OCEANIA

XVII

Oceania! Oceania! Oceania! It had a nice ring! I mused still looking around. I can’t believe this place has been under the sea the whole time. A thought hit me and I checked my legs. They were still legs. How is this possible? I can’t breathe underwater if I’m not a mermaid, right? I thought. “Well, you are one of us”, he answered, “just a unique kind”. Ever since Shelly told me that she wasn’t my mother, I questioned my existence but here…here I feel so alive. “Can you show me around?” I asked smiling, “I’m bound to get lost”. “I don’t need to” he said as Flint came out of the old man's white painted cabin. “I’ll take it from here”, Flint said in his regular formal voice, “thank you Lenold”. Lenold walked back to his rocking chair as Flint lead me away.

“Lenold told you the history of the cities?” Flint asked. “It wasn’t that much of history”, I shrugged, “since he only mentioned how Oceania rose from it's problems”. “Then allow me to continue”. He said. Now that everywhere is bright I get a really good look at him. His eyes are dark brown and he has flat cheeks which suggested that he rarely smiled. He had beautiful pink lips though. “As you can see, Western civilization has affected the locals”. He pointed at the skyscrapers on the other side of the road. “What do you mean by Western civilization?” I asked trying to keep up with him. “Our city isn’t the most advance in some aspects”.

I spotted a woman still carrying the 90’s Afro haircut then I said, “you’re not kidding”.

“But over time spent in the surface, we've learned new things like how to give great hair cuts”.

“Indeed. Great haircuts”. We stopped in front of the hair salon. The window was made out of glass so we could see everything. Both the woman that was trimming the hair and the lady on the seat started losing their tails. Slowly it changed to legs. Their legs were bare but they both wore long dresses. “Why did they lose their tails?” I asked very confused. “It just means that the tide is gone”, he replied, “with the tide gone all the animals will migrate to other seas and Almeda goes back to looking like a regular surface city”.

He wasn’t kidding though. The seahorses and fishes that I saw earlier were all gone. The early morning hustle started with people rushing to enter the carriages. A carriage has a bicycle attached to it for the drivers. Flint’s suit had changed too; into a plain white top and a pair of beach shorts. “How did you do that?” I asked. “There are some things even I cannot explain but this is how it is for me everyday”, he said, “let’s get on with the tour”.

Don’t get me wrong. The city didn’t transform to the Greek times but it didn’t look American standard either. They wore normal clothes just that transportation, security and government were old timey. At least, I’d blend in for the little time I’ll be staying. I think they use wood and stones to build everything. Will you ever give up talking like a nerd? I face palmed myself. It took me a while to notice that Flint was just staring at me as I was lost in my thoughts. “You know, for a tour guide you’re pretty boring”. I blurted. His smiled a little before saying, “let’s go talk to some fun people then”.

We entered the hair salon first. “Good morning and welcome to salon”, the woman answered, “I get chair for you”. She basically pushed me into the chair, “you already have hair short”, she grabbed a handful of my hair, “you want bald cut?” I removed her hand from the hair, “I definitely don’t want bald cut”, I turned the chair to face her, “I'm new here but I’m trying to find some answers about my powers”. “You came the right place”, she made herself comfortable in the other chair, “when I want to discover my abilities, I din go to nobody ‘cause I knew the hair business was place to shine…” She went on and on about her career which I’m sure would be interesting if that was what I asked for.

Flint took me to a mall next. Well, not the fancy electronic one but it was still beautiful. We took the wooden ladder and I have to admit, the creaking noise was fun to hear. “Morning Fensi” Flint greeted. The black middle aged woman turned around, “oh hello there, Flint!” she was happy, “what brings you by? And who's the lady friend?” “You remind me of my school nurse”. I blurted. “Well, darling, the only thing I’m goin’ be nursing is your outfit. A clown spit on you?” “What’s wrong?” I asked but she had already gone inside. “We don’t wear loud colors like red”, he whispered, “it even triggers this battle trauma for some”.

Fensi came back with a patterned blue V-neck top and a short black pleated skirt. “This should do”. She said. I was a little bit scared of her so I entered the dressing room to put it on. I felt really uncomfortable. “This is not my style”. I complained still looking at myself. “Nonsense! That skirt is the best thing that’s happened to your body”. Fensi plainly said. “You look really gorgeous if I’m to be honest”. Flint added. “That’s the most friendly thing you’ve said to me”, I smiled, “I guess it's okay then”. “Now, y'all scoot outta here”, she shooed us, “I got people to sell too”. “Well, she’s delightful”. The sarcasm rolled of my tongue.

We went to a restaurant too. The food runner was about to kill us with her speed talk. Luckily, her dad (the owner) help the case. The girl obviously had too much coffee to drink. “I guess I did a pretty good job with the fun”. Flint muttered. I stood to face him, “it was pretty great today”. I said, “but I didn’t get the answers I wanted”. “Why do answers matter so much?” He challenged. “You won't understand if I told you”, I closed that page, “I’m gonna go. Being here doesn’t make a difference”.

I walked to where I woke up with my old clothes in the bag. “Going so soon?” Lenold's voice called. “Trust me. It's long enough”. I put my left hand through the wall but Lenold talked, “you ever gonna come back?” “Of course! This is home, right?” With that answer, I jumped through the wall. Hopefully, back to the beach.