Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings

by Helene Boudreau

  Dad let out a little laugh.

  “We met about a year after she was washed ashore during Hurricane Jade.”

  “I was named after a hurricane?” I could believe almost anything now.

  He nodded. “From what Micci told me, she was knocked unconscious and washed ashore during the storm. By the time she made it back to the ocean, she’d pulmo-morphed.”

  I closed my eyes and shook my head.

  “Speak English!” I shifted in the bed, trying to get comfortable, but the scales went from prickling to burning and my whole lower body was a furnace of heat.

  “Her gills and lungs had changed too much from breathing air. It made it harder for her to survive underwater.”

  I brought my hands to my face and shook my head. “This is unbelievable.”

  “There was this group of mer-people called the Mermish Council, I think, who had just taken over the government,” Dad continued. “They were really cracking down on mersecurity and they worried your mom may lose consciousness some day, since her underwater breathing had become so compromised. They couldn’t risk her getting washed up on shore again and being discovered, so they allowed her to become human.”

  “They kicked her out of the ocean?” Thoughts swam around in my head, like the white flecks in a just-shaken snow globe.

  “I’m a bit unclear on the details.” Dad took off his glasses. He began to clean them with a handkerchief from his pocket and shook his head as he rubbed. “Your mom didn’t like to talk about it much; I suspect it may have been some sort of Mermish Code of Silence. What I do know is that the transformation from mermaid to human was very long and difficult for her.”

  “But how can a human…and a mermaid even…?”

  He put his glasses back on. “There was obviously a stray branch on the evolutionary tree.”

  “But I can’t live like this! What about school? My friends?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Then we have to find this Mermish Committee or Council or whatever and fix this! We can fix this, can’t we?”

  Dad stood and stared out the window. That’s when I realized, he didn’t know that either.

  The heat from the tail wafted up from beneath the blankets and filled the air around me, making it hard to breathe. Or maybe my lungs had changed when I slipped underwater in the bathtub, just like Mom’s had when she got washed ashore. Did I now have gills I didn’t know about?

  “Something’s wrong.” I pulled back the blankets to let the heat escape. The scales on the tail glowed like the orangey-red shade of a blazing sunset.

  “What is it?” Dad turned and read my tortured expression. He ran to my side.

  “Ah!” A rush of adrenaline shot through my body, putting all of my cells on red alert. Searing pain pierced through the tail as one by one, the scales shifted and morphed into a shiny film.

  “It looks like the scales are turning back into skin,” Dad whispered.

  “It hurts!” I pulled myself up on my elbows. As each scale morphed into skin, it left a stab of pain in its place. I gasped for breath, as the throbbing took over. A crease deepened along the length of the tail.

  “What can I do? Jade, just tell me…”

  “Make it stop!” I looked up into Dad’s face, tears blurring my eyes.

  “I’m not sure what to do…” Dad’s face crumpled as he arranged and rearranged the pillows around me. Finally, he gave up and pulled me into his arms. “Just breathe, honey, breathe.”

  My whole body wracked with pain as the tip of the tail split. I collapsed against Dad’s chest but couldn’t tear my eyes away from what was happening. The separation made its way up the deepening crease, dividing the tail in two. The scales had merged into a solid surface and now shone pink like the color of sunburned skin.

  “I think you’re changing back!” Dad rocked me back and forth and stroked my hair. But nothing could distract me from the unbelievable agony.

  “Look!” Horror and relief swept over me as the tips of the tail fin curled onto themselves and divided into ten bits, reforming my toes. Jolts of energy spread through the two divided sections of the tail, shaping my feet, my knees, my thighs, and finally, my hips and torso.

  “It’s okay, honey. Breathe,” Dad whispered into my hair.

  I gave in to the agony and moaned as the last bits of my former mermaid self dissolved into my skin. In moments, the change was complete.

  I fell back against my pillows, exhausted. Goose bumps rose along my damp skin.

