Mermaids, Trigonometry, and Everything In Between

The 1st Thing

I brought my face in close to Mom's vanity mirror, intently scanning every pore for any dastardly spots that might later reveal themselves to be pimples. So far, none, but it was only a matter of time before a whole slew of them popped up when I least expected. At least, that's what Meridia and her friends had warned. They may not have been the nicest girls in my class at finishing school, but if there was anything they knew, it was how to be beautiful.

I sat back in my chair to get a better perspective. I wasn't exactly the prettiest girl around town. To make matters worse, my long hair, a dull wheat blonde, was becoming especially frizzy from the ocean mist.

"Okay, Elly," I said out loud. Pep talk time. "You are the daughter of an upstanding councilor and a talented herbalist, both of whom love you. You might not be the most gorgeous girl in the world, but by golly you've got a great personality!" I smiled wide for a fleeting moment, then sat back in my seat, rolling my bright, wide eyes. Pep talk failed.

At that moment, the white double doors of my parent's room opened, and my mom sauntered in, carrying a basket of laundry. Her curly, silky hair was wrapped efficiently in a bun. After setting the basket on the bed, she noticed me.

"Elly, are you still caught up about what those girls said? You know you don't have a single blemish on you."

I pressed my lips together and mumbled, "I think I do."

Naturally, my mother's hearing was superior than anyone I knew, "And where would that be?"

"Here," I pointed to a small mole on my cheek, and with my other hand I showed off the faded birthmark on my neck, "and here, just to name a few."

This time, my mother rolled her eyes, sighing, "Teenagers."

I filled my cheeks with air, like a balloon, and slowly let it sizzle out. Mom came up close, tucking a small lock of my wild hair behind my ear. "You know what would make you feel better?" she asked.

"Chocolate ice-cream?" I looked up at her, hopefully.

Mom pursed her lips, "I was thinking a swim on the reef. Your father's coming home in about an hour; I think we can squeeze it in."

I thought about it. I did like the reef. And swimming.

"Okay. I'll get my top," and I left to get ready. One of my two favorite things about being in the ocean water was the fact that it was literally my backyard. Like all the other houses on the block, ours was only a few yards away from the sloshing shore. The beachfront, private for the families on our block, was one of the few places my family and I could express ourselves away from prying eyes. As my mom and I raced to the beach, I practically flew into the water, diving underneath the waves and paddling forward until my feet couldn't touch the sandy floor.

Then, my feet began to tingle. I relished the fusion-feeling as it climbed up my legs. My mother called out to me from a few feet away.

"Ready, Elly?" She called.

"Ready!" I shouted back. With a single nod, my mother gracefully submerged herself under the clear blue water. With a deep breath in, I plunged deep in suit. Underneath the rippling surface, I watched as my legs disappeared. In their place formed a tail, covered in iridescent, greenish-blue scales, tipped with a willowy fin. With a whip of the tail, I sped in the direction of my mother, who swam with her own powerful tail.

That was my other favorite thing about being in the water. I was a mermaid.