The Mermaid Tale "If I Could Stand"

A Slice of Life

I was riding my bicycle once again, strolling through the forest. The branches snapped as the squeaky wheels whistled. The air was fresh and the sun beamed. I enjoyed the weather. It made me feel so alive. I was alive. I was finally alive. I felt free, and happy. I read about a tree in a book once under the sea. Now, I can finally see a tree and feel a tree. This is a once in a lifetime chance for a mermaid.

"Howdy there carrots!" I hear someone yell.

My bike comes to a sharp stop and my breathing picks up. This person had caught me by surprise.

"Hello." I say softly.

I turn my eyes to the boy. He had dirty blonde hair and pretty blue eyes. Our eyes stayed connected for sometime until he broke the silence.

"I'm Charlie....and you must be?"

"I'm...Anastasia."

"Interesting. I don't see many girls around like you riding bikes. Most of them rather stay home and get their cat claws done."

I was confused by the cat claws thing, but I think he's talking about nails. I heard many girls loved their nails being colored.
I studied the boy for awhile. His voice seemed to have some sort of accent. It wasn't like other boys. Alessandro had an accent, but he said he was from Italy. This boy had a different tone in his voice.

"Well, I've never seen anyone like you around this secluded neighborhood. Tell me. When did you move over here?"

"A couple weeks ago. I'm a little new to it all, but I enjoy the beautiful nature."

"So you're a country girl?"

"What?"

"Hello! A country girl? You got red hair and you ride bikes through the forest loving the nature. You also have little freckles just like a horse rider. No need to feel left out. I'm country too!"

I was in shock at his crazy accusation. I had no idea what a country girl was or why he thinks I am one.

"I'm not a country girl. I like the beach." I say simply.

"Well, I guess that means we aren't two peas in a pod."

"I guess not."

We stay in silence for awhile and I just scan the forest again. I feel his eyes on me which makes me nervous. I was starting to think that Andrina was right. A lot of boys seem to be attracted to me. The only thing is that there is only one boy truly who I had deep feelings for.

"Wanna come over to my farm. You can have some of my mother's apple pie. She loves having guest over."

"Sure. I not sure what apple pie is, but I'll try it."

He grabs my bike but gives me a look of surprise.

"What is so surprising?" I ask walking next to him.

"I've never ever met anyone who hasn't tried apple pie before. That's like a sin."

"It is?!"

"Calm down. It's just a joke."

"How long have you lived down here?"

"All my life. My parents love a rural area. We always venture in places with trees and open lands. We never even have vacation on the beach. We go hunting and camping."

"I've never been hunting."

"A lot of people haven't, but I'm of the few that have. It's quite boring. We never catch anything anyway."

"I hope you do catch something. I want to go hunting one day."

"Well you can just get me if you need any assistance."