats are nice too. But neither of you is ready for pet ownership just yet. Pets are a big responsibility. They're a lot of work, and I just can't see you or your sister caring for them. You can't just discard them when the novelty wears off. They're not like your toys. Pets are living things that need constant attention. How about a Tamagotchi? They say the twelfth-generation Tamagotchi are the best bio-synths on the market. My colleagues' daughter had hers on a Teams hologram call the other day, and I was convinced it was a real kitten.'

'Aw, Dad. You can tell that Tamagotchi aren't real.' Florence whined.

'Well, what does your mother say?'

I knew Clare wouldn't be any help. She tells the twins stories about the real dogs and cats that her grandmother had. Clare was from an old farming family, so I guess memories of real animals were in her genes.

I know we spoil the twins, but after trying for so long it was inevitable. I don't feel guilty indulging them. To finally be blessed with twins in our seventies is a special gift.

'Mum says it's up to you.'

I should have known Clare wouldn’t want to be the mean parent.

'Alright, I'll see if I can get an appointment with a pet broker, and I'll see what they can do.'

The twins ran off, ecstatic that they had finally worn me down, still arguing the merits of dogs versus cats.

I called a pet broker the following day and arranged to see them at their earliest appointment, in a week’s time. In the meantime, I hoped the kids could decide if it was a dog or a cat, we’d be purchasing.

The pet broker's office resembled an advertisement for cosmetic surgery like I remember from around in the 2030s. White, clean, hard surfaces echoing excessive sterility.

I approached reception. The woman behind the desk was bursting out of her crisply starched uniform. She looked like she had been the recipient of generous cosmetic enhancements of her own.

'Good afternoon, my name is Enid. Welcome to Pegasus Modern Pet Solutions. How may I help you?'

'Hello, I have an appointment to see the broker.' I gave her my name, and she scanned my identity card.

'Thank you, Sir. The broker will be with you shortly. Please take a seat.'

The vinyl chair exhaled a slow sigh as I lowered myself into the deep synthetic leather upholstery. I looked around the room at the other clients and wondered what pets they were after, while I watched the in-house hologram of pet broker services. Dogs, cats, and rabbits playfully chased each other around the room in convincing holographic ‘reality’.

Enid rose from her desk, 'The broker will see you now. Please follow me, Sir.' She walked to the wall and pushed a panel, revealing a corridor lined with small consulting rooms.

'Please wait here.' Enid said, gesturing to the first office. 'Dr Bellephron will be with you shortly.' She turned and disappeared behind the panel. I turned to heels clicking on the marble floor. A small woman rushed in.

'Good morning. I hope I haven't kept you waiting. I'm Dr Bellephron. Thank you for choosing Pegasus Modern Pet Solutions. How may I help you? We have an excellent range of gourami at the moment. They are beautiful fish that make fantastic, low-maintenance pets. Giant stick insects, or phasmids, are very much on trend, and crazy crabs are a perennial favourite. Is the pet for yourself, or are you blessed with children?

'I’m seeking a pet for my children. My wife and I have twin seven-year-olds.'

'Twins, oh my, you are doubly blessed'.

'I hope you can solve our dilemma. Florence wants a cat, and Aubrey has his heart set on a dog. Could you provide some guidance that could help us to decide?'

‘At Pegasus Modern Pet Solutions, we ensure that every client is thrilled with their choice of pet. We can assist with locating and matching you with either a dog or a cat. Both would make wonderful pets for your little ones. May I ask about your budget? Dogs and cats can be a very expensive choice.'

'I just want to make sure the children are happy. Money really isn't a concern.'

'Excellent, Sir. Let me see what I can do for you.'

Dr Bellephron gestured to her transponder, and a hologram of a small dog immediately appeared.

'This is a hybrid poodle and cocker spaniel, a Cocker-Poo. An excellent pet, my personal favourite, I must say. The hybridisation makes for a more robust animal, poodles are low allergenic and with the modern genetic modifications you only need to pick up after them once a week.'

Dr Bellephron tapped again, and a tortoiseshell cat appeared in a shimmering image where the dog had been.

'If it is a cat, you're after, something like this might meet your requirements.'

I could see Dr Bellephron playing the game, but I asked the question anyway. 'Perhaps both the dog and the cat might be an option. I can transfer the funds to you immediately if I can take the pets home today?'

