Latest Story.

Here is my latest Story. Initially I was hoping to have this finished in time for Christmas, but time got away from me (as it tends to do towards Christmas). But better late than never as the saying goes. I have to say, I do like this one. It’s a heartwarming tale, quite long, but worth the wait. So, you know the rigmarole by now, picture, story, then your feedback in the comments as always.

Father Angel

Father Radley strode down the aisle to go lock the doors of the Church. It was Christmas Eve of 1995 and the Church Choir had just outdone themselves with a wonderful performance. He was feeling very pleased with himself, many people had placed coins in the Donation box. This would be sent to The Missing Childrens Foundation directly after Christmas. As he walked by the last pew, something caught his eye and he turned his head to look. There on the pew was a young girl, she couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, wearing a thin dark grey top and a denim skirt that fell to her knees, her feet were bare and her legs were filthy as was her face. She was curled up on the pew in a fetal position fast asleep. The Father’s mouth dropped open in surprise and shock.

Tiptoeing past he locked the Old Heavy Oak Doors as quietly as he could then walked back to the last pew. The young girl was still asleep. Her dark hair fell across her face and a few strands lifted and fell rythymically as she breathed in and out softly. Sitting down beside her Father Radley gently shook her awake. The girl stirred slowly, then suddenly she seemed to realize she wasn’t alone and scrambled to a sitting position pushing herself away from Father Radley on the pew, her eyes wide and filled with terror as she stared at him. Father Radley held his hands up hastily and said gently
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you, you’re safe”
The girl continued to stare at him but said nothing. Father Radley tried again
“What’s your name?” His question was met with silence.
“Where are your parents?” The girls eyes filled with tears and she whispered in a small voice
“Dead”
Feeling slightly encouraged Father Radley pressed on
“Where do you live?”
The girl shrugged and said
“I don’t have a home”
“Oh come now, you must have a home to go to, EVERYONE has a home to go to” smiled Father Radley.
“I don’t” replied the girl defiantly, then unexpectedly she began to cry, her small frame racked with sobs. Cautiously Father Radley slid along the pew and gently wrapped his arms around her. She scrambled onto his lap and wrapped her arms fiercely round his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Father Radley was taken aback, but continued to soothe the child, rocking her gently in his arms. Slowly her sobs faded away and she drew back slightly to look up at him with a tear streaked face. Hesitantly she began to speak.
“My name is Anya. My Mommy died 6 months ago. I never knew my Daddy, he left before I was born. When my Mommy died I was sent to live with my Aunt Holly. I don’t like her. She beat me every day for no reason, and made me do all the housework. Then she made me sleep outside in the dog kennel. I ran away that night, and I’ve been living in a doorway ever since” she finished. Father Radley was stunned.
“How old are you Anya?” he asked
“I’m nine” she replied in a small voice
“My God Anya, how on earth have you survived?” whispered Father Radley in shock.
“By begging mostly, people give me spare money and sometimes food too” she answered truthfully.
Father Radley sat for a moment in thought, then sighed and said
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do, you can sleep here tonight, then tomorrow I shall get in touch with your Aunt and see what she has to say, then we’ll take it from there. You do know your Aunt Holly’s address right?”
Anya nodded wordlessly, then burst out
“Please don’t make me go back there, she’ll beat me for running away, and she won’t give me anything to eat”
“Anya, calm down, I’m not going to make you go back there. I’m going to go and see what she has to say. You don’t even have to come with me” replied Father Radley
“Now come, are you hungry?” he finished
“I’m starving” replied Anya, “I haven’t eaten for three days”

Taking Anya’s hand, Father Radley led her through the door of the nave and along a corridor into a warm cosy living room.
“You sit here Anya and I’ll get you something to eat” Father Radley said, then exited the room into the Kitchen.
Anya sat down in a cosy armchair by the fire burning merrily in the grate. Every so often a log shifted, sending sparks up the chimney. In the opposite corner stood a huge Christmas Tree, decorated lavishly in Gold and Red Baubles, Tinsel, and twinkling Fairy Lights. Anya curled her legs up underneath her and rested her head on the arm of the chair. In seconds she was asleep.

