Annabelle

“Hello.” The mermaid said in a serene and sing-songy voice. 

“Hello.” Bernice said back, in awe of the creature before her.

“My name is Annabelle. What’s yours?” The mermaid, Annabelle said next.

Bernice took a while to answer this, as she was observing Annabelle’s stunning pink tail, which had flecks of green and blue in it as well. And her blonde hair, which was so light and fair that it almost appeared white. 

“Bernice. My name is Bernice. And you’re... you’re... You’re a mermaid!”

Annabelle giggled, and nodded. “Yes, I am. You look like you’ve never seen one before!”

“I haven’t! I mean, in movies and stuff, but not a real live one!”

The mermaid giggled again, and held out her hand.

“Well, Bernice, if you’ve never seen an actual mermaid, then I bet you’ve never seen an actual mermaid home!”

Bernice shook her head no, and took Annabelle’s hand. It wasn’t cold and slick like Bernice thought it would be. In fact, her hand was warm and soft. 

As Annabelle started to swim, her pink tail swished behind her, and Bernice kicked her legs. 

“I wish I had a tail.” Bernice said.

“There is a potion, you know. To make you a mermaid. We keep it in the depths of a trench not that far off from my home. It’s powerful magic, and from what I’ve heard, there is only one sip left. But being a mermaid isn’t as fun as it seems. I wish I had legs like yours.” Annabelle looked down at Bernice’s legs, and sighed.

Bernice replied with a roll of her eyes, “They’re really not that great. And I want that potion, please. I bet I can swim down and find it.”

Annabelle said, “Oh, no. It’s far too dangerous for you, Bernice.”

Bernice and Annabelle swam through all different sorts of colored fish, and past orange coral, and through thick, green seaweed.

“ICK!” Bernice yelled, as she got caught in the slimy seaweed.

Annabelle laughed, and helped Bernice get untangled.

“My home is not that much farther away, I promise!”

After they cleared the forrest of seaweed, Bernice saw in the distance a large shipwreck that glistened and sparkled gold.

“There it is.” said Annabelle, and she advanced towards the ship.

“You live there?” Bernice asked in disbelief.

Annabelle nodded, and led Bernice forward, inside the gold ship.

It was just as gold inside as it appeared on the outside. The inside of the ship twisted and turned in hallways that led into large rooms. Everything looked so shiny and clean that Bernice didn’t even want to touch anything. After a while of observing the house, Bernice had let go of Annabelle’s hand to take notice of a picture of a man siting on top of a dresser. 

“My room is just down here.” Annabelle called from further down.

“Wait, Annabelle... Who is this?” Bernice yelled out to her, and Annabelle doubled back to where Bernice stood.

The mermaid sighed. “Someone who I can’t ever be with.”

Annabelle had the soft look of love on her face, and even though Bernice was only five, she could recognize it.

“Why can’t you be with him?”

Annabelle picked up the picture and stared into the man’s eyes.

“Well, he lives on land, and I... well...” She glances down at her tail.

“Oh.” Bernice replied.

“Now you see why I want legs so badly.”

Bernice only nodded, because she was already thinking of a plan. 

“I know what to do.”

Reviews

[Rhea752]

nicely done :)