La Sirenita

Chapter 3

"I just don't know what we're going to do with you." Emiliano said.

"Daddy I'm sorry I just...I just forgot. It's a common mistake."

"As a result of your careless behavior."

"Careless and reckless behavior." Jorge interrupted.

"The entire celebration was-"

"Well it was ruined." Jorge interrupted again.

"Papa don't be so dramatic. I'm sure the concert was just fine with Anita and Nikita." Frida said.

"This concert was to be the pinnacle of my career." Jorge said. "Now thanks to you I am the laughingstock of the entire kingdom!"

"But it wasn't her fault." Davi said. "You see there was this shark that was trying to get us and then there was this parrot."

"Parrot?" Emiliano said.

"Davi!" Frida said.

The fish covered his mouth. "Oops."

"Frida! You went up to the surface again! Didn't you?" Emiliano said.

"Nothing happened." She said.

"Frida! You know you're not supposed to go up there! How many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of those barbarians, by one of those humans!"

"Daddy they're not barbarians."

"They are dangerous! They're cruel and brutal."

"Dad, they can't all be like that. Have you ever met one?"

"No!"

"Then how do you know that they're all like that?"

"Don't get smart with me! Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by one of those fish eaters."

"Daddy I'm not a child!"

"Don't you take that tone of voice with me young lady! As long as you live under my ocean you obey my rules. And I am to never, never! Hear of you going to the again! Is that clear?"

Frida sighed. "You never listen." She swam away with Davi following behind her.

"Teenagers, you give them an inch and they swim all over you." Jorge said.

Emiliano looked at Jorge regrettably.

"Do you think I was too hard on her?"

"Definitely not sir."

"I don't mean to be so harsh with her it's just that she's...she's..." He calmed down and took a deep breath. "She's already so spirited just like her mother."

"Yes sir, and that spirit is gonna get her in a whole lot trouble. Why if Frida was my daughter I'd show her who's boss."

"She needs...constant supervision. Someone to watch over her."

"Exactly."

"And you're just the crab to do it."

"Me?" He gasped. "How do I get myself into these situations?" He said as he walked out of the palace. "I should be writing symphonies not babysitting some headstrong teenager."

Then he noticed Frida and Davi sneaking off somewhere. "Hmm...what is that girl up to?"

He followed them, they swam into a small cave that led to a grotto filled with human stuff.

"Are you okay?" Davi asked Frida.

"He just doesn't understand." She sighed. "He never listens to me."