The First Swim ; A Mermaids Story

Part 1

"I can't believe school's out already!" I exclaim to my twin sister

Nitesha as the bell on the last day of school rings loudly.

"And I can sleep in!" Nitesha thinks out loud. I silently giggle. She is a bed head! She will and can sleep for many, many hours at a time! She needs at least 12 hours of sleep at night. I only need 8-9. Like a normal person.

"Mya," Nitesha chants. I know what's coming. "I'll race you to the corner!" I don't even let her finish before I bolt. Finally I get the head start. Yay! We race every day after school, but she always gets the lead.

"Wait up!" I hear Nitesha behind me. Too late, I think. I tag the flag pole outside the Dieterman's house. She tags mere seconds after me. Mr. and Mrs. Dieterman run the school council.

"How 'bout we walk the rest of the way home?" I suggest, breathless. Nitesha nods in agreement.

We pass the last house before ours. I jog up the steps by the worn-down porch. I slowly open the door a crack and slip inside. Nitesha follows the same way, as not to let the animals out. We are greeted by a series of barks and yips. Me and Nitesha each own a dog. Mine is a young Pomeranian Chihuahua mix with black fur, named Midnight. Nitesha's dog is a tan corgi, named Rushie. I go straight to the cage by the kitchen counter and unlatch the lock. Out tumble two snow-white kittens. One mine, one Nitesha's. Mine's name is Snowflake, and Nitesha's cat's name is Blanka. Which is white in Spanish.

If it were up to us, the whole house would be filled with animals. But, unfortunately mom doesn't like animals that much.

I bend down and carefully pick up the delicate frame of Snowflake. I go over to the small living room, and sit on the couch, later joined by a fluffy ball of black fur snuggling in next to me. I pet Midnight's silky fur. Nitesha is on the other side of the couch, and is in a similar position as me. I gently set the now sleeping kitten right next to Midnight. Even though they are cat and dog, they get along quite well. I don't have much time to dwell on the animals, because mom always wants us to call her as soon as we get home.

We only live with our mom, and don't know who our dad is. Mom never speaks about him, even if we beg.