A merman's story chapter 14

Just as he put the last piece of jewelry on it's shelf, Lily called "Ari! Dinner time for a special merman!" Once Ari came up, she chuckled. "I love being able to say that. How many other people can say they've met a merman?" She put down the tray of seafood she was carrying.

"Not a lot." Ari commented, and popped a shrimp into his mouth. "Merfolk usually avoid land folk." He munched on another one of the pink, plump, shellfish.

"Why do you do that anyway?" She inquired, referring to the entire merfolk species.  

"As you already know, merfolk are considered an interesting species to land folk. We hide to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, I didn't follow that rule and look where it got me." 

"You don't like it here?" Lily asked, as if hurt.

"No, no, I do. It's just, I miss the ocean sometimes. I was born and raised there. I have a home there, and friends, and it's just beautiful. Have you ever seen a sunrise on the water?" He inquired, with a wistful look in his eyes.

"I can't say I have. But you really do miss the ocean?" 

"Yes, with all my heart." Ari replied wistfully, remembering his beloved ocean abode. "But this is my home now." He ran his fingers over the surface of the pool. "But it isn't so bad. No predators, no hunger, great people to talk to." He added, with a glance toward Lily. "I shouldn't complain. It's paradise here." 

"Yep, just working here is amazing." Lily grinned. Then a loud but far away voice yelled her name. Lily sighed. "Sorry, stupid chef calling me." She patted his head before leaving. 

"Bye Lily!" Ari waved goodbye, and went back to his dish. 

When Ari unwrapped a lettuce leaf, he found a pleasant surprise. "Sardines!" He grabbed one, placed it's body in his mouth, holding the tail, and pulled the meat from the bones as he pulled it out, leaving a skeleton in his fingers. "I love these so much."  He repeated the process to the other dozen on the plate.

Once he had completely finished his dinner, Ari patted his belly, and let out a small burp. "So good." He yawned. "And so sleepy. Bedtime." He slowly swam back to his bed cave, and soon as his head hit the sand, he was out like a light.

It was a dreamless sleep, but a good one. Ari woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day. Swimming children, jokester princes, he it would take it all in stride. 

He started the day with a splash, literally. He flung himself up into the air, and fell back into the center of the pool. The servants gasped at first, then chuckled at the display. 

"He's like a rooster, up early in the morning and making sure everyone's awake." One servant commented to their friend.

"Well he certainly woke me up!" The friend chuckled. 

Ari darted to his showroom. He picked out a bunch of silver bangles, a silver, diamond and amethyst earring, a silver tail cuff studded with amethysts and diamonds, and Jerome's bracelet. 

Almost involuntarily, Ari thought his protector. Jerome was strict, but loving. He also worried about Ari a lot. Once, when he had taken Ari to the gem and jewel festival when he was fourteen, and Ari had momentarily wandered off to look a collection of necklaces, and Jerome almost had a heart attack. Afterwards, he wouldn't let Ari out his sight. 

(flashback) 

Jerome scanned a stand that sold earrings. "Isn't this a nice pair?" Jerome turned to his right, where he thought Ari was. The young merman disappeared. Jerome looked at every stand with 20 yards, but no luck. "Ari?" He called out. No answer. "Ari?" He yelled again, terrified. Ari could easily get lost with the wave of merfolk.

He pushed through the crowd, asking "Have you seen a small merman named Ari who has a purple tail?" No one had. 

Jerome's panic finally ended when he spotted Ari looking at necklaces. "Ari!" Jerome wrapped Ari in a hug. "Don't ever do that again!" 

"Do what?" Ari's eyes were wide with bewilderment

"Swim off like that! You scared the scales off of me!" 

"But I told you I was going here."

"No you didn't!" 

"Yes I did. I said "Jerome, I'm going back to that stand with the pretty necklaces." 

"Oops, I guess I didn't hear." Jerome smiled awkwardly, and released Ari from his grip.

"It is kinda loud with all the merfolk here." Ari commented.

"Yeah. So, did you find anything?" 

Ari started rummaging through his bag. "Yeah, I traded a ring for this." He held a peridot, diamond, and pearl choker.

Jerome held it for examination. "Good craftsmanship. But I thought you would you get the purple version." 

"It's not for me." Ari put on a devilish grin and put his hands behind his back. 

"Then who's it for?" 

"He has a green tail, brown hair, and a thing for bracelets." Ari chuckled.

Jerome grinned. "Is this merman named Jerome?" He quizzed teasingly. 

Ari fake-gasped. "How did you know?!" 

"Lucky guess." His wrapped his arm around Ari's neck, pulling him closer. "Thanks little bud. But don't disappear like that again. I almost had a heart attack."

"Just trying to get you out the bracelet craze. And I promise, I won't pull another vanishing act again." 

(End of flashback) 

Ari sighed, and twisted the bracelet Jerome had given him. The light bounced off the perfectly polished gems. Jerome was known at gem and jewel festivals for his brightly shined wares. And bracelets. Lots of bracelets. Almost all of Jerome's jewelry were bracelets. 

"He has a dozen for every day of the year." Ari chuckled to himself. "Probably more."