  “You’re human again,” Dad whispered. He pulled the wet towels and blankets onto the floor and draped Gran’s afghan over me.

  “How?” I tried to pull the clues of what just happened together, but nothing made sense. “Why now? Why today?”

  “Maybe…” Dad paused “…I don’t know.”

  For once in his life, he didn’t seem to have an answer. No amount of science or reason could explain what had just happened.

  “What if it happens again?” The tears returned. One part relief, one part fear, one part wishing Mom were there to help me understand what had just happened. I needed to keep talking, to try to make sense of it all.

  “Shh, shh.” Dad stroked my hair. We sat there for a long moment. He kept his arm around me as I gave myself over to the numbing exhaustion. Soon, my eyes grew heavy and my breathing deepened.

  “Why don’t you get into your pajamas and get some sleep?” he suggested. “We can talk more about this in the morning. I promise.”

  I popped awake and wiped the drool from the side of my mouth. Nice.

  “Okay-um.” I slurred the word. Then I remembered. I’d have to go sort things out in the bathroom before collapsing.

  “I just need to make a pit stop,” I said mechanically. It seemed strange to be thinking so practically after what had just happened but at that point my mind and body went into autopilot.

  I swung my legs (my legs!) over to the side of the bed and braced a hand on the headboard to stand. My whole body shook as my feet met the floor, filling me with worry. Could I actually walk?

  “Do you need help?” Dad asked.

  “Yes,” I whispered, barely finding my voice. I leaned heavily against him, my legs still stinging from the transformation.

  Dad draped the afghan over my shoulders and helped me as I hobbled to the bathroom. “Thank goodness you’re back to normal.” His voice was heavy with relief.

  I managed a smile before shutting the door of the bathroom.

  Normal. I braced my hands against the vanity and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

  I had a feeling there was no way I would ever feel normal again.

  Chapter Six

  …4 days Post-Tail

  I NEARLY FELL OUT OF bed when a high-pitched ring pierced through my dream. I fumbled through the bedside table and whacked the snooze button on my alarm clock.

  No relief.

  What was that noise? That horrible noise? Demons from the underworld? Tortured feral cats? Wild, screaming banshees?

  My hand finally found the phone. Without thinking, I pressed TALK.

  “Hellumph?” I mumbled and rubbed my eyes.

  “Jade! Are you okay? I’ve been trying to call you for days. Did your dad give you my messages?”

  I sat up in bed and was instantly awake.

  “Cori! Oh, um, yeah. Sorry. Been a bit sick. Why are you calling so early on a Saturday?” I wriggled my toes under the covers, relieved that the change from mermaid to girl had stuck for one more day.

  “It’s after one.”

  I turned to the window. The sun filtered through the blinds, cascading rippled lines of light across my blankets. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked at the clock.

  One fifteen.

  “Are you feeling any better?” Cori continued.

  “Um. Yeah. I guess.”

  “Rough week?” she asked.

  “You could say that again.” I fell back into my pillows and cradled the phone to my ear.r />
  “Sounds like more than just the flu. What’s up?” she asked.

  “Oh, just stuff.” I paused and considered what to say. I hadn’t exactly been in the right headspace to tell Cori the truth about my period since the mall, but that was nothing compared to everything else weighing on my mind.

  But where to begin? The beginning seemed like a good place.

  “I guess seeing my mom’s name in that bathing suit the other day kind of weirded me out.”

  “Yeah, I can imagine. But it looks really amazing on you.”

  A strange chill crept along my skin.

  “You think?” I brought the comforter around my neck to warm myself.

  “Trust me,” Cori said.

  I sighed. “Thanks, Cori. But there’s something else…”

  “What?”

  “Well…” I stammered. I had to at least admit to the Lie. That would be a start. “I know you think I got my period a couple of years ago, but…”

  “But what?”

  “Well, you know when I came out with the bathing suit on and we hugged and stuff? That’s actually when it happened.”

