The goldfish swam around its bowl which had just a simple stand of weed and pebbles in it.

Marie peered into the bowl. The fish swam away in alarm at the distorted nose and mouth that loomed towards it.

“Florie,” she called but the fish stayed at the other side of the bowl until Marie had given up and gone to look at something more interesting.

Food time came and went very quickly. Florie gobbled up all the food that Marie offered. Marie offered some more and Florie ate all that too.

“I don’t know if I’m feeding Florie enough,” said Marie.

“You mustn’t feed fish too much, her mother warned. It can make their home too dirty.

Still Marie knew that Florie needed more food and did her best to provide more where she could.

Florie responded to this food by growing. Soon it was obvious she was too big for her bowl.

Marie’s mum came home with a tank. Florie was grateful. Now she could swim about again. Marie kept feeding her, as much as she could eat at a time and Florie kept growing.

Soon her tank had to be exchanged for a bigger tank and a bigger one! When Marie’s mum came home with the last fish and ank, she warned that it was the biggest the shop had and that she would not be able to fit anything bigger in the house.

Marie kept feeding Florie. The fish demanded it.

The day arrived. Florie was so big that she no longer had room to swim in this largest tank. Something had to be done.

Marie’s parents sat down with her and explained that they could no longer keep Florie. It would not be fair. She could barely turn round in her new tank.

“She needs to be able to swim and keep fit,” said Marie’s mum.

“We have talked to the Waterworks staff in America,” said Marie’s Dad. They have said that they can take Florie and put her with some of their bigger fish.

“But Florie will be lonely without me,” cried Marie.

“Florie will have some new fish friends,” said Mum.

Marie cried and sobbed but it was no use. Florie needed more space and her family’s tiny house could no longer provide it.

Waterworks agreed to take Florie and they said that Marie and her parents could accompany her and see her settled.

The day arrived as did a very large lorry for transporting loads and a Waterworks keeper to make sure that Florie stayed in good health. Florie’s tank was lifted onto the lorry by forklift.

The journey took a long time to the sea then they transferred to a ship which would then take 3 weeks. Every day Marie would go and spend time with Florie. She was no longer allowed to feed her as the keeper took over her care. She thought Florie was getting a little smaller but she still begged for food.

Once in the US, Florie was lifted by crane onto another large truck and they set it ff once more. After a journey that took forever they finally arrived at Waterworks and Florie was still fine.

The family went straight to a hotel as it was so late. Marie went to bed determined not to sleep as tomorrow she would have to say goodbye to her pet.

She slept.

The final day dawned bright and fair. At Waterworks, the keeper, Jill was waiting for Marie.

“Come and see Florie,” she said.

The large tank was full of blurry shadows and Marie could see very little at first then one of the shadows moved. A large fishy nose loomed towards the tank window.

“She has room to swim,” said Jill.

A second nose also appeared.

“She has a friend,” said Marie.

The two fish drifted past.

“They’re getting on well,” said Jill.

Marie felt sad but knew that it was the right thing to do.

For the rest of the day Marie was shown behind the scenes at Waterworks. They had lots of aquarium fish and animals for visitors to see. She learned a lot about fish care.

When she had returned home, she had regular updates from Jill about Florie. The fish had finally stopped growing.

Marie had other fish and she went across to see Florie as often as she could. Florie would always come to greet her.

Marie never overfed a fish again.