Father Radley came back into the living room with a tray in his hands. On it was a steaming bowl of soup and 2 slices of bread and butter alongside a cup of warm milk. He stopped short at the sight of the girl sleeping soundly, then turned about and took the tray back into the kitchen. She could eat later.

Anya opened her eyes slowly. She was in a single bed in a small room. There was a nightlight burning on the white bedside table and heavy velvet curtains at the window. Laid over the bottom of the bed was a child’s bathrobe in pink. Anya climbed out of bed and donned the bathrobe, the opened the bedroom door and peeked out into the hall. At one end was a set of stairs leading downstairs from where the wonderful aroma of Bacon was drifting. She walked towards the stairs and heard Father Radleys voice humming to himself as he cooked.

Father Radley turned as he heard a noise at the Kitchen door and smiled as Anya appeared dressed in the Bathrobe he’d found in a box of Donations given to him by Ms Jones. It was a little long for her, but at least it was warmer than what she’d been wearing yesterday.
“Merry Christmas Anya” he smiled gently.
“Merry Christmas” she replied shyly.
“Would you like some breakfast?” he asked her, then grinned at her enthusiastic response.
Anya sat at the table as Father Radley placed a plate in front of her containing Sausages, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs and Baked Beans. Anya attacked the food in front of her like she’d never been fed, which Father Radley suspected was probably close to the truth. He was looking forward to meeting Anya’s Aunt Holly, and seeing what she had to say for herself.

After breakfast, Father Radley insisted that Anya have a bath. It was time she got rid of the dirt and grime she’d picked up being on the streets. He ran a bath for her and she washed her hair and body whilst he washed the breakfast dishes. When she came back downstairs she looked like a completely different young girl. Her skin was flawless, she looked like a pale english rose. Her hair was dark and long, falling well down her back in soft waves, and her eyes were a beautiful dark brown. She was wearing a pair of Jeans that fit perfectly, and a warm black sweater, found once again out of Ms Jones’ donation box. Father Radley smiled and said
“I bet that feels better”.
Anya nodded, then smiled softly and replied
“Yes it does, I can’t remember when I last had a bath. Thankyou for everything”
“You don’t have to thank me Anya, I’m just happy I can help” replied Father Radley.
“Now, I have Mrs Willis coming over for Christmas Dinner today, she’s my housekeeper and I called her and asked her to come over and stay with you while I go and pay a visit to your aunt, is that okay?” he asked
Anya looked frightened.
“It’s okay Anya, she’ll look after you, and I promise you won’t have to go back to your aunt if you don’t want to” he told her gently.
Reluctantly Anya nodded.
“Good girl, now can you give me your Aunt’s full name and address please? It’s time I paid her a visit” Said Father Radley.

Father Radley stood outside the run down house and checked the address against the piece of paper on which he’d written down the address Anya had given him. The house was in a bad state of repair, broken toys and cigarette butts littered the front yard, There was a bike with one wheel leaning against the house, and in a corner was a dog kennel that was open to the elements. A dog was chained up and lay wearily in the kennel. Squaring his shoulders, Father Radley walked up to the front door and knocked firmly. After a minute or two a woman answered. She was a thick heavyset woman with too much makeup on, and peroxide dyed blonde hair. A cigarette hung out of her red painted lips.
“Mrs Bradshaw?” Asked Father Radley.
“Yeh, who’re you and whaddya want” she said rudely.
“My name is Father Radley, I’m here about Anya” he replied grimly.
Mrs Bradshaw surveyed him for a moment the stood back
“Yer better come in then” she said and turned, heading down the hall.