  “Your first period? You mean…”

  “Yeah, and I didn’t know how to tell you ’cause I’d been kinda lying to you all this time.”

  Cori didn’t answer. I pressed on. There was no turning back now.

  “So I had to stuff a wad of Super Sonic Slurpee napkins in my underwear until I got to Dooley’s.”

  I could hear a muffled sound on the other end of the line. Was she upset? Oh, great! Did I make her cry?

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I’m sorry…” Cori laughed out loud. “Super… Slurpee…” She sputtered out the words.

  I smiled with relief.

  “Yeah, and then my dad packed the shopping cart full of about a zillion different kinds of maxi pads and tampons…”

  By then, we were both trying to talk between fits of giggles.

  “You…you had to go to the drugstore with your Dad?” More laughing. “That’s…the funniest thing…ever.”

  We finally caught our breath. It was time for me to apologize.

  “I’m happy to be a source of amusement but I’m really sorry I lied.”

  “You dope,” Cori said. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

  “I know.” But could I?

  “So let that trip to Dooley’s with your dad be a lesson to you: no more secrets. From now on, full disclosure, okay?”

  “Okay,” I said quietly, considering the other very big secret I had to tell. But I couldn’t tell Cori I was part mermaid just then. Not like that. Not on the phone.

  Cori continued. “Oh, I just got a text from Lainey. She wants to grab a burger at Bridget’s. You feeling up to it?”

  “Lainey, huh?” Not that I had anything against Lainey Chamberlain, but ever since Cori bonded with her over pashminas at Lainey’s mom’s boutique, it seemed like our duo was quickly becoming a trio. Besides, I kinda wanted Cori to myself that day. We still had a lot more to talk about.

  “Yeah, and guess what?” Cori continued. “Mrs. Chamberlain liked a few of my dress designs and said I might be able to do my co-op mentorship with her next year!”

  “That’s amazing!” I could imagine the smile on Cori’s face. “But promise me that when you get to be a big famous clothing designer, you’ll never design anything with green metallic sequins.”

  She laughed. “Don’t worry. I think we can both agree that green metallic sequins are a crime against humanity.”

  “And never, ever appliqué the word jiggy on anyone’s butt.”

  We were laughing hysterically again.

  “So, are you gonna come? There’s a Bridget Burger with your name on it,” Cori said.

  “Mm…Bridget Burger…tempting.”

  “And waffle fries,” she reminded me.

  Then I remembered my leg status. Sure, nothing had happened since Tuesday night but I’d stayed in the house since then. What if I merma-cized again in the middle of Bridget’s Diner?

  “You know?” My voice turned shaky. “I’m just getting up and I’m not sure how I feel yet. If you don’t see me at Bridget’s in an hour, just go ahead and order without me.”

  “All right,” Cori paused, “but are you sure you’re okay? You still sound a bit strung out.”

  Strung out pretty much covered it.

  “Um, no, I’m fine. Really.” I faked a laugh.

  “Okay…if you’re sure,” Cori said.

  But I wasn’t sure. Lying about my period was one thing, but now I was keeping another secret, an even bigger secret from her. But later. I’d tell her later when we were alone. Actually, it would be good to have Cori to talk to.

  “Well, there is something else, but we can talk about it when I see you, okay?”

  “Sure,” Cori said slowly, “but call me if you can’t make it. I’ll get you some waffle fries to go.”

  “You rock. Thanks, Cori.”

  We said our good-byes and I hung up the phone. Cori really was the best friend ever. I smiled and thought of all the times she had listened to me talk about Mom that past year. She’d been amazing through it all. Yeah, she’d freak when I told her what had happened, but Cori was like a sister to me. It would feel good to be totally honest with her again.

  No secrets. Full disclosure.

  “Hey, Jade. You feeling okay?” The door squeaked as Dad opened it a crack.

  “Mmm-hmm, yeah, I think so. You can come in.” I scraped my mess of curls into a hair tie from my bedside table.

  Dad entered, carrying a laundry basket. He set it down on my dresser.

