by Tracy A. Moore

Created on: August 17, 2010

A fisherman's life can be tedious at times. Hours upon hours floating around at sea can wear on the most patient of souls. Today Billy and Josh were extremely bored. It was their twentieth day out at sea and there had been little action for the last four of them. They played cards and told jokes until they couldn't stand anymore.

Josh asked Billy if he had ever seen a mermaid. After a few moments of silence, staring at him like he was from outer space, he replied, “Are you nuts?” Josh felt pretty stupid then, but said that he had heard other men on the docks talking about them. The younger man didn't really believe in them, but he wanted to hear what Billy said because he had been out at sea for almost as long as Josh had been alive.

Billy snickered and said that anyone who believed in them was crazy. “Why would you even think it could be possible? There is no such thing. If they were real someone would have had a picture by now or one would have washed up on shore.” Josh decided that his best bet would be to shut up before he made himself look like a total fool.

The men sat on deck in silence for a few hours. Josh noticed a greenish sparkle alongside the boat and squinted into the sun to get a better look. He nudged Billy hard because right there was one of the creatures that he had been mocked for asking about earlier. The older mans eyes were as round as saucers. “Well I'll be! They are real. Look at how beautiful she is.”

Billy seemed mesmerized by her and kept inching closer to the edge of the boat. He apologized to her for his earlier attitude just in case she had been listening. “Umm, I’m really sorry for saying that you weren’t real. Please forgive me.” In response she crooked a finger for him to come closer.

As he reached the railing, she smilingly stared into his eyes and grabbed an ankle. Josh watched in silent horror as Billy was dragged over the edge without even putting up a fight. As a matter of fact, he was smiling blissfully. Josh steered the boat back to shore, never to set sail again.

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