Father Radley followed Mrs Bradshaw down the hall and into the kitchen. The squalor and stench hit him like a runaway truck. Dirty dishes were piled on every surface, and mouldy food lay everywhere. The trash can was overflowing and flies were buzzing around the top of it. On one counter sat a small television currently playing a music video, and at the table sat a boy of no more than 14 smoking a cigarette. Mrs Bradshaw sat herself down and said to the youth
“Out paul”
“Muuuum” whined Paul.
” I said OUT yer gobby little shyte” snarled Mrs Bradshaw.
Paul glared at his Mother for a moment, then stubbed the cigarette out and slunk from the room.
“So, where’s Anya?” asked Mrs Bradshaw
“Right now, she’s at my home” replied Father Radley quietly.
“She’s been living rough for a while, ever since she ran away from here, which was when exactly?” he asked.
Mrs Bradshaw shook a fresh cigarette out of the pack on the table and lit it, blowing out a stream of smoke before replying.
” ’bout six weeks ago now, I were glad to be rid of er too, insolent little snot she was”
Father Radley didn’t reply and Mrs Bradshaw looked at him then continued
“She refused to do the little bit of cleanin an cookin I asked her to do, an she were unkind to the others”
“Mrs Bradshaw, Anya is nine years old, you cannot expect a child of that age to do cooking and cleaning” replied Father Radley. He was liking this woman less and less, and could plainly see why Anya had been so desperate to get away from her.
“And to make a child of her age sleep in the dog kennel is just cruel and unbelievacly so at that” he added.
Mrs Bradshaw smirked
“She told you bout that did she? Well she shoulda done as she were told then shouldn’t she” she said smugly.
Father Radley never knew how he managed to keep his anger in check, but he did so, and said
“Well, as it’s plain you don’t want Anya back, and god forbid, she certainly doesn’t want to return here, I suggest you go to Social Services after the holidays and sign away all responsibility for her. I shall inform them in the meantime of Anya’s whereabouts”
“An what if I dun want to?” asked Mrs Bradshaw smirking again.
“Then I shall personally see to it that you spend next Christmas behind bars for Child Abuse and Neglect Mrs Bradshaw” repled Father Radley leaning forward.
Mrs Bradshaw’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Are you threatenin me Father” she asked, placing heavy emphasis on the word Father.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing Mrs Bradshaw” he replied in a steely voice.
Mrs Bradshaw turned pale, and the fingers holding the cigarette trembled slightly.

Father Radley never told Anya what transpired between himself and her Aunt Holly. He only said that she didn’t have to go back to her Aunt and was to stay with him in the meantime. Anya’s gratitude and thanks meant the world to him. He was already becoming attached to this little girl. After the holidays he got in touch with Social Services and explained Anya’s situation to them. They sent a Social Worker out and they discussed the situation in great detail. Towards the end of the meeting the Social Worker asked if there was anything else Father Radley would like to ask. Father Radley took a deep breath and said
“Yes, I would like to adopt Anya as my own child.”

Anya stood in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She was ten years old and she’d come a long way in the year since Father Radley had found her curled up asleep on a pew in the church. It was Christmas Eve of 1996 and Anya was going to say a few words to the congregation tonight. She was very nervous, she knew some of her friends from school would be there. A knock sounded on the door followed by Father Radley’s voice calling
“Anya, are you ready?”
“Yes I am” she called back smiling
Father Radley opened the door and smiled.
“You look wonderful dear” he told her. She was wearing a red dress with a flared skirt, white ankle socks and black shoes, A black cardigan completed the outfit, and her hair was caught in two braids finished with red ribbons. Anya smiled
“So do you” she told him.

Together they went downstairs and entered the church. Anya grabbed a seat in the front pew whilst Father Radley went to open the doors and greet the congregation. When the congregation had settled Father Radley took up his stance on the alter and said to everyone
“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s good to see you all here tonight. We shall have the usual Prayers and Choir singing, but a certain young lady would like to say a few words first. Anya, would you come up here please?”
Anya walked up the steps and turned to face the congregation. Her voice trembled a bit on her first few words, then grew stronger as she became more confident.
“My mommy used to tell me that there were angels in the sky. She and I would look out of the window at night and she would point out big shining stars and tell me they were angels. She said that there were angels down here on earth too. She said that if you were ever in need of an angel one would come along and help you out. I never knew whether to believe her or not, I mean I’d never seen any angels before”
This was said with childish innocence, but some members of the congregation laughed gently. Anya continued
“Last Christmas, I was cold and wet. I was living on the streets because my Aunt didn’t want me to live with her, and she didn’t treat me very well. So I ran away. On Christmas Eve, I found this Church, and slipped inside to warm up a bit. The Choir was singing and they sounded so beautiful, the best thing I’d ever heard. I fell asleep on the pew, and that’s when Father Radley found me. For the first time in my life since my mommy died, I knew that what she said was true. Angels DO live here on earth. I found one. Father Radley is my Angel. I call him my Father Angel, or more simply, Daddy”

