"I have a job for you!" Janis practically sung when I answered the phone.
"What?" I laughed. "I'm seven months pregnant. Are you sure you meant to call me?"
"Yes!" Janis was practically bouncing. "I have a cousin who is obsessed with mermaids and I am planning her baby shower!"
"That's wonderful. Where at?"
"You know The Shell?"
"The place we broke contract with after someone threw my boyfriend in the tank?"
"The very one," Janis said. "They went bankrupt and had to sell because no merpeople would contract with them because of the discrimination. My aunt is renting the place from the new owners for the party."
"You want me to perform at seven months pregnant? You do realize that I'm not exactly small. I don't think I can even get my tail on right now."
"You can still swim though, right?"
"Of course," I said.
"No performance. Just sitting in the tank next to the air hoses. I'll buy you the new tail."
"You're going to buy me a tail? And pay my rate?"
"Yeah," Janis said. "You'll need a blue tail anyway since she's having a boy and with your little one on the way, I know you need the extra money."
I smiled. "I think you've just talked me into this. I'll text you my new measurements."
"Great! Saturday morning at 10 am."
"Great," I smiled.
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At 9:30 that Saturday morning, I arrived at the Shell. In the front window was a blue sign advertising the event.
A short, plump woman was waiting for me with a smile. "You must be Melody. You can call me Auntie."
I nodded, wondering if that was her real name or how she wanted everyone to see her. "Do you know sign language?" I asked, having left my implant safely in the car.
"Oh yes," the woman signed as she spoke. "I may be a little bit slower though."
"I can speak a little slower," I signed. "I'm deaf so please tap my shoulder or wave if you need my attention."
"My daughter, the mother, is mute. She had vocal cord cancer." She offered me the basic blue tail and matching top. "Janis said you'd know where to go from here."
I nodded and took the tail, making my way in.
Auntie followed me, signing the whole way. "It was so difficult to find a pregnant mermaid," she said. "Most mermaids stop working until after the baby is born."
"My boyfriend doesn't have a steady job so it's just my income," I said.
Auntie looked a little disappointed. "I'm sorry hun."
