Murm & Tiz

THE STORY

The fish was mid-acrobatic manoeuvre—something between a somersault and a poorly considered life decision—when it misjudged the landing and ended up firmly lodged on top of the monster’s head.

There was a pause.

The fish tested the situation. It wiggled. It was, unfortunately, secure.

Below it, the monster blinked slowly, as though consulting an internal manual titled Unusual Things Landing on Me: Chapter 4.

“Stay there,” the monster said.

The fish objected immediately. It was not a hat. It was a creature of dignity, instinct, and moderate panic. Still, every attempt to flop free only wedged it deeper onto the monster's head.

The monster sighed. “Well,” it muttered, “this is probably my life now.”

And so they stood together at the edge of the swamp: one deeply inconvenienced, the other deeply offended, both pretending the arrangement had happened on purpose.