Father Radleys eyes filled and overflowed with tears, and Anya stood beaming, as for the first time ever in Father Radley’s little Church, the whole congregation got to it’s feet and applauded for this child and her Father Angel, her Daddy

Latest Story

This is my latest attempt at a Short Story. It’s written as a letter but it’s not clear to whom it’s written. I wanted to let you, the readers make up your own minds. I really am not too sure what I think to this one considering the fact that it’s 12.10am and I’ve just spent 3 hours on it. So, as usual, image, then story. Please let me know what you think in the comments section. You all know how much I appreciate your feedback.

Deadly Overconfidence.

Hi there. My name is Melina. Melina Thornton. I’m 28 years old and married to the most wonderful man in the whole world. Danny. Danny Thornton. Danny and I met when I was 17, and a year later we were married. No kids because I didn’t and still don’t want them, but that’s not the point of my story.

It’s been snowing again today, nothing unusual for this time of year of course, but I’ve never appreciated before just how pretty everything outside looks when it’s falling. And of course when you have nothing better to do, might as well watch it. Danny brought me a cup of tea a few minutes ago, and asked how I’m feeling. I’m feeling very well thanks for asking, getting over the worst of the pain, and getting used to this infernal wheelchair, still struggling to get round the corners though. But at least I won’t have to be stuck in it for much longer.

You’re probably asking what happened right? Why I’m in a wheelchair? Well see, I had a little accident with a pair of ski’s and a ski run that I wasn’t experienced enough for. Danny got all excited when it first started snowing bless his heart, so he took a few days off work and decided he was going to teach me how to ski. I thought it was a fabulous idea, given that I’d never learned but had always wanted to try, so off we went. He rented me a pair of ski’s and all the gear and off we went. Now Danny gave me all the information I needed to know, and we practised for ages on an almost flat area, with just enough of a downward slope for me to at least get moving. He taught me how to curve down the hill by leaning on the edges of my ski’s and how to stop. Then once he thought I’d gotten the gist of it, he took me to the beginners run. I stood at the top of the beginners run looking down and thinking to myself that I’d never noticed how steep it was before, and some little brat of a kid zoomed past me 3 times calling me a scaredy cat. He’s lucky I was so nervous, otherwise I would have belted him one. Finally I worked up the courage, swallowed my pride and set off down the hill with Danny right behind me. When I reached the bottom full of pride, I turned round and Danny swooped me up into a Bear Hug and told me how proud he was of me. We practised all day on that run.

The next day we went back again, I told Danny that I wanted to try the full runs, but he was a little hesitant. Said something about me not being experienced enough, but I’d been working up to this and was determined to try them. Danny extracted a promise from me that we could do a couple of runs down the beginners run again first, just to be sure. That was fine with me. So off we went, did three runs down the beginner’s run, then headed for the chairlift. Danny was nervous about me bless his heart, but my enthusiasm was infectious and soon he was telling me how it feels to ski down, seeing the trees at the edges of the runs flash by, how the wind feels in your face and the rush of adrenaline you get as you set off down. I couldn’t wait to feel that for myself. We disembarked at the top of the mountain and Danny asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this. I nodded yes, and he told me to just take it easy and that he’d be right behind me again. He also reminded me to curve my way down from left to right, that way I’d be in control. We set off and immediately I knew I wasn’t ready for this. The speed we picked up going down this run was so fast. There were hidden bumps in the run that felt probably ten times worse than they were. All logic went out of the window, along with everything that my dear Danny told me right before we set off down the run. I did remember to curve, then all of a sudden, about halfway down, I hit another bump, and I lost total control. Arms and legs flailing, ski’s and poles flying in the air, I hit the ground with a sickening thud, there was a searing pain in my left leg, then I saw, heard and felt no more.

