I'm a Mermaid, Not a Merman

Chapter 17

Dani loved flying. She loved just the feeling of being pressed back in her seat, as the engines kicked in, speeding them down the runaway.

Even though flying was such a normal thing in the modern world, on the occasions that Dani got to do it, it still just seemed... magic. Somehow, they were able to go into the sky, and look down at the world below.

Spending ages on the airport shuttle however, she could do without. The drive from Long Beach to their hotel was far too long, and when they finally got to their hotel room Friday evening, Dani stumbled, nearly collapsing on the floor when she tried to fall onto the bed. After a fit of laughing, Dani went comatose for a second, stretching out her muscles after being confined to an airplane seat and to the back of the shuttle.

Mom and Dad chatted about something with the hotel, while Sammy did likewise to Dani. Jason got on the other bed and got out his phone.

"Oh you guys can't just pass out yet!" Dad laughed, "don't you want to go use the hotel pool?"

"You're going to have to repeat that again," Sammy said, "my brain is fried."

"You guys have two hours before the pool closes," Dad said.

"Fiiiiine," Dani said, "but only because I want to use my tail."

"Oh yeah!" Sammy sat up, "can I pleeease -"

"Yes," Dani laughed, "I'll let you try it... but it might be a bit hard to pull on when it's wet."

About a half an hour later, Dani, Sammy and Jason were outside at the pool. It was dusk, but the southern California heat was still very present. That was not what Dani found uncomfortable though.

As she pulled on her mermaid tail, there were several families at the pool that were glancing in her direction. Some little kids were pointing. More unnerving though, was Jason staring as he tread water in the pool.

"Just have fun," Sammy whispered.

Dani nodded, and slipped into the water. She was very sore after being cooped up in the plane and then the shuttle, but eventually she was able to loosen up. It wasn't really as fun with so many people in the pool - and them being non mers that weren't familiar with giving space. It wasn't too long before she found herself nearly running into a little girl.

"Oh!" Dani said, "sorry!"

The little girl looked down at her tail as Dani tread water.

"Are you Ariel?"

Dani laughed. "No, but I am a mermaid like her."

The little girl immediately swam off to some other kids.

"See," Dani heard her say, "I told you she was a real mermaid."

Dani laughed and Sammy swam up, joining in. Jason however, was still staring. Dani glanced to him.

"What," Dani said, "you wanna try the tail on?"

Jason's brow furrowed. "Absolutely not."

"Oh yeah," Sammy said, "forgot that you're a teenage boy that can't be imaginative and silly."

"Gosh," he said, "you're being awfully mean just because I don't want to wear a literal pink mermaid tail."

"Oh oh oh," Sammy said to Dani, "for Christmas he needs to get that one black barracuda one, nice and dark and moody."

"I'm not wearing a mermaid costume."

"Actually," Dani said, "It would be merman - or I guess, merboy in your case."