Not Your Average Tail

By Jessica Gunter

All Merinda wants in life is to be accepted and loved. Life in the ocean has not treated her so kindly just because having birthmarks is not normal for mermaids. With her best friend, Flipa the dolphin, she swims across the world to seek a new home for herself. She never imagined finding her new home on land where mermaids are forbidden to go. On land she is free to be herself, builds wonderful friendships, and falls in love. But can you really be yourself if you hide your identity? Keeping secrets can be dangerous, especially when someone takes advantage of it for their own personal gain. In the end, Merinda will have to decide if it is safer to hide or be truly seen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781794750142

Book preview

Not Your Average Tail

Not Your Average Tail

© 2019 Jessica Gunter. All rights reserved.

ISBN  978-1-79475-014-2

Not Your Average Tail

Jessica Gunter

Lulu Enterprises, Inc.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

I would like to dedicate this book to anyone who has been bullied or is currently being bullied and to anyone who feels his or her voice doesn’t matter. I promise love always wins and everyone matters.

Thank you to my family and friends who helped me edit this book. You know who you are.

Chapter 1

Aqua, March 1993

The lights were so lovely and the booming was so boisterous that Aqua couldn’t help but find herself curious. Her head slowly bobbed out of the water. Golden stars were shooting up into the sky and exploded with tails falling behind them. Aqua was confused that the stars continued to shoot up in multiple colors and made frightening sounds.

She then noticed music was playing. She looked towards the land and saw dazzling white lights dangling around colorful buildings. There were humans dancing under the lights to the sound of beautiful Spanish music. The humans were small as fish in her eyesight.

Cr-eek

Aqua quickly dove back underwater. The sound came from the pier. Aqua gracefully swam under the wooden pillars. She looked up through the water. A pair of human feet were walking overhead.

Cr-eek

Aqua followed the human to the end of the pier. She heard a light thud and watched human legs swing over the pier and dangle above the water. Aqua desperately wanted to see the human’s face. She had never seen a human up close before, but that was because it was against the law to let a human see you.

But it’s just one human all by themselves. One human couldn’t possibly be dangerous, and I could easily swim away if I needed to.

Aqua cautiously swam away from the shadow of the pier and slowly bobbed her head out of the water to observe the human. The human was female. She looked around the same age as her, somewhere between 17-25. She had brown hair that was frizzy and disheveled. The thin layer of black paint around her eyes made her hazel eyes pop.

The human was giggling to herself, which seemed odd to Aqua since she was all by herself. Even with the wide smile on her face and the constant giggling Aqua could tell she was actually heartbroken. She could read the sadness in her eyes. The liquid from a glass bottle in her hand started to spill into the water as her hand slowly tilted sideways.

Your drink is spilling, Aqua commented, unable to keep her mouth shut.

The human quickly lifted the bottle and tried to get the last drops of the liquid into her mouth. Dammit, and that was the last of it, she moaned. She squinted her eyes and looked down at Aqua. Isn’t it too dark out to swim? Oh l-ove the hair!

Aqua took a moment to look at her aqua colored hair. Thanks.

I am sooo craving a taco right now. It’s not even funny, said the human as she placed her hands on her stomach. Want to join me?

Aqua shook her head nervously. Sorry I can’t.

Oh, you are one of those girls who doesn’t talk to strangers. Your parents taught you right. She then started to laugh obnoxiously.

Aqua didn’t understand what was so funny, but this human seemed so interesting.

My name is Candace, what’s yours?

Aqua.

Like your hair? That is so unoriginal. Candace started to snort, but covered her mouth out of embarrassment. I am so sorry. That was rude of me. I am not a nice person when I’m wasted.

It’s okay. It’s probably good advice not to name children after their hair color.

Candace smiled. Well we know each other’s names, so we aren’t strangers anymore. Come with me! We will have so much fun! Candace struggled to stand up straight on her two feet.

I can’t leave the water.

Why not?

Aqua lifted her shiny aqua tail out of the water for Candace to see.

Candace’s jaw dropped. Crap! I am hallucinating! I didn’t think I drank that much.

Aqua dipped her tail back into the water. She was disappointed that Candace didn’t think she was real, but it was probably a good thing because that meant she was technically not breaking the law. Candace probably wouldn’t remember her after tonight.

Wait, wait! Can I touch it?

Aqua smiled and lifted her tail back up. Candace got down on her knees and reached with her right hand to touch Aqua’s tail. It felt smooth and slimy to her.

Candace laughed. Sooo weird. It feels so real!

