There's a shop in downtown North-field that sells fresh fish, the kind that is so fresh they're still alive, the kind that you don't panfry, broil, or bake.
Most of the fish in this shop are under two inches in length.  Some are multi-colored.  Many of them are orange but they're not called orange fish.  They're called goldfish. 
Three generations of girls walked into the shop a couple weeks ago and were greeted by a cat, the kind that is furry and purrs, the kind that is alive, the kind that eats goldfish.  The shopkeeper didn't seem to mind the risk involved.
Miss Adeline is intrigued by every-thing alive, so the lively shop was high adventure.  Her mommy bought her two goldfish, which didn't go unnoticed by the cat who pretended to be sleeping when we walked to the door.  But it was Addie who fell asleep in her car seat on the way home.
I'm wondering how many months will go by before I write about the demise of Nemo Number One and Nemo Number Two.  Will Addie pluck them from the fishbowl and put them in her toy box?  Will she drop them down the toilet?  Will she set them out on the front step this winter for a little fresh air?
Maybe you are wondering how many months will go by before your name is pulled from the minnow bucket in this Ten Dollar Drawing.  This month the lucky winner is Kim Hazt of St. Bonifacius.  Congratulations, Kim!  The fishhook was hidden on page 7 of the November Gazette in the candleholder of Leipold's ad.
I hid a fishhook in this issue of the Gazette too, and it was really fun playing hide and go seek with all this new Christmas stuff.  Did I hide it under the Christmas tree with Addie's new toys?  Did I hide it in the holly in the hall?   Mum's the word!  And so is Merry Christmas!
If you find the fishhook, drop a line to the Gazette at Box 387 in Victoria, MN 55386 and sinker in the mail.  Your name will be included in next month's drawing.  Will you find the fishhook in Santa's sack?  Will the goldfish still be alive at Christmas time?  Will the little angel get a cat for Christmas?