intensity. I couldn’t wait any longer. The floodgates burst open and I told them about the mermaid, pouring the whole story out to them, describing the first sighting and finally going into detail about our contact yesterday.
They sat there quietly, taking it all in. Then they exchanged a meaningful glance between them.
“Are you sure you didn’t bump your head or something when you were underwater?” Cruz asked.
Megan chimed in, “You passed out... right? That could cause oxygen deprivation...”
“Are you accusing me of having brain damage?” I asked acerbically, then joking, “Or should I say drain bramage?” They didn’t laugh.
Cruz tried to placate me, “It’s just, you might have gotten knocked out and dreamed it or something...”
I rolled my eyes at him, “I just told you I saw her before the accident,” I said.
“Maybe it was someone playing a trick on you,” Megan reasoned, “Some of those surfer girls can be really mean.”
They spent the better part of an hour trying to explain away my story. The more I insisted that what I saw was real, the more condescending they got. They spoke to me like I was a confused child. Frustrated, I excused myself and went for a walk to calm my rising irritation. I should have known better than to tell anyone. Who in their right mind would believe such a story?
I walked the neighborhood lost in my thoughts, agitated, and without even thinking my feet took me down to the pier leading towards the cement boat. I came upon the lone fisherman leaning against the rail, looking intently into the murky swirling waters. I walked to his side and looked down, puzzled to see nothing. He glanced over at me with a grin, giving me the strangest sensation that he’d been expecting me.
“Good morning,” I said routinely.
“Hello water girl,” he replied, smiling so broadly I thought his lined face would crack, “The water spirits are strong today.” He gestured to the bucket at his feet, overflowing with fish.
I looked down and back up at him, remembering his cryptic remarks at the farmer’s market.
“Really?” I asked, looking out towards the ruins.
“Good fishing,” he said with a wink.
His ancient eyes sparkled impishly, and a surge of excitement passed through me. I don’t know how I knew– but I just did. Grinning triumphantly, I turned and ran back home as fast as my stiff legs could manage.
When I burst into Abby’s little house panting and sporting a maniacal smile, Cruz and Megan started to look more than a little bit nervous.
“Come on!” I barked at them, “Now! She’s down at the ship.” I hustled them out the door and hurried along the path, racing down to the pier with Cruz and Megan trailing behind me.
When I got to the ship I found a couple sitting on the bench, holding hands and kissing. I stood there waiting for Megan and Cruz to catch up, blocking the lovebird’s view. They looked annoyed at my intrusion and reluctantly got up to go, still clinging to one another.
“It’s the love boat,” Megan said when she caught up, and Cruz started laughing. They seemed to think this whole thing was a big joke.
“Come here,” I hissed, waving them over to the chain link fence. I scanned the deck, making sure there was no one else around. Once I was certain the coast was clear, I looked down to see a team of sea lions looking back up at us.
“Sister , come out,” I cried, not knowing what else to call her. A few moments passed and I could hear Cruz and Megan muttering to each other with strange worried looks on their faces.
Suddenly she popped up out of the water in all her full glory.
“Don’t go!” I called out to her, seeing her alarm when she spotted my company. “Please...” she ducked back into the water and just when I thought she was gone for good she appeared right on the other side of the fence. It was the closest that I had been to her since she pulled me out of the water.
She looked shyly at Megan and Cruz, who stood in shock, white knuckles gripping the fence. Then she turned toward me and smiled.
“What’s your name?” I asked her, and then added, “I’m Marina. ”
“Marina, ” she repeated in her singsong voice, “I am Lorelei.”
“Why did you...what...” I stammered. I didn’t know what to ask first.
“Is that your mate? ” she asked, looking toward Cruz. His eyeballs were popping out of his head.
I chuckled,