The Mermaid's Melody by Bolton Bonnie & Jack A

Author:Bolton, Bonnie & Jack, A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

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Through many shared meals and hesitant conversations, the two women eventually warmed up to each other. Elodie would occasionally share something about her people, and Bella would tell the mermaid about her time on the Skinner or about her family back home. Bella soon grew tired of lazing on the beach between meals and decided that she needed to fix up her camp.

To start with, she moved the firepit from the middle of the camp to the shaded side, to protect it from the elements more. Between her and Elodie, they were able to keep embers burning at all times, which made it easy to get a fire going once the sun went down.

With the firepit moved, Bella used stones to outline a path through the middle of camp. To the left she had her breadfruit tree and hammock. She improved the design of her flimsy hammock and made a newer, stronger one. The two women put their minds together and made a make-shift table and chairs, something that Elodie didn’t quite understand but was quite amused by. In the center of the table Bella placed the glass she’d found days earlier, full of some pretty items she’d found; a branch dried coral that had washed up, and a handful of bright pink blossoms she’d found growing in the depth of the trees. Elodie was impressed by the table décor and disappeared only to return later with her own addition to the coconut shell. Bella had laughed not unkindly and willingly tucked the rusted and patchy key into the shell.

She didn’t laugh, however, when on Elodie’s next trip to the Mountain, she came back laden with the finest porcelain bowls she’d ever seen.

Bella whistled low in admiration as Elodie laid the five bowls on the table. They were slightly chipped, and clearly ancient, white with pretty blue designs around the rim. Bella hardly felt worthy of touching them.

“Where did you find these?”

Elodie shrugged and placed the five bowls around the centerpiece.

“Many Wa-Naka things wash up. I collect what I like.”

Bella turned a bowl over in her hands. “Do you keep these in your cave?”

“No, cave is too small.” Elodie admitted and backed away from the table, pleased with her additions. “I have another cave in the water. I keep my special things there.”

Bella shook her head in awe. “I’d love to see what else you have.”

Elodie looked at Bella sadly. “You could not swim so far.” She said bluntly and wrung water out of her hair as she wandered to the shore. Bella watched her leave, disappearing into the waves. Sometimes, for an hour or so at a time, Elodie would simply vanish into the water. Bella didn’t ask her about it, and Elodie didn’t offer up any information. Where she went was her business. Bella wondered if perhaps her skin would dry out if she was away from saltwater for too long. Or maybe she found it difficult to walk on her legs.

Whatever it is, I’m grateful that I haven’t seen that tail again.

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