MERMAID (chapter 4.1)

by Kanga in my own little bubble

4. DECIDING

We ate dinner in silence as usual. Mum used to be the one who created conversation at the table.

As I sat down, the mermaid book in my pocket stuck into my side, and I had to ask to be excused so I could hide it in my room. I quickly shoved it in my pillow case and ran back to the silent dining room, where my dad was chomping on some chips, gazing into space.

When the torture of family dinner was over I packed up the plates and washed the dishes. Then I said goodnight and went into my room, closing the door with a click behind me. 

Getting out the mini novel from my pillows and turning on the light, I slipped into the covers, got comfy and began to read.

In the well known movie ‘The Little Mermaid,’ mermaids are shown as human loving, kind little sea creatures that think and have the same personality as humans. This is the furthest from the truth. Mermaids are beautiful alright, but they use it to lure humans to their watery depths. Mermaids are not good creatures. They are evil and manipulative. All throughout history, the most reliable sources say that mermaids, half human half fish, show themselves to people, especially males, and lead them into the water where they are drow-

I couldn’t read anymore of that rubbish. Mermaids weren’t evil. I saw the look in that mermaid’s eyes and she wasn’t being manipulative at all.

I decided, at that moment, to go by myself and see the mermaid. Then I can prove to my father I wasn’t hallucinating. But then again, I might keep it as my own little secret.

With that happy thought in my head, I soon fell into a dream filled sleep, full of mermaids and deep crystal waters.

The first night’s sleep I had without a nightmare in it.

*      *     *

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My alarm clock sounded annoyingly like the bells at the Chip shop.

I groggily hit the snooze button and snuggled back into my warm, cosy sheets.

Until I remembered the mermaid and I shot up from my single bed and went to open the curtains. I was temporarily blinded by the brightness of this summer morning so I ambled back to my bed and sat down on it for a moment, getting used to the light.

At last, I could see enough to stumble out the door and into the kitchen. It was Tuesday, my turn to make breakfast.