About two years ago there was a fish named Gilbert. He lived in the local fountain near Central Park. One night there was a very bad thunderstorm coming from the south, but Gilbert didn’t realize how hazardous the storm was. The rain was pelting the fountain water, and Gilbert had finally realized the danger of staying in the fountain would be. He was trying to find the drain that he could take to get to the sewer system, but when he found it the drain was closed and so Gilbert couldn’t get out. Gilbert had a feeling he wouldn’t get through the night unscathed and was trying his best to hide under the fountain ledges and the corners. Gilbert was poised. He acted as though it was a normal night and he was just trying to find a comfortable place to sleep. 

Around midnight though, terror struck. Gilbert had found a place to shelter himself, but the storm was brutal in New York. Gilbert awoke to strikes of lightning down the street from Central Park. He had a feeling something bad was about to occur, and tried to brace himself for it. Gilbert was trying to go back to sleep but the horrible storm had him plagued in his thoughts of fear. 

The time had come. Gilbert’s worst nightmare. Lightning came down at the center of the fountain and hit the rainy water. The electrocution through the water traveled quickly and soon found Gilbert. As he got electrocuted he felt anguish through him. Hoping he could live through to see another day, Gilbert closed his eyes and hoped. He wished this defeat would hinder and hideaway never to be seen again, but it wouldn’t. He opened his eyes one last time and realized that he wasn’t hurting anymore.He didn’t feel any indifference as to how he survived, but he was glad he did. As the storm finished passing, he noticed something odd, something very out of place.

He had been underwater trying to go back to sleep, but noticed that he couldn’t stay underwater forever anymore. He looked at his fins, and well, he wasn’t expecting them to look so, . . . leathery? Is that even the right word to describe his new fins? He was above water, for the first time he could breathe air. He was trying to get out of the water, onto the fountain’s ledge, but was struggling to do so.

After he finally got out of the water, and onto the ledge, he was looking at the water for his reflection. But all he saw was transparent water, not himself. He decided that he would have to wait until the sun fully rises to look again and see if he is what he thinks he has evolved into.

The sun had fully risen and he looked back into the water, afraid of what he might see. He had to do this quickly before the people started coming awake and before the day became busy. He peeked his head over the ledge and saw spots. He was very confused and interested that he looked over the ledge again, and almost fell over. He saw that he had become a turtle. What kind of turtle, well Gilbert had no idea that he could even change from a fish.