I woke with a scream and saw a strange face looming over me. I remember shrinking back into my pillows and asking where I was. The lady who turned out to be a Nurse told me I was in hospital. She also insisted on calling me Mrs Thornton which peeved me off no end. Didn’t this woman know I wasn’t married? Yes, that’s right. I didn’t remember my dear Danny. I also didn’t remember anything about my accident, so I guess I must have banged my head up pretty good on the way down. This Nurse told me I’d had an accident whilst skiing with my Husband which flabbergasted me. As far as I was aware, I wasn’t married and I didn’t ski. Those were very trying times for Danny. The Nurse decided to go and get the Doctor so I could be checked over. He seemed like a pleasant enough man when he arrived, but my opinion of him totally changed when he said he needed to check my wound. As he lifted the bedsheets to one side the Nurse stuck a thermometer in my mouth and placed the Blood Pressure cuff on my arm. At that point, a pain unlike any I’d felt before shot through my left leg and I let out a scream to raise the dead. The Doctor jumped back in alarm and the Nurse had to grab the sink to stop herself falling as she tripped over the Blood Pressure machine tripod. The Doctor apologized profusely, but I didn’t like him from that point on. Throughout all this Danny stayed by my side, I still didn’t remember him or the accident, and I believe it takes a great deal of strength and love to stay by someone’s side when they don’t remember you. He spoke to me about things that should have been familiar to me but weren’t. I didn’t remember our dog, Holly, or our cat, Beauty. I didn’t remember our neighbours, or what colour car they had. I remembered my Family, my parents and my brother, but that was it. Yet throughout it all, he stayed by my side. He went home at night, slept, then came back to the hospital first thing in the morning.

A week later, I’d been given a wheelchair. It was a novelty to zoom round the hospital corridors at first, but the fun soon wore off, especially as I got more adept at handling it. Danny had been there every day, and the day before I’d let off a tirade at him. See, I KNEW I wasn’t married to him, yet he insisted that I was his wife. I think partially my frustration at being in a strange place with no memory of how I came to be there was the straw that broke the camels back, and I’d really gone to town on Danny. I told him I didn’t know who he was, that I wished he’d stop visiting me, and I insisted that he must STOP saying I was his wife. By the time I’d done, I was yelling, and Danny was sat frozen in his chair. Finally he stood up and without another word to me, left. I broke down in frustrated tears. I wasn’t expecting to see him again.

The next day I was sat in my wheelchair in the patients smoking room smoking and reading a book. The Doctor had told me that once I was more adept with the crutches I could go home. But where was home? I assumed I lived with my parents and vowed to discuss it with them when they came to see me again. The door of the smoke room opened and Danny walked in. The shock of seeing him again was combined with a prickly feeling of fear at the look of intensity in his eyes. Without a word he handed me a folded piece of paper. Something stirred the the furthest recesses of my mind but I couldn’t put my finger on what. I asked him what it was. Without a flicker of emotion he said
“it’s our Marriage Certificate”
Shock coursed through me, and I unfolded the piece of paper. Right there before my eyes, was my name. My maiden name, AND my married name right alongside Danny’s name. I felt my eyes fill with tears and confusion poured through me. I WAS married, and to this man. Guilt poured through me and I couldn’t hold back my tears. Danny was so kind and caring and he held me as sobs racked my body. I told him I still didn’t remember him or the accident, but that I was sorry for everything. He told me I had nothing to be sorry for, that he understood how confusing everything must have been for me. Finally I found out how I came to be in the hospital.

