Harris walked in to see his little girl listening to a story.
"When my friend Henry and I swam into the wreckage we saw many wonderful things. This made me want to learn about your world even more."
"My favorite thing I found was a looking glass and I seen what I looked like for the first time. I was surprised at first till Henry told me it was me."
"What is a looking glass?" Lily asked.
"A looking glass is this." She pulled out a mirror.
"Then what happened?" Lily asked.
"My father was really mad when I took the looking glass home. He told me to stay away from the human ship that if humans knew we really existed they would hunt us down and kill us.
However I was a naughty girl and wanted to learn more. So one night I swam all the way to your land were a little girl just a little older then you, was building a castle in the sand.
As I watched her I did not realize my tail was drying up. That was the first time I discovered I could have legs.
The girl noticed me and I was little scared but she was a kind girl. She help me learn all about the human world."
"What was her name?" Lily asked.
"Her name was Heather. She has been my friend now for many years."
They then noticed to two men standing at the door..
"Daddy, Ariel has the same birthday as I do." Lily said.
"That's nice. Lily why did you run away from Sarah?" He asked.
She hung her head, "She hurt my arm and said I was going to be sent to board school and never see you again."
"Lily, I don't like it when you lie. Now tell me the truth." Harrison said.
"I did. I hate the old witch. She is always mean to me and you take her side. You don't love me any more." She started crying.
"Stop it Lily. I love you but you need to be truthful." He turned to Ariel, "Thank you Miss for watching over my daughter. There will be something extra in your pay." Harrison said picking Lily up.
"No need Mr. McKenna. It was nice meeting you Lily. I need to get going now." Ariel said gathering her bag.
"Since it your birthday why not come to dinner with us?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, Please" Lily eyes lite up.
"Sorry, I have to get home to my father. The sea creatures will be throwing me a big party." Ariel said.
"Thank you again Miss." Harrison said.
Ariel left the park and took the bus over to grand street where the convenient store was located. She quickly put on her smock to start her shift.
The night seemed long and quite. Only a few people came in. She mopped the floor and checked for out of dates on the food. She then looked at her account on line. 842 dollars.
Then she unfolded the ad for the apartment. $200 a month. First and last month rent plus $500 Deposit. One bedroom apartments utility included. She would also need pots, pan, and house old items. She needed $900 to move in.
At the end of the month she would have enough and would not have to sleep in the homeless shelter anymore.
When morning came and her shift was over. She headed over to St. Mary's to grab a few hours sleep before her shift at the country club as a life gaurd started. Then it was back to the convenient store for another shift tonight.
Ariel got to the club a little early. They let her eat one meal here if she had a shift.
Henry had a plate all ready for her. "How was you birthday yesterday?"
"Wonderful, I met a little girl with the same birthday as me." She said taking a bite out of the chicken alfredo.
"That's good, I got you a gift." He said taking out a little box wrapped in a bow.
"You shouldn't have." She took the box and unwrapped it.
It was a gold necklace with a Mermaid pendant hanging from in. "I love it Thank you." She then kissed his cheek.
Henry had been the chef at the club for the past 20 years. Ariel reminded him of his daughter who lived on the other side of the country so anytime he could help her out he did.
Ariel then changed into her lifeguard suit and took her place on the tower.
Marcus was passing by the pool area on his way to the racket ball courts when he saw her again.
Ariel was a breath of fresh air. Her long hair was dirty blonde and pulled into a high ponytail. She stood only 4 foot 8 inches high.
Her lips looked like they were kissed with cherries and he wondered what she would taste like.
She was well built and very pretty. To run into her here again he thought it must be fate.
He had looked up her employment record this morning when he went to the office.
Name : Ariel Jane Thomas
Address: St. Mary's shelter
Date of Birth : June ××, 19××
Phone: (×××)×××-××××
Hired: May ××, 20××
In case of emergency: Sister Kimberly of St. Mary's
Next of Kin: None
She had no family and lived in a homeless shelter. She was someone he wanted to get to know.
"Hey, Mermaid funny running into you here." He said looking up.
Ariel looked down, "Mr. McKenna nice to see you again." She smiled.
"Call me Marcus." He said.
"No can do, Mr. McKenna club rules."
"I see. What time do you get off?" He asked.
"5 pm when the pool closes." She said.
"Then have dinner with me."
"Club rules says I can't. Besides I have to get to my next job. Now if you excuse me I need to keep an eye on the pool."
He laughed and went to play racked ball but made sure he was waiting outside by the employee gate for her to leave.
When she walked out she noticed the tall muscular man leaning against his car. He was 5 foot 6 and very handsome. Not as handsome as his brother who was broader and taller. Harrison was 6 foot 1. Both had fire red hair just like the little girl did.
"Want a ride?" He asked.
"I can take the bus." She said
"Please let me drive you. It will be faster, then we can grab dinner at my favorite food stall. Do you like Chile Cheese hotdogs?"
Just then her stomach growled, "Sounds like your stomach does." He laughed.
She could not argue and really was hungry. Usually she did not have time to eat dinner because of the bus schedule.
She got in and he walked around to the driver side.
"So how many jobs do you have?" He asked starting the car.
"I have six. (1)Monday through Friday during the day I have several dogs I walk. (2)Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night I wait tables. (3)Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Night I work a convent store. (4)Friday and Saturday day I am a Mermaid. (5)Sunday day I life gaurd and (6) Monday through Thursday evening I clean the city park up."
"Why do you work so hard."he asked
"In order to get anywhere in life one must work hard. I have a dream to live in a better place." She said.
"What?" He asked.
"I grew up living in a room with ten other girls. I was raised in Saint Alexander Orphanage. When I turned 18 I could no longer stay so I went to a halfway house. I shared a room with four other ladies. A year ago the house shut down and now I live in St. Mary's shelter for the homeless. Where there is about twenty people to a room. A few more paychecks and I'll have enough for an apartment." She explained.
"That is brave of you to go through all that." He said.
"It has nothing to do with brave. It's a matter of survival. I want to be the best I can be."