mr iggy turtle

i was waiting for dinner when lachlan called, sitting in debacle reading a book on rabbit care. i'd ordered muscles, which i was feeling a little guilty about, due to my failing attempts at returning to a vegetarian diet.

lachlan called and the phone cut out, so he called back in a minute. he sounded miserable, but i could barely hear a word over the noise in the resturant, so i asked what was wrong and he said he had really, really sad news. lachlan isn't one to exaggerate, so i went outside, with that sick feeling in my stomach, knowing it was probably about our pet turtle, Mr Iggy Turtle. lachlan contributed the Iggy, as Iggy Pop looks a lot like a turtle, and i contributed the Mr Turtle. it's similar to the naming of my bunny, Mr Titus Tumbles - i did the Mr Tumbles, and lachlan chose the Titus. mr tumbles is sort of lachlan's Canberra pet. and iggy was our baby.

iggy has a prolapsed bowel. if there was any point, the two of us would scrape together ever cent to save her, but really, it'd be selfishness, and she'd probably not survive. she's being put down tomorrow. i didn't cry on the phone, because lachlan was sobbing, until he said 'she's your turtle too. she's ours.' and then i broke down. waited til i was off the phone, and my food came to the table, and i had one look at the muscles and my stomach turned at the smell, and i ate the bread, salty, and drank beer, and walked home, salty tracks. ate sugar plums off a tree on the side of the road that was covered in fruit. it reminded me of the mulberry tree two houses away from my place, and two in the other direction from lachlan's, when we lived five apartment blocks away from each other, on the same street. i cried, and ate sugar plums, wandered home, and let big bunny out to run around gleefully. crying as i watch him.

iggle piggles. i fucking love that little turtle, she's a snappy little bastard, quite grumpy, but so cute, little swimmys around her tank, slowly blowing little bubbles, wandering around the apartment, loose grey skin, that wonderful oily turtley smell...