  “I checked on you a little earlier, but you were still comatose. Did you have a good sleep?”

  “Yeah, thanks.” I smiled then noticed the shadow of stubble lining Dad’s jaw. His hair poked out at all angles. “You, on the other hand, look like you’ve seen better days. Although, if you’re going for the aging, burnt-out rocker look, you’ve totally nailed it.”

  “Insolent child.” Dad laughed and tossed a pair of bundled-up socks my way. I ducked.

  “I’m just saying.” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tested my verticalness. So far, so good. Maybe I’d meet Cori and Lainey after all.

  “Can I be useful over here?” I grabbed a bunch of T-shirts and added them to the teetering pile on top of my dresser.

  “See these things?” Dad smirked and pulled open a drawer. He lined up my socks like little cotton soldiers. “It’s a scientific breakthrough. They call it: the drawer.”

  “Wow. I must have missed that last Obsessive Compulsives Anonymous meeting,” I joked.

  I helped pick up the rest of the clothes. Soon, only the Michaela tankini was left at the bottom of the laundry basket. We both reached for it at once.

  Dad pulled his hand away and smiled. “Good as new.” He nodded to the suit.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I took both pieces and refolded them slowly.

  “Your mom would have loved it, by the way.” Dad piled the clothes from my hamper into the empty laundry basket.

  “You saw the tag?”

  Dad straightened and squeezed his eyes shut. He brought his hands to his face and soon, his shoulders shook.

  “Oh, Dad. I’m sorry. I should have warned you.” I hugged him.

  “It’s okay…I’m okay.” Dad pulled himself together and plucked one of my pink, jasmine-scented tissues from the box on my side table. He blew his nose and forced a smile. “I just haven’t been getting much sleep lately.”

  “That’s my fault, sorry.”

  “It’s nobody’s fault, just a rough week all round. Hey, you want some breakfast?”

  “Thanks, Dad. But if it’s okay, I think I might be ready to venture out into the real world again. I’m going to catch up with Cori and Lainey at Bridget’s. I could use a bit of girl talk, you know?” I set the bathing suit down at the foot of my bed.

  “You really think that’s a good id
ea?” Dad’s face hardened into an expression I couldn’t read.

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s just, well, we should decide where we go from here.”

  “And we will, I just thought if I got to talk to Cori…”

  “Jade,” Dad interrupted. His voice had an urgency that caught my breath. “Sweetie, you have to listen to me. I don’t know what you were planning, but you can’t tell anyone about what happened the other day. Do you understand?”

  “Well, I wasn’t planning on taking out a full page ad in the Port Toulouse Herald, but…”

  “No!”

  I flinched.

  “I’m sorry.” Dad’s voice softened. “I’m sure Cori would be a great comfort right now, but it’s too risky. No one can know what’s happening with you.”

  I shook my head, trying to understand. “You mean I have to live with this big secret hanging over me?”

  Dad paced the room.

  “Look.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. Again. “This is all new to both of us and without your mom here, we’re kind of in a strange place right now. Maybe it’ll happen again, maybe not, but if this ever gets out…”

  “You mean you think I’ll change into a mermaid again?” But I knew the answer from the look on his face. Dad had no idea.

  “The only things we know for sure are that Micci was a mermaid and the gene doesn’t seem to be recessive.”

  “No kidding.” I fought to keep the edge out of my voice.

  “I’ve been researching this on the web for days, looking for some sort of scientific solution, but I came up with nothing. There must be some precedent, buried deep in the folklore.”

  “What am I supposed to do until then?” I remembered the promise I’d just made to Cori. Could I really keep lying to her again?

  “Let me just do a bit more research to see what I can come up with before we tell anyone. Okay, Jade?”

  “But I promise, Cori won’t say anything. Not if I swear her to secrecy.”

  Dad rested a hand on my dresser.

  “What you don’t understand is if this gets out, your whole life will change.”

  “More than it has already?” I practically screamed.