Today is my birthday too. (1)
Ariel Thomas just turned 22 years old. She sat in the little cafe eating lunch when Heather brought over a cupcake with a candle.
"Happy Birthday dear."
"Thanks Heather."
Heather was an older lady that took a liking to Ariel a few years ago. Her hair was graying and the cafe she ran would feed anyone in need. Ariel made it a point to come by once a week to see the grandmother like woman. She would come more often if Heather would allow her to pay for her meals, for she always believed in paying her own way.
"Where do you work today?" She asked.
"The Aquarium Park. Today I am a mermaid. It's my favorite job." Ariel said.
"Glad today you have that one then."
"I also have the convenient store job too but not till 8."
"How many jobs do you have now?" Heather asked.
"Six, I almost have enough money saved to get my own place and can leave the shelter."
"You work way to hard." Heather said.
Ariel took a bite of her cupcake. 'Mom, Dad, I made it another year. Thanks for watching out for me.' she said to herself.
Ariel finished eating and made her way to the park. She signed in, then changed into her mermaid costume. Then she got into the tank.
"Daddy, I want to see the mermaid." Lily McKenna said.
"I really need to get to the office Lily, How about I call Sarah to take you to see the mermaid show?" Harrison said.
"Daddy, you promised to spend the day with me. It's my birthday. I don't want to spend it with Sarah. She hates me." Lily cried.
"Lily stop, I have spent all morning with you, now I need to go back to work." He then opened his phone.
"Hello Darling, How can I help you?" Sarah Taylor said.
"Can you come down to the Aquarium and take Lily to the Mermaid show?" He asked.
"Anything for you Darling. I'll be there in fifteen, I am close by shopping." She said.
Lily sat on the bench pouting. When Sarah showed up she kissed Harrison. "I'll take care of the little princess for you. Have a good day at work. Lily let's go see the Mermaid."
Lily got up and still showing her contempt she walked away and Sarah followed. When they were out of sight she grabbed the little girl. "Listen you little brat, you had better behave. Soon I will be marrying your daddy and you will be shipped off to boarding school never to set foot in our home again."
Lily was use to Sarah threats and use to her father not listening to her. She broke loose and ran. Sarah hoped the girl would be kidnapped or something.
Lily made her way to the Mermaid show and watch in awe as Arial swam around doing tricks. Then she came to the edge of the tank to talk to all the children.
"Hello everyone. My name is Arial. My father is King Triton of the great ocean. I live under the water in a sea castle and I can talk to all the sea creatures. I can also breath air when I'm at the water surface. Does Anyone want to know a secret?"
All the kids raised their hands.
"Today I came to see you all because today is my Birthday."
"Happy Birthday." The kids yelled.
"As a special gift when you leave, the door greeters will give you my special Mermaid wrist band. I have really enjoyed spending my special day showing you all my tricks but I must return to my father. I'll see you all next week."
Ariel then swam into the cave that went into the dressing room and everyone started to leave.
Lily stood by the pool. She had the same birthday as the Mermaid. She wanted to see her again but how. Then she saw a girl go through a door and Lily followed her.
Ariel had gotten out of her tail and was getting ready to go into the shower when she heard. "You have legs now?" She turned to she a little redhead with big green eyes staring at her.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"How do you have legs?" Lily asked.
"When I get out of the salty water and dry my tail, I get legs. That way I can get to the Ocean easier to return home. Then when I get back in the salty water my tail comes back." Ariel had to think fast and this story sounded truthful.
"Where is you mother little one?" Ariel asked.
"She died giving birth to me. Today is my birthday too." She said.
"Happy Birthday, How old are you today?" She asked.
Lily holds up 6 fingers.
"That is such a big girl. Where is your father?" She asked.
"He had to go back to the main office. He owns the park."
"You are Mr. McKenna's daughter?"
"My name is Lily."
"Lily who is suppose to be watching you?" Ariel was getting concerned.
"The mean old witch Sarah. She hates me and is going to take my daddy away so I never get to see him."
"I don't think that will happen. Your Daddy loves you. Let me change real quick and I'll take you to your father."
Lily waited patiently and Ariel got ready quickly. She had a few hours before she had to be at her next job.
Sarah waited a little bit before heading to Harrison's office. She had to put on an act so she went running in crying.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I know she hates me but I can't find her anywhere. It's all my fault." She threw herself into Harrison's arms.
"Slow down and tell me what happened, Where is Lily." Harrison asked.
"I took her to see the Mermaid and when it was over she said she hated me and wished I would die and ran off. She ran into a crowd of people and I could not see where she went, I looked for a little while and then came here. We need to find our little girl." Sarah smiled as he held her close. Her acting was award winning.
"I just don't understand why she hates me. I try to do my best." Sarah started to shed a few more tears.
"Just calm down, I'll send out some men to find her. I don't understand what gets into her." He made some calls to the security guards to look for her.
Marcus McKenna was walking into the building when Lily spotted him, "Uncle Marcus!"
"Hey Red, Happy Birthday. Who do you have here?" He asked.
"This is Ariel, she is a mermaid and today is her birthday too." Lily said.
"Your Dad got you a mermaid to escort you today how lucky." He said.
"No, he had the witch Sarah come. She then told me she was going to marry my daddy and send me to board school and I would never see daddy again so I ran away."
"I hate that woman too little red. Miss, come with me." He lead Ariel and Lily to his office and asked Ariel to wait right there with Lily. Then he went to his brothers office.
"Hey, Big bro where is little red at, I want to take her to dinner for her birthday." He said.
"She has run off again. Help me locate her please." He said.
Marcus opens his phone and pulls open his security app. "What time did she disappear?"
"Sarah said right after the mermaid show. so 6:30."
"In the show or out side?" he asked
"Out side she ran into a crowd." Sarah said.
He scanned the area, "Strange, I don't see you or Lily anywhere near the Mermaid show are you sure?"
Sarah had not thought things through. She forgot the park had surveillance cameras. However she needed to stick to her story.
Marcus then had an idea.
"What time was the last time you seen her Harry?" Marcus asked.
"Don't call me Harry, I left her at 5 and the show started at 5:30. We were near the dolphins at that time."
Marus hit a few things on his phone and found Harrison and Lily. He watched Harrison make a call and about 15 minutes later Sarah ran up and kissed him. He then watched Harrison walk away and Sarah grab his niece he wished he could record audio too, but in a park this size it was not possible. Lily looked like she was in pain. He then watched her run off to the Mermaid show but watched Sarah walk off in the opposite direction to the Under the sea restaurant. He shook his head.
"I know were Lily is and what happened. Sarah lied and you believed her. Lily has told you what this woman has done and said to her but maybe now with video you will believe your own daughter over this evil woman."
He handed the phone to Harrison. Sarah tried to knock it out of his hands but he held tight as he watched the video. The lines in his forehead bulged.
"Sarah I think it best if you leave right now." Harrison said.
"Darling it's not what it looks like. Sure she ran away before we got there. I know that she would go to the show and would show up. She said mean horrible things to me. I know I was being childish but how much more are you going to let a child treat me this way?"
"I will talk to you later. Leave now." He turned back to Marcus, "Where is Lily now?" he asked.
"In my office with the Mermaid. She was bring Lily back when I ran into them. When are you going to wake up about Sarah." Marcus said.
"Sarah is not that bad, she cares for Lily. Lily needs a woman around instead of the two of us all the time." Harrison said walking down the hall to Marcus's office.
Lily sat on Ariel lap as Ariel told her a story of her adventures as a Mermaid.