'I say, Sir, an excellent solution to your dilemma. I should have offered that myself. I'll ask Enid to prepare the papers. We are, however, experiencing quite a backlog with supply at the moment, but I'm sure your children will be okay with a short delay.'

'How much delay are you talking about?'

'Well, I can supply the cat in approximately 25 months, but delivery of the dog will be significantly longer. We have been experiencing declining fertility in our breeding stock. We are all mammals, after all. The current waitlist for a dog is just under three and a half years.'

'What, that is a preposterously long time. I've told you I am prepared to pay whatever it takes; surely, you can fast-track a solution.'

'I'm very sorry, Sir, the times I quoted assume a twenty-five per cent loading for expedited delivery. I can't offer you anything sooner. Perhaps the children might like to consider the gourami, phasmid or crazy crab options. They all can be very rewarding pets for the little ones.'

'Those pets are totally unacceptable. I'll have to consider other options.'

'Of course, Sir, but you'll find that everyone is experiencing the same supply issues. If you would like to place your order with Pegasus Modern Pert Solutions after you've investigated the market, I will offer you a ten percent discount on any equivalent offer.'

'The price isn't an issue. Your supply is the issue.'

I hastily made my way back to reception. Enid came from behind her desk and followed me out. She leaned into my personal space and said, 'I'm sorry we haven't been able to help you, Sir. If you are willing to pay a premium, there may be other options.' She slipped a card into my hand and said, 'Please tell them Enid sent you.'

I returned home embarrassed by my failure. I didn't have the heart to tell the children about the debacle at the pet broker. Later that night, I asked Siri to provide me with a background check on the information on the card. 'Rare and Unusual Pets. Discretion Assured', followed by an address.

'I am afraid, Sir, that I cannot find any information matching the details you have provided. None of my databases or business directories contain information on 'Rare and Unusual Pets'. Would you like to try a different search?'

'No, that will be all. Thank you, Siri.'

'You are welcome, Sir.'

After three weeks of putting up with morose children and a wife who couldn't believe I had failed to solve the pet issue, I decided to give 'Rare and Unusual Pets' a try. The monorail took me to an area that had long since ceased being a retail precinct. The buildings were now repurposed to warehouses and start-up hubs. I found the address, a single-story building with an austere stainless-steel door devoid of identifying features. I pressed the buzzer and waited for a reply.

'Yes, what you want?' a voice grumbled from a scratchy overhead speaker. I looked up to see the dark eye of a camera monitoring the door. I craned my neck towards the camera and said, 'Enid sent me. She told me you might be able to help me with a pet.'

The door clicked and popped. I pushed it open and walked directly into a greenhouse. Grow lights glared from the ceiling through luscious greenery wrapped in claustrophobic humidity. There was no one to be seen.

'Come, Come. Make sure the door is closed. Come.'

I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. It seemed to be calling me beyond the thick vegetation. The density of the plants made finding the source of the voice difficult. I walked along a path and rounded a bend where an elderly man in a lab coat waited.

'Did Enid tell you how this works?' It was the voice I had heard at the door.

'Enid told me that you could assist me in finding a pet for my children within a reasonable timeframe.'

'You got money? Need plenty money. Fast pet not cheap.'

'I think I have sufficient. Can you supply me with both a dog and a cat?'

'No dog. No cat. Much better. Very much better but not cheap.'

I couldn't see signs of any animals. Plants filled the space, leaving only the small clearing across which we now faced each other. This was starting to smell like a scam.

'If you don't have any pets, I am afraid Enid has sent me to the wrong place.'

'No, this best place. Dr Sebastian has the best pets.'

'The children really want a dog and a cat. If you can't help me with either, I don't think we can do business. I think I have wasted your time. Please accept my apologies.' Or Enid has wasted mine, I thought.

'How much money you got?'

'Well, if you haven't a dog or a cat, that is irrelevant. If I wanted a fish, crab or stick insect, I could have purchased them elsewhere.'

'I have Chimera. Chimera is best pet.'

'You have a what?'

'Chimera. I show you.'

The funny little man pushed past me and thrust his hand into the surrounding greenery. When he withdrew it, I could see he had grabbed a bright green lizard that had been sitting, invisibly amongst the foliage. The lizard wrapped its tail around his forearm.