Danny had gotten all excited when it first started snowing, so he took a few days off work and decided he was going to teach me how to ski. I’d thought it was a fabulous idea, given that I’d never learned but had always wanted to try, so off we went. He’d rented me a pair of ski’s and all the gear and off we went. Danny and I practised for ages on an almost flat area, with just enough of a downward slope for me to at least get moving. He’d taught me how to curve down the hill by leaning on the edges of my ski’s and how to stop. Then once he thought I’d gotten the gist of it, he took me to the beginners run. I’d stood at the top of the beginners run looking down and some little kid had zoomed past me 3 times calling me a scaredy cat. Finally I’d worked up the courage, swallowed my pride and set off down the hill with Danny right behind me. We’d practised all day on that run. Danny teared up when he thought back to the day of my accident. He said he should have put his foot down with me about my wanting to try the full runs, but my enthusiasm had been infectious and I’d been determined to try. He said that as we set off he could tell I was out of my depth and he’d been praying we’d make it down safely. He yelled out to me when he saw me lose control, he said I flew about 5ft into the air before landing sickeningly on my left leg. I was already unconcious when he stopped by my side. Some other skier had seen the whole thing and stopped long enough to shakily tell Danny that he was going for help. He said it was the longest time of his lfe waiting for help to arrive. When he saw the stretcher and the Medics arrived he lost it completely and broke down. He said the only thing he remembered after that was arriving at the hospital and being treated for shock whilst I was rushed off for emergency surgery. He’d been by my side ever since. I sat in silence trying to absorb everything he’d told me, and trying to remember something, but nothing came to me. I lit up a cigarette with shaking hands, and Danny smiled ruefully and told me that I’d quit smoking four years ago. It was so frustrating not being able to remember these things. After I finished smoking, I told Danny I needed to rest. I felt so exhausted and my mind was spinning with everything he’d told me. He helped me into bed and told me he was going for something to eat and he’d be back in an hour. Right before he left he bent down and kissed my forehead. It felt strange and he seemed to realize that because he hastily apolgized then left. I closed my eyes and my mind wandered.

I was stood in the foyer of the Church, dressed in a white Wedding Gown holding a bouquet of Pale Pink Poses and Baby’s Breath. My father took my arm and asked if I was ready as The Wedding March started and the congregation rose in their seats. As I walked down the aisle on my Fathers arm, people in the pews ooohed and aaahed as I floated serenely past, and the tall man at the top of the aisle turned and smiled at me lovingly. It was Danny. We reached the top of the Aisle and my Father handed me over to Danny. The congregation reseated themselves and the Vicar’s voice rang out.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the bond of two people who have chosen to unite and share the rest of their lives together”
Danny smiled at me as we heard the words that we’d asked the Vicar to use as opposed to the traditional words. We knew we’d spend the rest of our lives together. The words of the Vicar just cemented everything.

My eyes flew open and I sat bolt upright in bed. Suddenly everything fit. I remembered! I lay back against the pillows as thoughts and memories flooded my mind. Things that I’d been unable to remember a little over two hours ago. Tears burned behind my eyelids as memories I’d treasured came back to me and I wondered how I could ever have forgotten them. Danny walked back into the room at that point, and something in my face told him I’d remembered something. He said my name tentatively and I held out my arms to him. As he sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around me I sobbed out the words I needed to say.
“Danny I’m so sorry, I remembered! I dreamed about our wedding, and when I woke everything started to come back to me! I’m so sorry Danny, how could I ever have forgotten?”
Danny held me tightly and the Doctor wandered in.
“How are you feeling Melina?” he asked.
Danny laughed out loud as I lifted my face and said
“You can call me Mrs Thornton Doctor”

So, I’m home now, have been for two weeks. There are still a few things that are hazy, like I don’t remember anything about the accident, but the Doctor said that happens sometimes, that it’s the mind’s way of protecting the body or something. My darling Danny has ben home with me every day, and this morning I gave him a heart attack when I said I wanted to continue to learn to ski. He asked me how on earth I was going to do that. So I told him about the research I did on the internet. It seems I can get some special skis. Well it’s not so much the skis that are special, more the poles. They’re on like mini runners so that I can use them to help me turn.

You see, when I had the accident, I shattered my left leg completely below the knee, I also tore ligaments and arteries and the leg was basically beyond repair. So I lost my leg below the knee. It was a shock to find out I had no leg below the knee. It felt like it was still there. Losing a part of my body made me re-evaluate my life. But I remain optimistic. That’s part of the reason I want to continue to learn to ski. Danny balked at the very idea of it. But I’m hoping he’ll change his mind when he see’s the “Special Skis” I ordered from the internet whilst he was out grocery shopping yesterday.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I look forward to your criticism constructive comments.

