Diary of a Mermaid

Big orange T

We pull up to a house forty-five minutes later. It looks just like the photograph, big and formal. We walk to the porch after paying the cabby. A note is pinned to the door. It's written in Ancient Atlantan.

Translated, it means The keys are in the mailbox. Please call us as soon as you get settled. -The ALWASS

You see, the ALWASS uses this house as backup in case an Atlantan needs somewhere to hide.

Steven opens the mailbox and finds a shiny silver key; the style you imagine when you hear the word key.

The door gives easily. I sit my tote bag on the side table and walk in further to explore the house.

I assume the bedrooms are on the second floor, so I take the stairs up. I see a closed door with a big orange T painted on. I open the door and see my new room.

It's pink and frilly. I absolutely love it. My room at home is more, how can I put this? Contrasted. I plan to become a photographer when I grow up, so my photos are displayed all over the walls. Some framed. Some not. I also have a lot of books lying around. I'm an avid reader.

This room is the complete opposite. Every decoration looks planned. I feel like I just walked into an IKEA showroom (we have IKEA underwater).

"Topee?" I hear Angel call from downstairs. "Where are you?"

"Upstairs," I hear her feet slapping against the hardwood stairs as she makes her way up here. I go greet her outside.

"Where's my room?" she asks.

"Um," I look around. I see a door with two intertwined A's painted on. "I think you're sharing with Nemmy."

She groans. "Again? I want my own room." She gives me a calculating once-over. "Do you have your own room, Topaz?"

I feel my cheeks go warm and I'm pretty sure I'm blushing. I've never been a good liar. Nemmy and Ray, on the other hand, can get you to believe anything they want. Ray once broke a vase and convinced Mom that Dad did it and Dad that Mom did it. They still haven't found out.

"Um, yeah. I have my own room. But I'm older. You get that, right?"

Angel nods, but purses her lips. I put my hand on her shoulder and lead her into her bedroom. It's tiny. And she knows it. "There's another room beside here."

"That's Steven and Jaclyn's room. There was a little tag that said Master Bedroom." I tell her.

"No, on the other side."

We go back out to the hall and go into the other room, an office. "Do you think Steven will let me put my bed in there?" Angel asks.

I smile down at her. "It wouldn't hurt to ask."