'It's very nice, but a lizard is not a dog or a cat.'

'Not lizard, this is a Chimera. She just looks like chameleon now.'

As soon as he put the lizard down, its colour changed to the drab brown of the floor. When he stepped back, the chameleon's eyes swiveled, one focusing on Dr Sebastian, the other trained on me.

'You look.'

Dr Sebastian snapped his fingers, and the chameleon froze, shivered and changed into a blue and yellow macaw. The parrot spread its wings and flew into the plants where the chameleon had previously been. This time, the colour and size of the animal made it easier to see.

'That's a great trick. How did you do that?'

'No trick. Is Chimera. You watch.' Dr Sebastian snapped his fingers again. The macaw froze, shivered and morphed into a large dog. The dog fell out of the tree, hit the floor with a yelp and scrambled for grip on the polished concrete floor. The dog snarled and bared its teeth and leapt towards me. I squealed, and Dr Sebastian snapped his fingers. The dog froze in mid-air, shivered and morphed into a large blue butterfly.

'You like Ulysses Butterfly better than dog?'

'I thought the dog was going to bite me. What if it bit the kids?'

'No bite. This is a Chimera. Can’t bite people. Just upset at falling out of tree.' The butterfly landed on Dr Sebastian's lab coat. He walked over to the greenery, gently took it from his coat and left it on the tree.

'That's incredible. Chameleon, parrot, dog, butterfly. The kids will love it.'

'Chimera much more, not just few animals. Many, many animals. As many as you want.'

'So, all I have to do is click my fingers and the animal changes?'

'No, you no click. Only I click. For you, the animal decides when she changes.'

'Fantastic. When can I get one? The children will love it.'

'Children must look after chimera. Not easy, but simple. Three rules; give food, give water, pick up poo. Water most important. Must always have water. Never forget water. Water very most important. Clean water, fresh water. Must always have water. Understand? You give me $275,000, and you have Chimera.'

'Whoa! $275,000. That is a lot of money.'

'Thought you say money no problem. Thought you were big man. Thought you want to please kids. You want Chimera or not? Plenty of customers. I never think Enid send me a stingy one.'

'Okay. I'll buy it. Let me transfer it to you now.'

Dr Sebastian left the room and came back with a small grey pet carrier.

'Checked transfer. Is okay. You open case when you get home, not before. Children will love this pet. Remember water. Water very, very important. Food important too. Must be food for animal. Good food. But don't forget water. Chimera must always have water.'

I couldn't wait to get the Chimera home to the kids. I knew they’d love it. A Chimera that could change from one animal to another will distract them from the cat versus dog impasse.

The kids rushed me as soon as I opened the door. In unison, they said, 'Oh, Daddy, we love you. We knew you'd get us a pet.'

'Did we get a cat or a dog?' They looked at the case, and Florence said, 'It looks like we've got a cat or a little dog. Let us see. Let us see.'

'Let me show you.' I put the cage on the floor and flipped open the door. Nothing came out. Nothing. I tapped the rear of the cage with my foot. Still nothing. I lifted the end of the box and gently shook it. Very slowly, a tortoise slid out. It was beautiful, stripped with yellows and greens, but I could see the disappointment on the children's faces.

'Oh, Daddy, it is a lovely tortoise, but we thought you were getting us a dog or a cat. It's a bit hard to cuddle a tortoise.'

Above the children's faces, I could see Clare. She looked at me with a face that I'd seen before. Her lecture on 'you had one job’, usually followed. The tortoise crawled slowly towards the children. Then it froze, shivered and turned into a St Bernard, almost the size of the children. The dog jumped forward, knocked both children to the floor and wiped a sloppy tongue across their faces.

'Oh, Daddy, she's perfect. I always knew you'd get us a dog. Thank you, thank you, thank you.' Aubrey's face beamed.

'She's so beautiful, Dad. A dog is heaps better than a tortoise,' said Florence.

Clare's expression changed to one of amazement. I hoped that I had finally met her expectations.

'Children, this is no ordinary pet. This is a…,' I searched for the right word. '… a magical pet. You saw her change from a tortoise to a dog. She will continue to change whenever she feels ready to change. She will be a different pet at different times.’ I explained the three rules for looking after their new pet and emphasised the importance of water, just as Dr Sebastien had told me.

