The Goldfish Padel Incident

The pool party at Tyler's house was supposed to be chill. Just a few friends, some snacks, maybe a dip in the pool. But then someone brought out the **padel** rackets.

"You've never played?" Maya raised an eyebrow at me, her expression halfway between impressed and horrified. "It's like tennis met squash and had a cooler baby."

I shrugged, trying to look like I wasn't internally panicking. "I'm more of a swimmer. Less running involved."

"Come on, you can't be the only one who doesn't play," Tyler said, already handing me a racket. "It's not rocket science."

The problem wasn't the sport itself. The problem was the plastic cup sitting on the edge of the **water**—the cup containing Leonard, my prize from the carnival earlier that day. A tiny, incredibly alive **goldfish** with seemingly zero survival instincts.

"We're not leaving Leonard here," I said firmly. "He gets stressed alone."

Maya snorted. "He's a fish, not a toddler."

"Fish have feelings too!"

Long story short: I played padel with one hand while holding Leonard's cup with the other. I looked absolutely ridiculous. My serves went everywhere except over the net. I tripped. A lot.

"You're like a baby bear learning to walk," Tyler said, which was rich coming from the guy who'd face-planted into the fence ten minutes earlier.

But here's the thing about being sixteen and desperately trying to figure out who you are: sometimes you hold a goldfish during a sports match because you're tired of being the person who always says "maybe later." Sometimes you make a fool of yourself in front of the new girl you're lowkey terrified of impressing. And sometimes, somehow, it ends up being the most fun you've had all summer.

By dusk, Leonard had survived (barely), I'd accidentally invented a new playing style, and Maya had actually laughed at my jokes. Not the polite laugh either—the real one.

"Same time next week?" Tyler asked as we headed out.

"Yeah," I said, and actually meant it. "But I'm bringing a proper bowl next time. Leonard deserves better."