🎈Oscar and Mer 🍆🪼🔮🐌🤕💻💞 🔨

VII

**10 YEARS AGO**

The next day after Oscar went to the library, he took some books down to the beach along with a tent that Isaiah had bought him so that he could read in peace without worrying about being fried by the sun or sand getting into the books. He brought a chair with him to read in and his water gear just in case he wanted to get in the water. Isaiah was going to be busy with fixing up the spare bedroom and so Oscar had the corner of the beach all to himself again. He set up the tent (which took way too long in his opinion) and then unfolded the chair inside of it. He was hoping he could see Mer but after about an hour or so reading over the mermaid encyclopedia and flipping through one of the sign language books he had checked out, he got bored and decided to go take a small swim in the water.

He grabbed his gear and waded into the water about waist deep. He looked around for a moment.

"Mer?" He called out. "Mer, are you there? If you are, don't be afraid to come and see me. You know I won't hurt you."

There was silence, of course, and Oscar made a face. A sudden epiphany struck him.

"I wonder if I say his name underwater, will he be able to hear me? Oscar, you're a genius." He said, praising himself.

He laughed at his own prowess and dunked his face into the water to see if maybe he could see Mer. He yelled Mer's name underwater, floating on top of it to keep himself balanced.

*****************

Mer emerged from the water a little ways out and looked on the shore to see if Oscar had returned. He knew he would never just leave without saying goodbye... right? As he scanned the shoreline, he spotted a strange color floating on the water. He squinted to see a little better and realized that it was those things that humans wore when they went swimming. He swam a little closer when he remembered that those things shouldn't be doing that. If they did that then that meant... Fearing the worst, he made a squeal and swam over quickly. If those leg things are on top of the water, doesn't that mean humans are dead?! he yelled in his head, pulling the owner up from the water by their pants.

Surprised by feeling something cold and tickling on his backside, Oscar went to scream but sucked in water, coughing on the way up. Mer frantically swam with Oscar under his arm to shore, practically throwing him on land. Oscar coughed hard, turning on his side as he threw up the water he had taken in. Mer hovered over him, panicking. Oh no, he's dying! he screamed in his head. Oscar finally sat up, hitting his chest as he tried to settle down. He looked over at Mer, who looked very upset and concerned and Oscar laughed.

"Hello to you too..."

Relieved his new friend wasn't dead, Mer jumped him in a hug, rubbing his face on his with worrisome affection. Oscar smiled and pushed him away.

"I'm okay. You just scared me. Why did you grab my pants like that?"

Mer pointed at the water and then breathed in deep and pointed at Oscar and shook his head. Then he put his hands around his neck for 'choking' and then 'dead'. Oscar laughed as he moved his hair.

"I wasn't dead. I was yelling for you underwater." Mer turned his head. "Can you hear above water?" He nodded with a curious look. "I wasn't sure if you could hear me from above the water so I thought maybe you could hear me underwater."

Mer bit his lip to try and keep from laughing as Oscar frowned.

"Hey, how was I supposed to know?" Mer kept smiling. "I guess it is a little silly..." Mer nodded. "We went to the library today and I got a whole bunch of books on sign language." Mer turned his head quizzically. "It's where you make words with your hands. I also got a kid's book that teaches you how to write letters and stuff. That way we can communicate better... or well, at least I can understand what you're saying. By the way, are all of your people mute or just you?" Mer turned his head. "Can't talk."