Cherry Meets The Little Mermaid

chapter 1

Cherry was in a public library with her family. It was a foggy day outside and many people were out in the sea. Cherry looked in a lot of the fantasy and fairy tale novella, much being interested in the fictional tales. Cherry was very young and naïve enough to believe most of the myths in the town her family and she were visiting. She even found a book about mermaids.

"Find anything you like, honey?" Michelle asked with a smile.

"This book about mermaids, Mother," Cherry showed the book that had a lot of colorful pictures in it. "Can I check it out, pretty please?"

"No need for pretty pleases, your pleases are cute enough already." Michelle laughed and took the book from Cherry and checked it out with her card for her daughter.

"Little Mermaid, huh?" Mike asked. "You still believe in nautical nonsense?"

"Mike, mermaids are real!" Cherry insisted.

"Yeah right, shorty." Mike ruffled up his younger sister's hair.

"Maybe you can ask those sailors out on board if they meet any mermaids." Bud chuckled.

"Stop it both of you, you know how wild her imagination is." Michelle rolled her eyes at her husband and son. "Cherry, would you like to read your book by the sea to feel more in the mood?"

"Is that okay with you, Mom?" Cherry asked as she took the book back after it got checked out.

"It might keep you in touch with the atmosphere of the story." Michelle smiled. "We'll be visiting the lighthouse, I know how all that walking tires you out."

"Thanks Mom. See you guys for supper." Cherry smiled and walked away with her new book.

"Mom, are you sure it's a good idea to leave a girl like Cherry by herself outside?" Mike asked as his sister was gone.

"She's been fine on her own before, taking care of Cherry is like taking care of a cat," Michelle explained. "Just feed her and leave her alone."

"Okay." Mike shrugged and got his own book as his family did the same and they were on their way to the lighthouse.

Cherry gripped her book tightly as she went by the sea. She took off her sneakers and dipped her feet in the cold, salty water. The waves gently splashed against her, making her feel refreshed, even if it was a little too chilly outside this time of year for a swim. She cracked open the book and looked into it with the glossiness of the pages. The rich, pitch text on every word, gripping Cherry away from the world and pulling her into an alternate reality.

If it was one thing Cherry loved in the world, it was reading. It inspired her to become a writer for her own stories. Someday, she would provide the world with her unleashed imagination. Someday, she would look back on these stories as daydream luminescent inspiration. Today, like most days for Cherry was different. While she read, she heard caws of a seagull. She jerked her head from left to right and she saw on a rock was a friendly seagull with a goofy grin on his face.

"Oh, hello there," Cherry giggled. "I don't believe we met, I'm Cherry."

"Nice to meet you," the seagull spoke. Cherry wasn't afraid, she'd been able to talk to animals for ages. It was just a special ability she had. "My name's Scuttle. I'm waiting for a friend of mine."

"Really?" Cherry put her book down gently. "Who?"

"Her name's Ariel."

"What a lovely name."

"Maybe you'd like to meet her with me." Scuttle suggested.

"Sure, I love to meet new friends."

"Great!" Scuttle found a pair of binoculars and looked out all around. Cherry looked with him, even though he was using the binoculars the wrong way. "Ariel? Ariel!"