This is Mashwarohn. I got him yesterday. His is a harrowing tale of near-death experiences and redemption.
Yesterday, my gf, lil bro, and I went to an Evansville story that carries an ASTOUNDING selection of stuffed animals; I'm talkin' okapis, several species of bat, and a variety of manta rays.
Anyway, I saw a bunch of catfish and was checking them out when I noticed this little guy was missing a whisker (you can see the bare spot in the photo).
Always keen for a deal, I asked the clerk if they had a "defective" discount. I had already spent way too much money on this trip, but I figured if he was on sale it was meant to be.
After calling her manager, the clerk informs us that NOT ONLY can they not give me a discount, but now that his 'malformation' has been discovered, he's gonna have to be 'damaged out.'
I work in retail. I know what that means. This lil fishie wasn't gonna find an accepting home at the goodwill; he was going straight into the trash.
All of a sudden I felt a huge surge of guilt. This plush--who I had already given a name and personality--was about to die because of a slight imperfection...and it was all my fault.
I went back and forth, quite honestly making a scene because I couldn't sentence him to death, but I couldn't spend $15 dollars when I had made a very serious vow only an hour before to cease all spending.
Enter the true heroes of this tale: Rachel and Andy. Pooling together their cash, they offered to buy Mash.
Now the clerk proclaimed she'd have to call her manager again because she didn't think she was allowed to sell damaged goods. I was extremely persistent, however, and plainly told her I was buying this one or nothing at all. Poor girl. I was kind of intense by this point.
So this is Mash. He's amazingly soft, cuddly, and his fins are great for stroking when I'm anxious (which is often).
And if he's a little lopsided about the whiskers?
Well, that just makes him special.
(btw, for those who are interested, Mashwarohn is a red tail catfish, actually a South American species, but whatevs)