Diary of a Mermaid

I can swim by myself

"Topee!" my five-year-old sister, Anemone screams, barrelling into my arms. I'm immediately knocked over and am now lying on my back on the floor.

"Hi, Nemmy!" I laugh, using the nickname we all use.

"She's here?!" a voice calls from the living room. Angel, my other sister, two years older than Nemmy, swims into the foyer and joins Nemmy and I on the floor.

Mom walks in carrying my suitcase. I just got back from a two week sleep-away camp in Coralite, the city right next to ours.

"Okay, girls. Lets let Topaz get washed up." Mom says, scooping up Nemmy in her arms.

"I can swim by myself, Momma." Nemmy insists, squirming in Moms arms. She's set down on the ground. "Come on, Na Na," she says, calling Angel. "Lets go get the cards we made Topee." She grabs her sisters hand and they swim off together.

Me, Angel, and Nemmy look a lot alike. We all have long brown hair, big brown eyes, and long tails. Mine is orange and matches the natural streaks in my hair, Angel's is bright green, and Nemmy's is purple. Finn and Ray don't look alike at all. Finn has spiky dark brown hair, crystal blue eyes (like Dad), and a navy tail. Ray has longer light brown hair, light brown eyes, and a sliver tail. Mom looks like us girls and Ray, but has a red tail. Dad has a yellow one.

I sit up against the wall. Mom slides down next to me. "They really missed you." she says. "Everyday they would ask when you'd be coming home."

I smile. "I missed them too." Then something dons on me. "Wait. Where are Finn and Ray?" Finn and Ray are my eleven and ten-year-old brothers.

"Dad took them to a soccer game. But they'll be here soon."

"Topee, look!" Nemmy calls, bolting into the foyer with Angel right behind her. They're carrying large stacks of coloured paper. They skid to a stop in front of me and Mom and throw the paper down. Looking closer, I notice that it is covered in pictures of stickmen in triangular dresses. Our names are written above them. "For you."

I give them another hug. "Thanks, girls. I got something for you too." I reach into my tote bag and pull out two blue and purple woven bracelets. They grab them and run off just as the door opens again and the mermen in our family step in.

"Topaz!" Finn says, giving me a hug. Our family is a fan of hugging.