The next day is the same routine as before: the flashing, the music, the children, the knocking, the yelling, and now, the food. Grayson hands me something called a "chicken nugget," and it's just as delicious as the cheeseburger from the night before.
"So, Emmalina, if you don't mind me asking, what do you eat at home?"
I look up from my food, my tail swaying back and forth in the water.
"Well, we usually eat things like seaweed and other plants or small fish. The food is really good back at home, but this," I motion to the chicken nuggets, "this is amazing."
He laughs and his face lights up with this beautiful, warm smile creating dimples as deep as craters in the moon.
"Where is home exactly?"
"Well, actually, quite far from where you humans took me out of the water, I say, spitting out the words you humans.
"You know not all humans are terrible," said Grayson, "some of them aren't mean, greedy, and money hungry. But, I'm curious, how did you get caught?" I handed him my empty plate, dunking my head under the water. It was rather hot in this room.
"I wanted to go on an exploration like my brother had done when he was my age. He's a year older than me and my parents treat him like and adult, yet they treat me like I'm five. That wouldn't me go on my own exploration saying I was "too young and not prepared or too inexperienced." Anyways, my friend and I swam away, we were going on our own exploration and when we got back they would see just how capable we are. But, we didn't know where we were going. We swam too close to the shore and too close to the top of the water. That's when a boat spotted us and took me. I can
only hope Alashya made it back home safely," I told Grayson.
"I didn't know that," said Grayson. He stared at me for a moment, like he was searching my face or committing it to memory. Then he glanced up at the giant thing called a clock on the wall and he eyes widened.
"Shit," he said, "Its really late. I have too go." He ran away out of the room, flipping the light switch off behind him. I looked up at the clock behind him. I didn't know how to read it, but both of the "hands" we're pointing straight up, one on top of the other.
YOU ARE READING
In the Glass
Teen FictionEmmalina was a typical mermaid, until she was taken. Now, she is on display inside an aquarium being treated like a common animal when she is so much more. She is tested on, stared at, and she wants nothing more than to go back home, until the new i...