Ciao.

The Waves Hold Secrets

Finally I got round to writing a new short story. I haven’t done anything along these lines before and so it was kinda fun to explore the possibilities. I’m quite happy with it, but as usual, any feedback or comments would be much appreciated.

The Waves Hold Secrets.

Cassie sat watching the sun come up over the waves on the beach. There was no other soul around and the only sound was the gentle washing of the waves on the shoreline. She liked it best this way. As the sun rose higher and the day grew lighter a lone Gull cried as it dived, looking for food, and Cassie followed it’s flight. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of silver. Turning her head she saw a huge silver fishtail disappearing back into the ocean. Cassie gasped out loud. Whatever it was she’d never seen a fish that big in her life before.

“Cassie.. Telephone” yelled her Mother Minnie up the stairs.
“Got it” she shouted back picking up the extension in her bedroom.
Placing the receiver to her ear she heard her mother put the phone down and said
“Hello?”
“Hey Babe, what ya doin?” asked her boyfriend Jerry.
“Oh hey Jerry, nothing much, just looking for something online” she replied smiling
“Oh, anything I can help with?” she asked.
“Nah, just something I saw this morning that’s all, I was just trying to find some information about it, no luck so far though” she said and sighed.
“Well how do you fancy taking a break and coming for coffee with me” he asked
“If you’re including a sticky bun in that, I’m game” she laughed
“You got it babe, I’ll pick you up in 15 minutes” replied Jerry, and saying goodbye, he put the phone down.

As Cassie turned to grab her jacket and head downstairs, an image on her computer screen froze her in her tracks. There on the screen was a picture of a tail disappearing into the waves, exactly like the one she’d seen that morning. Grabbing the mouse she scrolled down and read the text underneath it.

“I know this may sound weird to viewers out there, but this tail does NOT belong to a fish. It belongs to a Mermaid. I saw her a week ago when I was out taking pictures of the Sunrise over Clearview Beach. She has long flowing blonde hair and a beautiful slim body with a huge silver tail from the waist down. She saw me as I aimed the camera at her, and she dove, leaving me with this image of just her tail”

Cassie’s mouth dropped open. A Mermaid?? Was this guy deluded? Everybody knew Mermaids didn’t exist. Cassie checked the date of the article, it was written two years ago. Cassie turned off her Computer and grabbed her jacket as Jerry’s car horn pipped outside. But she couldn’t get the image of that tail out of her head.

“I don’t know what it was Jerry, but it was huge, then some guy on the internet has a picture of the same thing I saw and claims it’s a Mermaid!” exclaimed Cassie.
Jerry threw back his head and laughed loudly.
“A Mermaid??” he asked incredulously
They were sat in a corner of the Coffeeshop, with cups of coffee and a sticky bun in front of Cassie
“Yeah, a Mermaid, I mean, the guy must be deluded or something, he described her as having long blonde hair and a beautiful slim body with a huge silver tail starting from the waist down” quoted Cassie.
Jerry mimicked puking into his coffee and Cassie laughed in spite of herself.
“You gonna eat that sticky bun, or can I have it?” Jerry teased her.
“Touch that, and you’re dead pal” growled Cassie. Jerry laughed then leant over and kissed the tip of her nose.

Cassie groaned to herself as her alarm clock went off the next Morning. She did not want to get out of bed. She knew she shouldn’t have stayed out so late last night. She and Jerry had gone for Dinner, then to a movie, before stopping off for one last coffee before he dropped her home. It had been close to 11pm, but Cassie was due to get up at 4.30am for her usual morning run. Cassie snuggled down under the covers and contemplated staying in bed, then remembered the strange tail she’d seen the day before. That decided matters. Groaning again, she threw back the covers and headed for the shower.

Cassie stopped running and grabbed one of the poles holding the Lifeguards hut above the water level should there be a storm. Panting she bent over trying to catch her breath. The first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon, bathing Cassie and the surrounding area in a fiery orange glow. Cassie glanced out to Sea, then did a double take. Was that a head bobbing up and down? Straightening up, she squinted against the rising sun, but couldn’t see what had caught her attention. Thinking she was seeing things she shrugged. A second later, her jaw dropped again as a huge silver tail flashed in the sun for an instant before it disappeared beneath the waves.

