Stevie had lived with Benny and his sister Joon for two months now. Benny had brought him and his brother William home after work one day. William had gone to live in Joon's room and Stevie hadn't seen him since.
Stevie, on the other hand, had been moved into a bowl on Benny's night stand. There he would swim around and watch Benny.
Sometimes, Benny would talk to him. Telling him of what Joon had been doing, about the woman he'd met that day, or even about the repairs he'd made at the shop.
Stevie would just swim up and down the corner of his bowl, watching and listening.
"Lost another housekeeper today. Seems Joon got frustrated with the way Mrs. McPhearson sorted the laundry. So she took the whole load and tossed it down the stairs." He sighed. "That was the last straw for Mrs. McPhearson."
Stevie continued swimming up and down. Up and down. Watching.
Benny rested his head on his arm and stared up at the ceiling. "What am I gonna do with Joon? I want what's best for her. But I'm not sure what that is."
Benny was silent for a while.
Stevie settled into the left corner of his bowl. He was just drifting off when Benny spoke again.
"We've been doing pretty well I guess. I mean, things could be a lot worse. But is this really the best way to go?" He reached over and turned off the lamp next to Stevie's bowl.
"No use worrying about it now. I've got to get some sleep. Good night Stevie."
Stevie watched the man roll over and fall asleep. Then he drifted off as well.