The girl got called away at that moment.
Leaving me to stew. To worry.
Larry was sick. He was potentially dying! All because they'd played off his fear of being slow. Why couldn't they just change him into a different reptile? Why couldn't they release him from his sentence. Surely they wouldn't just let him die!
But that girl had said no to every possible idea I'd mentioned to her to help him! Well, she hadn't said no to my last offer....but she'd said no to everything else.
They couldn't just let him die. Larry had sisters, a father, family! Hadn't they had this experience before? With other thieves? Why couldn't they let him go early? How would we know the difference? She'd said that the sentence would end when every last item we'd stole was sold. How would we know how quickly that would happen? Larry could have been released without us questioning it. Who knew, maybe reptile items were more popular then other items.

I swam around in frenzied circles, worrying.
If Larry died, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

~You must be Henry.~

Cut from my thoughts, I turned from swimming up, down and all around the yellow plant. I froze, unable to respond right away at who I saw.
First off, I didn't recognize her. Second of all, she was regal. This woman had an air of power to her. Straight backed, head held high, she exuded confidence. Dark hair, dark eyes that held no answers. She was beautiful. Like a royal.
~Y-yes.~ I said getting my thoughts back in order. ~Who are you?~

She raised an eyebrow in a manner similar to the girl. ~I, would be Madam Shan, the owner of this shop.~

I have to admit, I cringed at that. This woman, this 'mom' had been the one to change us! I admit I expected a withered old witch. But she looked quite the opposite. She had a youthful beauty to her. And again that power. I felt like if I said the wrong thing I would be vaporized on the spot. Even looking her in the eyes was uncomfortable.

~Oh~
What else could I say? 'Nice to meet you?' Because it wasn't. I was staring at the woman responsible for the mess we were in.

~I'm glad to see that you're taking to being a Gold fish so well.~ She remarked, stepping closer. ~You're finally getting the hang of balancing yourself in your situation.~

~It hasn't been easy.~ I said neutrally working to calm my emotions. I needed to focus.
~It shouldn't be. But what you have done so far has been impressive.~
~Thank you?~
She smiled, though it didn't reach her eye. ~You have manners.~
~You're intimidating.~ She was.
Her eyes brightened. ~You're only nice to intimidating people?~
~No, but I doubt being rude to you will help me at all.~
~It probably won't.~ she agreed. ~If you antagonize me, you would regret it pretty quickly. I could double the prices of all the items you stole for example. Even take them off the shelves and claim that we're out of stock.~
My sail fin flared up and down. That hadn't occurred to me. She could extend our sentence. For forever if she chose to. ~You could also get us out of your hair quicker, put items on 70% of sale.~
~I could indeed.~ She agreed with the tiniest of nods.
~Then why don't you?~
~I've seen no reason to, Henry. You did try to take half of my store with you.~
~My friend is dying!~ I snapped at her. ~Isn't that reason enough? He needs to change his shape! Or even better, just let him go!~
~He won't die, Henry.~ she said calmly.
Relax. Don't get to out of it. Or I would be exploring my tank again for the first time. ~If he isn't eating that has to mean he's dying.~
~I wouldn't allow that.~
~Then get him out of the turtle shape.~
~He'll snap out of it soon enough. He can't rely on his speed forever, Henry. He has to learn to accept it. Work with being slower. Just like you are finding a better balance with your short term memory.~
~It's different.~
~It's not. He'll be fine.~
~How do you know?~
~I'm monitoring the situation.~ 
That wasn't enough for me. ~How closely can you monitor him when you're running the shop! He could die and you wouldn't realize it for three hours.~
~My daughter is force feeding him now.~ She replied. ~He can't die from starvation. She's also giving him a pep talk. He'll pull through, Henry.~
I swam in an irritated circle. ~Then why did she come and ask me how to help him? Why did she make it seem like he was on his death bed?~
~I asked her to.~
~Why?~
~To see what you would do.~
A test. This whole thing had been a test? I'd been worrying all day because I thought Larry was dying when he was pulling through, all for a test?! I couldn't speak. Sure I was relieved that Larry would be okay, but making me believe....
I had to disengage.
Before I said something I regretted.

#Henry