A Merman’s Place

Chapter 1

Time seems slow, or at times frozen. I don't think the concept of time works much down here. What is there to track time? The world above is gone. But, that's the way I like it. There's no worldly problems or expectations here. Just me, enjoying the peace and freedom this place gives me. If I could I would just live here and never go back. It's defiantly quieter.

I swiftly maneuver myself to dive deeper into the water. It's getting colder the more I go down, but my body is used to the cold temperatures from diving so much. It now feels like a pleasant chill when taking a cold shower after staying out long in the scorching sun and air. But, that's what happens when you live in Florida, it's hot most of the year. And I count myself lucky that I live near the ocean and I can constantly go for a swim.

Gliding through the water, I kept seeing schools of fish swimming together and in perfect sync every time they turn in one direction. I often see a lone fish swimming along, kind of resembling me. I'm a lone fish in my world. It's funny to think that to them I might be a rare and strange fish, I do have the fins. I also come across many shelled creatures. They are all unique in their shapes, colors, and sizes.

There was something that caught my eye below on the ocean floor, so I went and dove for it. When I got closer, I identified it as a Tulip Banded shell, which is one of my favorite kinds. I placed my hand on it and gently lifted it and turned it upside down so I could see the bottom. There was no creature inside; it looks like it moved out. With the shell in hand, I kicked my legs to swim up to the surface. I have no idea how long I was under for this time, but I know I could still be submerged a little while more. That doesn't worry me as I tend to hold my breath longer then an average person.

I took in a lungful of air when I hit the surface. The noon sun high in the sky was beating down on my head and at once wanted to dive back into the cold water. I swam back to shore of an island near the town I lived. The small town of Goodland had many islands surrounding it and I often challenge myself to travel towards them without my boat. Seems like a long way to go, but I'm a great swimmer.

I soon spotted my boat on the shore and made my way towards it. As I exited the water, the sun that was burning my face when I surfaced was now doing it to the rest of my body, trying to make my skin more tan than it already was. I set the shell carefully in the boat as I took my towel and clothes and headed inland to change. I felt better when I hit the shade of the trees, but the air was still stifling hot. I quickly dried up to put on my shorts and thin shirt on along with my saddles.

When I got back to my boat, I dug into the cooler where I placed my water bottles. As soon as I grabbed a bottle, my heated hand felt the ice-cold that felt refreshing. If I could I'd jump right into that cooler full of ice. I twisted the bottle cap until it was off and downed all the water in it. That put out the fire in my throat. After I finish, I packed up all my stuff in the boat and pushed it back into the water to head home.

As I drove the boat across the ocean, the wind was blowing against my face and tugging on my dark hair. I took a deep breath appreciating the scent of the salty ocean. To me, that smell always felt like I was home. For as long as I can remember, the smell of the ocean was a constant presence in my life. I felt a connection to it, which is the main reason I never strayed far from it. I don't know how I would live if I ever moved inland.

When I arrived at the dock behind my house, I tied up my boat and collected my things. I saw that my best friend and roommate, Marvin, was sitting out in the yard with a drink of lemonade in hand. As I approached, he lifted his sunglasses.

"Hey Lucas, got anything good in your dive today?" he asked curiously. The times I went out diving I would end up finding interesting stuff on the ocean floor. People would tend to lose things out there. There was one time I found an antique looking pocket watch and I decided to keep it. Later on I discovered that this particular watch was a popular model that was made back in the 1940s. The watch has stopped being produced, so now it's something that apparently every watch collector had to have in their collection. When I put it online to sell, I was amazed that a man was willing to buy it for thousands of dollars. Marvin nearly had a heart attack and from then on he's been on my back about any findings in my dives. He toned it down after a while when I didn't find anything else of value, but still asks.

"Same stuff every time, Marvin. Fish, rocks, garbage, and sea shells aplenty," he looked disappointed for a split-second but then shrugged, "but I guess anything of value to me would be this."

I dug my hand into my bag where I kept anything I found worth keeping from the water and pulled out the Tulip Banded shell. Now that I took a proper look at it from out of the water, I notice the faded colored patterns on it and the clear clean lines on the shell. It felt really smooth as I ran my fingers over it.

"Another pretty shell for your collection, dude? You got your room practically full of them at this point, I don't know how you're gonna fit anymore."