“Cassie, you cannot be serious!” exclaimed Jerry
“I am Jerry, I KNOW something’s going on out there, I don’t know what but I need to know and I’m determined to find out!” Cassie groaned with frustration.
“Cassie, it could be a Dolphin or something” Jerry seemed not to understand
“Jerry, Dolphins do NOT have silver tails, and definitely not that size!” she shouted.
“I NEED to know what it is, do you not understand that?”
The woman at the next table looked round nervously.
“Umm, excuse me?”
“What?” snapped Cassie rudely.
“Cassie” sighed Jerry reproachfully. Cassie sighed and turned back to the woman with a fake smile on her face and said in a sickeningly sweet voice
“Yes, may I help you?”
Jerry dropped his head into his hands and groaned. The woman looked nervously at Cassie again and said
“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation, are you talking about Clearview Beach by any chance?”
The smile faded from Cassie’s face and she regarded the woman in silence for a moment.
“Yes I am” she said finally. The woman looked frightened.
“Are you mad?” she whispered.
Haven’t you heard the legend of Clearview?”
Cassie frowned and Jerry lifted his head from his hands
“What Legend?” asked Cassie.
The woman stood and came over to Cassie and Jerry, and seated herself across from them.
“Well as the legend goes, there are Mermaids in Clearview Bay, they have been seen at Sunrise by a number of people on the Beach. An old man once saw a Mermaid and determined to get a closer look and maybe capture one, he took a boat out the next day”
“What happened?” asked Cassie eagerly.
“Nobody knows for sure” replied the woman
“He was never seen again, but the legend goes that if you get too close, you end up being destined to swim the waves forever”
“You mean…..” whispered Jerry horrorstruck
“As a Merperson yes” replied the woman gravely nodding her head.
Cassie and Jerry stared at her for a moment, then Cassie cleared her throat.
“That settles it” she said in a clear and determined voice.

The next morning Jerry walked down the Marina and met with Cassie at the side of his Father’s powerful motor yacht. Cassie had a bag with her Camera and rolls of film in, and a pair of Binoculars slung round her neck.
“Cassie, can we please not do this?” he asked knowing her answer and already resigned to his fate.
“We have to Jerry, I need to know. You’re not SCARED are you?” she jeered mockingly.
“No Cassie, I’m not, but you heard what that woman said” he replied.
“Jerry, it’s just a legend, that’s all” replied Cassie, and swung herself on board.
“Now, are you coming, or do I have to go by myself, the sun’s coming up, and I don’t want to miss anything” she finished.
Jerry sighed and swung himself onboard.

Five minutes later Cassie shouted over the noise of the engine
“Here should be okay”
Jerry turned the engine off, and came to join her at the side. Cassie scanned the horizon through the Binoculars for a minute then lowered them and sighed.
“Nothing?” asked Jerry hopefully.
“Not yet” replied Cassie “But we only just got here”
As if on cue, there was a soft splashing noise, and a head bobbed above the waves about 10ft away from the boat. As Jerry’s jaw dropped in disbelief, Cassie smiled and whispered
“Ohmigosh”

2 Months Later.

Sam finished rubbed his surfboard with wax and grinned across at his buddy Brandon.
“Great day for surfing huh? You sure were right about the waves being better at sunrise”
Brandon grinned back and stood up looking out to Sea.
“Yeah, looks like a couple of guys beat us to it” he replied gesturing out to where two heads bobbed up and down in the water.
“Looks like a male and a female” he added.
Sam squinted out to where Brandon was pointing.
“Yeah man, but they don’t seem to have Boards or anything” he replied.
Brandon squinted to get a better look
“You’re right man, you don’t think they’re in any trouble do you?”

Sam never replied. As the two stood watching, the two people suddenly dived and the boys were struck speechless as two huge silver tails flashed in the sunlight for an instant before disappearing beneath the waves.

Usual feedback and suggestions in the comments section please.

Ciao.