I’ve some entries for Arlo’s Journal from “Mermaid Rising” that set up “The Mermaid’s Apprentice.” Here’s the 6th entry following those from Section 2 of “Mermaid Rising.”
July 18th – Jeb Replies
It turns out, I’m not the expert at computers that I like to think myself to be. I missed Jeb’s reply the day before. He would come, and had prepared to come right away. I love my brother and his willingness to help at the drop of a hat.
Melanie is coming, I get so excited I dance and about fall on my face forgetting my leg. I cry out and fall into a disgraceful, non-elegant, one legged push-up. Considering that I don’t re-injure the leg I’m giddy still.
Then I read the follow up email and I want to hurl things, though it isn’t all bad. Melanie doesn’t want to come, citing she wants to stay with her friend Jill. Teenagers! I miss the days when she was so excited at my being there, just for showing up. I miss her arms about my neck, and I miss her slapping my face just because she liked to hit when she was five. Because then she’d been close.
There is a bit of good-news, Jeb reports his flight has been cancelled. He will report back when he can get another flight, and he’ll try again with Melanie then. Then he asks the silliest question ever, what he was supposed to pack for the girl. I suggested a swimsuit. What else did a guy need down here, a swimsuit and a hat, but girls didn’t wear hats. Oh and a mango, these were just too good, I’ll have to get more, but she didn’t need to bring those.
So I have more time to waste. The Syreni locals invite me to their beach parties, and I go expecting to be bored but entertained with good food. I’m not far off, the food is good, and their music is unearthly, just as I would expect from an island culture. Their women though are attractive and I lose myself for a short while in the crazy idea of settling in on an isle like this. The idea doesn’t hold me for very long and I get up to find my true love. Climbing a dune, I get a look at her and settle in with a clear view to gaze at her flowing and graceful beauty. Her smell alone I could breathe all the rest of the days of my life.
I know there is a God, he created the love of my life. The sea. I will spend the rest of my days getting lost in her eyes, be wrapped in her arms and be serenaded to sleep by her song. Life is good.
Note: This post was resurrected from my old site. It may not be the one that showed up on the site. The date of publication here is from when it was added to this site.
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