Diary of a Mermaid

Can't let you sleep in the basement

Twenty minutes later, we pull up to an adorable white bungalow. There are square topiaries around the front porch and a twenty foot high evergreen on the lawn. Steven helps us all out of the car and takes my tote bag from me.

Nemmy clings to my leg as we approach the house. Steven knocks on the door. Cathrin answers and quickly ushers us in. "Boys, they're here!" she calls out.

I hear footsteps pounding up a flight of stairs. Then Ray and Finn run into the foyer. For a second, we all just stand there, looking at each other. Then Nemmy breaks the silence. "Trouble! Finny!" By the way, Trouble is Nemmy's nickname for Ray. You can probably guess who Finny is.

She barrels into their arms and says, "We went on airplane, and car, and then we watched movie, then I puked, then we played outside, then bad guy comes, then a lot of bad guys come, then Stevie takes me and Na Na out to secret car and we wear wigs and we go to airport again and we go on airplane and then we go on car then we take off wigs, then we drive, then we here!" She takes a breath.

"Puke?" Finn asks. "She's sick?" he says to me. He's a bit of a germaphobe.

Homesick I mouth. He nods, knowingly.

"Since this is a small house, accommodations will be, um, limited." Cathrin tells us. "All the children will sleep in Finn and Ray's room. Steven, Jaclyn, you will sleep in the Master Bedroom, and Peter and I will sleep in the basement."

"We can't let you sleep in the basement." Jaclyn says. "We'll sleep in the basement and you can remain in the Master Bedroom."

"We insist," Steven says, adamantly.

"Are you sure?" Peter asks.

"One hundred percent." Steven replies.

"Okay, it's settled." Ray says.

"Ray? Can you show the girls to their room?" Cathrin asks.

He nods and takes my tote bag from Steven. We walk down a small hallway and arrive at our room. The entire floor is covered in layers and layers of blankets and pillows. "So, this is it." Ray announces.

Nemmy giggles and dives headfirst into the blankets.

Cathrin comes to the door. "Girls, if you'd like to take a shower, the bathroom is the second door on your left."

"Thanks. Is it okay if I take one now, Cathrin?" I ask.

"Of course, and call me Cat."

I leave my sisters with my brothers and walk into the bathroom. I undress, leaving the hourglass necklace on, and run the water. I step in.

And then I see my tail. It's been weird looking down and not having it there. Having legs instead.

I spend an hour just soaking and letting the dangers of today wash away with the running water.