The Misfit Mermaid, Part 3

Far far away, Jimmy the cabin boy was frustrated. No one had believed that he had seen a mermaid. His parents assured him it was his imagination, his friends laughed at him, and even Phyllis, his pet dog had not looked convinced when Jimmy confided all he had seen.
“I did think that YOU would believe me.” He said reproachfully to Phyllis as she curled up at the foot of his bed. Her response was a yawn. Jimmy sighed.
“Did I really imagine the whole thing?” He wondered. But it had all been so real, he just couldn’t have imagined it. At last, he dropped off to sleep.
Five years later, Jimmy, now a young man, was walking along the shoreline of the same beach that he had seen Atalie so long ago. He did this every morning at dawn in hopes that he might once again see the mermaid. He didn’t really expect to ever see her again, especially at this particular beach, but kept at it anyways. On this particular morning, it was very misty, and he couldn’t see very out in the water. At last, he headed back to his house. But after he had taken a few steps, he stopped. What was that out in the water? He couldn’t tell in the mist. Cautiously, he moved toward the sea. He felt a growing sense of excitement run through him. Of course it could just be a seal, but there was a slight chance…What on earth is that? Jimmy stopped dead in his tracks, for there in front of him, was the largest hermit crab he had ever seen.
Grumbling, Gloomer crawled slowly toward Jimmy.
“Why do I put up with this? I really do too much for her.” But he had his directions, and as soon as he was sure the human had seen him, he headed back for the water, but not to quickly. As was planned, the boy followed him. Just a few more feet, and then blessed water!
While Jimmy was occupied with Gloomer, Atalie was swimming quickly toward the shore. She wanted to get as close as she could before the human noticed she was there. Over the years, she had come back to this place many times, and often watched Jimmy. At last, it was too much to bear, and she had to talk to him, to find out what it was like to be a human.
“Ok, here goes nothing.” She surfaced.
“Hello.”
Jimmy jumped a full two feet into the air. He had been so interested in the hermit crab; he hadn’t even noticed anyone was there and-wait a second! It was her, the mermaid! She was here, right in front of him, and she had said hello!
“Surely you are not mute, are you?” She asked, with a hint of concern in her voice.
“Oh no…I mean to say, it’s you isn’t it? That is, I mean the one I saw five years ago…or was it six? I suppose it doesn’t matter but-“
“Are humans always this nervous?” She asked, he stopped babbling, and stared. On her face was a look of pure concern and absolute seriousness. Instantly, he knew they were going to be friends. For the next half hour, he told her about life on land, and she told him all about Pearlopolis and the mer people living there. He could have talked for hours, but people would be coming to the beach soon, and then it wouldn’t be safe for Atalie anymore. But she promised to come back the next morning, and with a small splash, she was gone. At last, Jimmy returned to his home.
The next morning, they again talked, Atalie showed Jimmy some beautiful shells, and Jimmy showed Atalie a photo of himself. She would have liked to keep it, but Jimmy told her it would spoil under water. They continued to meet for the rest of the week, but then Atalie had to return to Pearlopolis. She promised to come back the next month, and the month after that, and the month after that. And she did. For four years, she never missed a meeting, and neither did Jimmy. They had a few close calls when other people came to the beach, but she never let herself be seen by another human. But then one day, Jimmy didn’t show up. Atalie waited for as long as she could, but eventually had to hide back under the water. The next day, he didn’t come either, or the day after that. On the fourth day, Atalie persuaded Gloomer to crawl up the beach, and find out what had happened to Jimmy. When he came back, grumpy old Gloomer, who had never cared for humans, was crying.
“Atalie…Jimmy died.” She was shocked. Just last month he had been healthy and happy, and today he was dead. After several prompts, she finally got the sobbing Gloomer to explain. He had overheard some people talking about it. Apparently, he had caught pneumonia from a friend he had helped care for, and hadn’t recovered. She had known that Jimmy would die sooner than her, for mermaids can live hundreds of years, but she hadn’t excepted it to happen so soon! Heartbroken, Atalie swam back to Pearlopolis. In the short time she had known Jimmy, she had learned so much from him. She had learned of deserts with no water at all, and kingdoms much like her fathers. He had told her about the odd cloths that people wore, and the houses they lived in. She knew that she could always find another human to befriend, but somehow, it just wouldn’t be the same. Jimmy had always understood her, and never even CONSIDERED telling others about her, after they had met. As much as she wanted to, Atalie resolved never to talk to another human. When she told Gloomer of this, he agreed.
“That one boy was really one in a million.” He said. “The chances of finding another human that would be friendly are too small to risk it.”
“Oh Gloomer, its not the risk I’m worried about, its just…oh you wouldn’t understand.” She sighed. It was going to be hard, but she kept to her promise. Though he didn’t know of her resolve, never again did the Mighty King Tristan have a reason to worry about his unruly daughter conversing with humans.