"It'll be fine, I still got room," I told him. He looked at me like he didn't believe me, but he let it go. He knows me too well that I'll keep on collecting.

I walked past him to head inside.

After I showered and got dressed, I picked up the shell I got today and placed it in an empty spot on my dresser that was covered with more shells. Marvin was right; I was running out of room. Oh well, no reason I couldn't place any outside my room.

I walk towards my bed and got on my knees to grab something that I kept under it. When I felt the wooden box, I dragged it out and place it on the bed. I sat down and unlatched the lid. When I lifted the lid, inside of its cushioned interior sat a large Queen Conch shell. I gently took it out and held it. The outside had dull spikes on the upper part and a spiked cone on top. The color was a white and beige while the interior was soft rosy pink. From what I know, this shell belonged to my mother and was given to me when I was thirteen years old. This is the most prized shell I have.

I lifted it to my ear and instantly heard the song of the sea. As I listened, I thought back to the first time I laid my eyes on this shell.

I was put up for adoption as soon as I was able to leave the hospital where I was born, and for some time, the thought of my birth family didn’t cross my mind. In my mind, the orphanage was my home, the other children were my siblings, and Martha was my mother. Martha was the one in charge of the orphanage; she cared and loved us all just like a mother would. She insisted that we call her mother Martha. I remembered that she was a thin woman and tall, too. She kept her hair in a neat bun all the time and I once questioned her on why she always kept it like that. She said, “As a lady I have to look presentable at all times.”

It was my birthday. I spent the whole day outside with the other children playing party games. For presents, it wasn’t much, but I received a bracelet with my name on it and a bag of my favorite candies. After cake, Martha took me to her room, saying that there was another gift for me and that I should receive it without everyone else around. When she led me into her room and closed the door, she went to her closet. Rummaging through her things, she got what she was looking for and turned towards me. I saw that she held a rather large box in her hands that was gift wrapped in the typical Happy Birthday wrapping. She guided me to sit on her bed and she followed.

“Now child, this gift is very special, and I was told that you should be given this when you turned thirteen,” she said. She carefully handed it to me. When I grabbed it, it felt a little heavy.

I turned to her, “Who is it from?”

She smiled at me. “It’s from your mother.”

As soon as she said that, a feeling came over me. It made me rip the wrapping paper like mad to see what was in it. Under all the wrapping was a dark wooden box. Ocean wave patterns were carved on the sides of the box, and the lid had a carving of a Mermaid and Merman. I traced it for a moment before I opened the lid slowly. When I opened it all the way, I stopped breathing for a moment. Inside the box was a rather large and beautiful shell. I’ve encountered plenty of shells whenever we take a trip to the beach, but never saw this one before in person.

I gently took the shell out of its box and silently admired it. It had a slight rough texture on the outside, but the inside was so smooth like glass. I just recalled that this was from my birth mother. Before today, I hardly ever thought about the fact that I had parents, and now I have this longing feeling of wanting to know about them. What did they look like? What were their personalities like? What did they like or dislike?

As I formed questions in my head, my eye caught something else in the box. In the bottom of the box was a folded piece of paper, yellowed with age. I took it out and unfolded it. It was a letter.

My baby boy,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and by the time it does that you’d be with a happy family. I wish more than anything that you have and are happy with them. My gift that I’m bestowing to you is this Queen Conch shell that was given to me when I turned thirteen. It has been past down to every generation on their thirteenth birthday. This shell is to remind us of our roots in the ocean. So, no matter where you are, as long as you hear the song of the sea, it’ll always be with you.

I truly wish that I could be with you now to see how much you’ve grown. More than anything I wish that I was there to see you grow up. Unfortunately, life just has a way of not always working out and we have to live with it. My choices may have put me in a bad place, but I’d never regret having you and wished with all of my heart that I had the choice to keep you. Still, you are always in my thoughts and heart and hope that maybe one day we’ll be able to meet each other again. I want to tell you right now that when I first held you in my arms I was the happiest that I ever felt. I knew deep down that you’d grow up to be someone kind and strong. And no matter what I’ll always love you. As long as you have this shell, I’ll also be with you in spirit.

Your mother,

Annie Augustine

When I finish reading the letter, I folded it back up.

Annie Augustine. That was her name. I never knew a name could sound so beautiful.

I picked up the shell and placed it against my ear. I heard it. It was the sea. And I felt her.