Skinny Dave
Skinny Dave loved tropical fish but the only way he could add to his collection was to steal them and with a wide range of tropical fish on offer, the Parkway Pet Shop in Camden Town was Skinny Dave’s favourite place to plunder.
From ‘Knocking Dollies Out Of Bed’ by Jason Wilde
His creative process started with fish-talk with the owner and assistants before taking the time to walk along the rows of long thin aquariums on floor to ceiling shelves on quiet the first floor.
Using the pet shop's small step ladder and one of their small fish nets, his prize was very carefully caught and very affectionately transferred to a bag of water in his pocket. The pocket bag of water was an empty crisp packet from a pre caper treat.
From ‘Knocking Dollies Out Of Bed’ by Jason Wilde
After a quick pat down to check everything was ship shape Skinny Dave would cautiously leave the shop and contentedly ride the bus home with his swag safely cupped in both hands.
I have no idea how many fish survived the trauma of Skinny Dave’s pilfering but he did have a collection of about 20+ fish of all shapes and sizes in a large aquarium in a small bedroom he shared with his younger brother.
From ‘Knocking Dollies Out Of Bed’ by Jason Wilde
Skinny Dave had the bottom bunk and that’s where we sat and watched his stolen goods swim about while he commentated with all kinds of useful titbits like where the fish came from, zoological names, the names he gave them, ailments, food types and relationship gossip.
Commendable dedication to a project for a 12 year old methinks.
From ‘Knocking Dollies Out Of Bed’ by Jason Wilde