He stared me in the eyes... It was not an innocent glare out of curiosity but more of a glare like death. I held the fish food in my left hand about to feed him but he swam to the other side of the tank when I tried to give him the food. The glare was menacing and I had to stare back. It was unnatural! Fishes are not supposed to do that, they are supposed to like food and swim up to the owner when they see they have it, mine just goes away and glares. Poor poor Mr. Color. The beta hates my guts.

“Hey, today I want to feed Mr. Color!” Carol screamed, my younger sister can be very bossy but she is only seven years old. I surrendered to her yelling and gave her the bottle. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The dang fish went up to Carol and not me! I am the one who doesn’t look at him like he’s a science experiment! I silently cursed him and Carol under my breath and ran upstairs to my room to make a plan.

I got Mr. Color as a birthday present last week and since then I was wondering if he was scared of his new surroundings or just scared of humans. No, he just hates me. If I even attempt to tell my mom of what was happening she would laugh thinking I was watching too many horror movies. You know, thinking that the fish got possesed… I mean that is a possibility with my luck. I was going to make this fish like me if it’s the last thing I do, and if looks can kill, then I have very short time.

New food? A new tank? This is going to be harder than I thought. Maybe, he just doesn’t like people? Except for my annoying family? Yeah, that was worth a shot to try to convince myself. Nope, he just hates me. Perhaps, he wants a staring contest? But if he wins it could be the end of me. Better not risk it.

I grabbed a sheet of paper from my desk and started a list. This beta is going to live with me for a while and by definition he is technically mine. I started the heading with, ‘How To Get Mr. Color Happy’ I just know this list is going to bomb, I mean he does give me the look. The look is evil, I tell you! I put a bullet and hesitantly put, ‘New Materials’. I dunno if it’s me exactly. I'm going to need more ideas. Where could I find some?I jump out of the bed to my desk and pull out my laptop which hasn’t been used in ages. I wait as the computer is loading. What should I look up? Are beta’s loveable? Are there any death incidents maybe between the human and fish? If I get a negative answer, I swear I will be the next ‘accident’.