Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,46
at Cruz, equally awestruck.
“You will be famous in the future.”
Cruz and Megan stood frozen, shocked looks on their faces. The pain in my head began to slowly recede. I dropped my hand, “What?” I asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Marina,” Megan said gently, “You just... you just... talked mermaid.” She spoke slowly, as if trying to soften the blow.
“What?!”
At that moment the front door opened to reveal Abby and Ethan. Three heads snapped towards the door.
“Hi kids,” Abby announced, rummaging through her purse, “The dang battery went dead on the Volvo and Ethan was nice enough to give me a–” she looked up, taking the three of us in.
“My Goodness!” she exclaimed, “Marina, you look amazing! Cruz, did you make that?” She smiled in surprise, “And Megan, look at you!” Abby continued in past our stunned group, “I’ve invited Ethan for supper, he’s going to take you guys to school tomorrow while I get the car fixed. Ethan, come on in and have a seat.”
Abby invited Megan to join us for dinner and hurried off for the kitchen, leaving us all standing where she’d found us. I was in shock from my prophetic vision. Megan and Cruz were in shock because apparently I had just gargled incomprehensibly and poor Ethan...
He stood at the doorway, agog. I think my extreme makeup and dress had shocked him.
Megan recovered first, “Come in and sit down.” She led Ethan over to the couch, and went back to close the front door.
“We were having a fashion show with Cruz’s latest design,” she explained.
Ethan nodded slowly and turned to Cruz, “You made that?” he asked, looking over at my dress.
“Uhm, yeah,” Cruz replied sheepishly.
“Wow, you’re really good,” Ethan said sincerely. He looked up at my face, “You look like a mythological creature.”
Abby came back in with four glasses in her hands, “I made some lemonade, dinner will be ready in half an hour.” She bustled out, leaving us all holding a glass and a dazed look on our faces.
“Come on Marina, let’s go get changed,” said Megan, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me down the hallway. I undressed mechanically, and Megan helped me hang the gown and pull the pins out of my hair. I put on some clothes and wiped off most of the makeup. I sat on the bed numbly.
“How can you possibly know how to talk like her?” asked Megan.
I looked up at her, stricken, “I don’t know,” I lied. Tears welled up in my eyes. Now I knew for sure that I was some kind of half-breed freak.
Megan bent down to give me a hug, “Don’t be upset– I think it’s pretty cool. I mean... what if you have some kinda magical mermaid super powers? That can’t be all bad!” I smiled up at her gratefully, “I guess since I can hear her...” She sat down by my side, “Marina, what did you say to us out there?” she asked gravely.
“I said that Cruz was going to be famous. I sort of... saw... him in my mind being interviewed.” I bit my lip, “In the future.”
Megan looked at me thoughtfully. I could see the wheels turning as she puzzled it out.
“It looked like it was at a fashion show,” I added quietly.
Megan patted my back, “Let’s go out there and rescue Cruz,” she said with forced cheer,
“He must be dying!” When we made our way back down the hall we were shocked to see Cruz showing Ethan some of the other pieces from his collection. They looked up at us.
“These are really good,” said Ethan, “Cruz is gonna be famous.”
“We know,” Megan and I said in chorus. Everybody laughed and the tension in the room eased up a little.
We all sat down and talked about how talented Cruz was. He looked shyly pleased.
“Cruz is going to study fashion design in the city next fall,” announced Megan proudly.
“If I can save up enough,” Cruz added.
“Oh you will,” I said, “I know it.” Megan looked at me meaningfully.
Charlie the cat came strutting down the hallway, looking us all over before jumping up on the couch, finally planting himself on Ethan’s lap.
“He likes you!” Cruz said, surprised, “I’ve hardly seen him since Marina showed up. He practically lives on her bed!”
Ethan stroked Charlie and he settled down, purring loudly. Cruz started gushing about Megan’s singing and we were both shocked when she agreed to perform for us. She went out to her car to get her guitar. Cruz turned to me with amused eyes.