Rhythm of my Heart: A Mericcup Anthology

Portrait of a Girl with her Foot in her Mouth

From Mericcup Month 2019, Day 3: Art

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She supposed that this wasn't the worst event on her mother's calendar of mandatory social events – it was close, but not quite the worst. Art galleries were painfully boring, no question, but at least there was usually free booze.

"D'ye reckon that's some sort of pseudonym?" Her third glass of champagne still in hand, she gestured at a white name card that read 'Hiccup H Haddock III' in tidy black font, below a large painting of a panther. "'Ts got ta be."

The lad next to her seemed amused. "You know, I read somewhere that it's actually his real name."

She snorted and tossed her head to shake a stray curl out of her eyes.

He was a right braw lad, with warm green eyes and a constellation of freckles across his cheeks. He smiled when their eyes met for a moment, and she found a hint of a smile on her own lips too.

"No, it's true – his parents actually named him that."

"Yer pullin' my leg. What kind o' parents would name a kid that? Can ye even imagine?"

"I don't know, there are some people out there who have some pretty eclectic taste in names. I mean, it's definitely up there, but also not one of the weirdest I've heard." He shrugged and ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair.

She made a face. "But Squeaky McFishboy?"

And with that he burst out laughing.

"Err, I'm Merida." She said after a moment, tossing her head again to shoo another curl out of her eyes, and offering him a hand to shake. "I don't think I caught yer name,"

A mischievous smile played on his lips as he took her hand. "Squeaky McFishboy, in the flesh."

Her heart skipped a beat, and then her cheeks began to flush very, very red.

"Squeaky McFishboy the Third, actually. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."