The Mermaid's Last Wish

Chapter 4 - Documents for School

“We’re going to the school.” Gavin took his shoes on and waved at his grandfather. Georgie rode on her bicycle and waved at them too. Mochi were looking at them and tried copying their actions.

“Okay, let us do the household work and we will go to the restaurant.” The grandfather taught them on how to sweep the floor and wash the dishes. Everything was not easy for Mochi. It was making him cry that was why he told Princess Lena to get up.

Princess Lena tried to stand again. It was not perfect but she managed to take a few steps near the door. The grandfather saw them and he guided her to the kitchen.

“Let me teach you how to walk.” He got her hand and they tried to walk a little farther and then, he let go of her hand to know if she could.

The grandfather chuckled as he saw her walking freely. It was fun seeing a teenage girl happy that she could finally walk.

The three of them walked to a nearby restaurant. It was not huge but could serve thirty persons. The grandfather made the noodles with his own hands as he was mixing the ingredients. Princess Lena and Mochi were amazed at how he made it.

“It is called noodles and what I am making is the ramen noodles which some customers enjoy.” The grandfather cut the vegetables and put it on a small bowl. The meat had an aroma that made Princess Lena and Mochi to go near at it.

“Do you want it?”

The two nodded and the grandfather gave them beefsteaks. They were about to get it with their hands but he taught them to use the knife and fork. He was satisfied as the two were learning about things here.

Princess Lena was wearing her apron and Mochi was washing the dishes. She was starting to learn about cutting the meat. At first, she chopped it in different shapes but later, she managed to cut it with her desired cuts.

“Very good.” The grandfather was praising her and at the moment Mochi was amazed, he dropped a plate on the floor. “You’re so clumsy.”

Mochi’s face was saddened by the words of the grandfather. He washed his hands and sat near the table where he could see how the old man washes the dishes.

“This is not difficult task to finish.” He was whispering and sighed. “You should study first at school before anything else. You’re only a kid.”

The grandfather was thinking about having them to go to school. He could still manage the restaurant at his age of sixty – five. He should make them good while they were here.

After his work, he was seeing a friend of him and that woman was beautiful in her red dress. She gave him the copy of documents he needed for the two.

“Just make them safe or else…” She was looking at him with her fierce eyes.

“Let me tell you that it’s not your face.” The old man was sure that she took it from her client. “She owns it.”

The woman giggled and said, “Yes, indeed. It was her face but now, I have it after almost thousand years.”

“Nice meeting you again.” The old man turned his back at her but he was stopped from taking a step.

“Say thanks before you leave.”

“Thank you.” He walked without looking back at her and that made her pissed.

It was a long time ago when she loved him. It was a woman named Susana and she was blaming herself why she was rejected by that old man walking away from her.

“Hey, come back here.” She rushed walking with her heels to stop him for the last time. She felt her tears were about to fall but she sighed.

The old man looked at her with his calm eyes. “What do you want?”

“No – nothing.” She stopped him from going away by grabbing his wrist. He looked at her and pulled his wrist back.

“There’s nothing to tell you anymore.” He left her there with her teary eyes.

“Arman.” She whispered as she was watching him walking away.

She was punching her chest with her closed hand and trembled there at a bench. A few people saw her crying but she didn't care about them.

A strange man came in front of her and covered her with his jacket. She buried her face at his shirt and there, she never stopped crying.

“Are you okay now?” The strange man gave her a cola. She nodded and looked at the ground. “This will make you feel good if you will go with me.”

The loud music made her ears enjoy. She was seeing the crowd drinking liquors and dancing on the stage. The strange man made her sat at the second floor of the bar and after a little while, he has shown a bottle of brandy.

“Are you serious?” She was afraid of drinking it first. When he opened the brandy, she was assured if she would be the one pouring it to the shot glass.

“Let me pour some.” She made him drink it first and then, she did it too.

The time had passed shortly. She made herself drunk and went to the dancing stage. The disc jockey made the music lively and loud as she was dancing gracefully. The other people gathered there made a showdown with her and it seemed like she was enjoying it for real.

This was her first time to do it with the humans. There, she was happy dancing with girls but the strange man caught her attention when another man was trying to touch her butt. He made himself in and save her.

“Where are we going? We’re just having fun here.” The man was annoyed at him.

The strange man was holding her hand and the crowd made a way fro them. The other man put his hand at his shoulder and when he looked, he punched him.

“Stop this or anything else could happen.” The strange man warned him but the other man punched him again.

“Just let us go. She’s mine.” The strange man was serious and punched him too.

The woman was at a corner throwing up. The girls around her ran away because of the stinky smell of brandy. The strange man was now fighting with four men and the crowd panicked. Some ran out of the bar and some were watching at them.

“Just let us go!” The strange man screamed and punched the last man standing. At the end, he won. He carried the woman and the crowd made an aisle for them to walk.

At dinner time, Gavin have finished cooking for them. He saw the three were sitting at the right places. Their grandfather was sitting at the center, Mochi opposite to Georgie and Princess Lena was not there yet. He put the rice at the center of the table and before he called Princess Lena, she came out of her room.

Gavin was surprised at how Princess Lena walked to the table. She smiled and got her spoon and fork. She was scooping the rice and put the vegetables on it. Georgie gave her the chicken soup and when she smelled it, she almost throw up.

“Are you okay?” The grandfather gave her a glass of water.

She nodded and tried having a sip. She looked surprised at the taste of the chicken soup and then, she drank it from the small bowl.

The grandfather giggled as he saw her wanting more chicken soup. Georgie was giggling too when she got the big bowl of chicken soup. Princess Lena smiled widely and she tried eating the meat with soy sauce.

Gavin was looking at her with a smirk. “Are you a human?”

The grandfather spanked his head and Mochi giggled. All of them looked at him and Mochi covered his mouth. “Did I giggle?” He covered his mouth again and looked at Princess Lena with his wide eyes.

Georgie was astonished. “You’re making us crazy.”

“Well, if that’s the case, let them go to the school.” The grandfather opened the topic and what was expected, Gavin and Georgie complained.

“What are you thinking? They are not even your relatives.” Gavin’s brows draw a line.

“Yes, I agree. How about the expenses?” Georgie crossed her arms and looked annoyed at Mochi. She was thinking that he was her enemy since the orange juice was spilled at her skirt.

“I will have them the scholarships you have.” Their grandfather started eating and while Gavin and Georgie were looking at each other, he added, “Her name will be Erina and he will be Mochi.”

Princess Lena and Mochi were thinking how the old man knew Mochi’s name. It was strange to know someone and doubt about knowing you more.

“Let’s be fair with you kids. I will let all of you to go to school and don’t worry about the expenses since the two of them are helping me run the restaurant.” The grandfather was extremely happy about having four kids.

“You will begin to know more at school tomorrow.” The grandfather was excited for them.