It is my unfortunate task to be the bearer of sad news. Phred, the family goldfish, died today in his 45-gallon tank. He was 26 years old. Some of you might not know Phred, but those that do know he is a family legend. His sheer mass was a sight, his eight inches in length dwarfing 'normal' goldfish. His life story is incredible.

Although the stories are sketchy, Phred's adoption into the McCaul family was the result of chance games at the Topsfield Fair, 1976. His care was handed from person to person. He spent most of his life in a 10-gallon tank. Other fish were introduced, but none survived. Phred endured. Even when filters failed and water turned near-black, Phred survived. Even when small ignorant children attempted to 'pet' the fish (WE DIDN'T KNOW!!!), Phred survived.

His last few months have not been happy ones. For unknown reasons, Phred looked unhealthy. He became bloated, and tended to hide in the corner. Last Tuesday (May 21), he began swimming upside-down. Though he was still active and able to physically right himself, it was clear his balance had shifted for the worse. By Thursday, he no longer had the capacity to right himself.

He was found dead at 4:40pm, on May 25, 2002.