'Yes, Dad. Food, water, poo. Of course, we'll look after her. What should we name her?'

'You can name her whatever you and your sister decide, but don't forget. Food, water, and pick up the mess, and the water is the most important.'

Florence had her arms around the dog's neck. The dog was looking dopily towards Aubrey. 'I want to call her Rosie, Dad. She looks like a Rosie to me.'

So, Rosie, the St Bernard she was.

The kids were true to their word, fed, watered and picked up after Rosie. They settled into a routine, each having an allocated job on rotation. A week later, the routine was disrupted.

'Dad, Dad, we can't find Rosie. We've looked everywhere,' said Aubrey. 'Dad, she must have run away. Did you leave the compound door open?'

'Of course not. Let me have a look.' Our compound wasn't large, but I know I hadn't left the door open. I went outside with Aubrey and Florence and called for Rosie. A ladybird flew onto Florence's jumper. I hadn't seen a ladybird or any other insect for that matter, in our garden for years. I knew at once. Florence looked at the little beetle crawling up her arm.

'Oh, Daddy, look, a ladybird, like in the books.' As soon as she said it, the ladybird froze, shivered and turned into a ginger cat. Florence immediately clutched the cat to her chest.

'Daddy, Rosie turned into a ladybird, and now she is a cat. What should we call her? She can't be called Rosie. Rosie is a dog's name.'

'Well, Aubrey, as Florence named Rosie, perhaps you can think of a name for our new cat.'

‘How about Marmalade? She looks like marmalade. This is great, Dad. It's like we've been given a new surprise pet.'

'Marmalade she is then.' My investment was really paying off. The kids loved their pets and looked after each of them well.

A month later, things were still going well. Marmalade then became Delilah, a flop-eared rabbit, who became Angela, a pot-bellied pig. Angela was followed briefly by Woody, the stick insect. Not an inspired choice of name, but at least the poo collection was less onerous. Sheila the sheep, Leonie the llama and a frill-necked lizard we named Priscilla. Only when Portney the pygmy hippopotamus joined our family did things start to go off the rails.

'Dad, Portney has eaten everything we had in the fridge again,' whined Aubrey.

'I can't believe it, Dad.' Florence confirmed. 'We ordered special food for her. Twelve cabbages, six watermelons and six dozen kilos of carrots, and she has eaten it all. Aubrey even fed her the last of the chocolate cake and the leftover pizza that was for us, and she's still hungry. And she has pooed all over the compound again.'

Now I was beginning to see the downside to this Chimera thing. When things are cute and fluffy, it's one thing, but a hippo. Our compound isn't big enough for a hippo even if she isn’t full sized. I couldn't believe the amount of food a pygmy hippo eats.'

'Portney has knocked over her water again, Dad. It's the sixth time today. She keeps sitting in it.'

'Aubrey, you must remember to fill her water. It doesn't matter if she has knocked it over twenty times. Hippos can be clumsy, but water is important. Your pet must always have fresh water. I'll sort out the food, but you must refill the water. Remember, Portney is your responsibility. Sort out the water, and you both need to pick up the poo. It's everywhere.'

'Okay, Dad. But Portney does such a lot of poo. It takes us ages to collect it all, and by then, she has done another lot.'

The store wouldn’t take my order on-line, so I had to go in. I expect my order of six cartons of lettuce, twelve ten-kilo bags of carrots, six bales of hay, two dozen watermelons and a chocolate cake to replace the one that Portney had eaten earlier, sounded like a prank.

'Aubrey, Florence. I'm home. The food for Portney should arrive soon.' I could hear a hologame being played in the theatre room. 'Kids, are you there? Did you remember to replace Portney's water?'

'Oh no, we forgot. She will only knock it over again though.'

I ventured outside, where it sounded unusually quiet. A hippo, even a small one like Portney, can't help but make a bit of noise.

'Portney – here, girl.' Florence called.

That's when I saw Portney's empty water bowl. I rushed to the bowl, but it was too late. All that was left was a crisp, very dehydrated gourami fish.

I hope you enjoyed my foray into science fiction. You can check out some other free short stories on the blog.

All images via Chatgpt4.