When I was a little girl, I had a fish tank. And, while I enjoyed watching the fish swim in slow circles, what I liked better was catching those little guys. But, what I liked best was the delicate, brackish flavor of the water they swam in.

I clearly remember the day I got caught. My neighbor Jill and I were in the guest room where the fish tank was. I deftly thrust my hand into the tank trapping a fish against the glass. I pulled the fish out and…popped it in my mouth.

It wasn’t just that I liked the flavor of that fishy water. I liked it most sucked off a fish. I would hold the fish by his tail, dunk him in the tank as you would a Fun Dip candy stick and, I’d slurp the water off. After a few times, I’d plop him back in the tank and go on with my day cutting all the hair off a Barbie or sitting in a refrigerator box.

But, that day, mid-Fun Dip, my mom came in. She caught me with a fish tail protruding from my lips.

Busted.

My fish licking days were over.