Candace ended up talking with Aqua all night. In her drunken state Candace felt like sharing her whole life story, so Aqua got a chance to work on her listening skills. Apparently, Candace was adopted into a rich family, which seems like a dream come true, but it wasn’t to her. She does love her adopted parents. They are nice people, but she doesn’t feel like they have a lot in common and they tend to be controlling of all her life choices. They drew a path for her to become a lawyer and she took it because she felt she owed them for bringing her into their family.

Besides the pressure of being a perfect daughter, it doesn’t help that she is haunted by the thought that her biological parents didn’t want her. She doesn’t remember them because she was two years old when she was adopted, but knowing they are out there somewhere living their lives without her, hurts. She said if she knew why they let her go she would feel better. Maybe her mom was a rape victim? Maybe her parents couldn’t afford having a kid? Maybe they were kids themselves? She only hoped they had a very good reason for giving her up.

Tonight, her heart doubly aches because she was recently cheated on by her boyfriend. She had no idea about the affair until she found a pair of panties in his car that wasn’t hers. They had been together for six years. She couldn’t recall any signs that he wasn’t happy and wanted out. She thought he was the one.

What Aqua learned from Candace she couldn’t have learned from her books back home. She had no knowledge of rape, adoption, or affairs. Candance also continued talking about discrimination and inequality. The mermaids live in peace and harmony. Life isn’t so obscure and scary under the sea. Candace’s life and view of humans seemed so sad that Aqua decided it would be best to keep this new information to herself. She understood now why humans couldn’t see mermaids. Humans are complex creatures. They would react horribly if they knew mermaids existed. Of course, Candace was an exception because she believes the night she spent with Aqua was just a dream.

Chapter 2

Merinda, September 17, 2016

It got darker as Merinda dove deeper down below the surface. Her best friend, a dolphin, accompanied her. When they got down far enough together, they turned straight upwards and picked up speed. The adrenaline helped Merinda swim faster. Together they leapt up high above the water. Merinda could feel the softness of the wind and drops of water flying off her. The sun warmed her skin for just a moment until they both hit the water.

Merinda laughed, I think that’s the highest we have ever jumped Flipa!

We could definitely do better than that, said Flipa.

Let’s go again! suggested Merinda as she began to swim.

Flipa swam in front of her to stop her. You should probably go home now. Today is a special day for you!

I know. I am very excited that I finally get to travel the world! I have studied so hard on all the languages of the merpeople, and all the sea creatures, and finally I get to use them!

Yes but remember you can only talk with merpeople and sea creatures. I don’t care how curious you are, promise me you won’t try to talk to humans. It is…

Merinda rolled her eyes. Against the law, I know. But wouldn’t it be incredible to know what life is like up there?

You are the only mermaid that cares Merinda. I understand your fascination. We dolphins don’t have laws like you. Humans seem nice to me. My cousin swam next to a human once and let it pet him. No harm was done to him.

And that’s why you are my best friend. You are the only one that understands me.

Flipa shook her head. That’s not true, what about your sisters?

Merinda gave her an annoyed stare.

Sorry, I forgot.

Merinda touched her neck and could feel a slight, small, circular bumps.

They still make fun of you about those brown spots?

Of course! I am the only mermaid in the whole kingdom who has them. It’s not normal for a mermaid to have marks like a human. Mermaid skin is perfectly smooth and clear.

They still call you…

Merinda the distorted merhuman, yes.

But you turn eighteen today! You are an adult. You should be taken seriously and treated with respect.

Maybe things will be different now. I better go home. Bye Flipa.

Bye Merinda.

Merinda waved goodbye and swam away.

It took about ten minutes for her to get home. If she swam as fast as she could she could make it in half that time, but she was in no hurry. Home wasn’t her favorite place to be. Of course, she loved her parents and her sisters, she just felt out of place. Unlike her sisters, who dreamed about marrying princes and having children, Merinda dreamed about exploring the ocean and perfecting languages so she could communicate with all forms of life.

Merinda swam up to her house and pushed back the purple draperies to enter through her bedroom window, which she shared with her six younger sisters. They were in the process of waking up. They rubbed their eyes and yawned out loud in their shell beds.

Good morning, pups, said Merinda. Today’s a new day. She said this phrase in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Hindi.

Why do you have to say the same thing every morning? asked Lola the youngest. We don’t understand all those languages.

You know I like to practice. Merinda kissed her on the forehead. And you should practice as much with singing.

It’s too early to sing.

Merinda, hand me my brush, demanded Vanora.

I am not your maid. Get it yourself.

Vanora moaned.

Merinda raised her eyebrows. Don’t get snotty with me.

Merinda clapped her hands and raised her voice to her sisters. ¡Vámonos!

They all swam out of bed and combed their hair and brushed their teeth. Merinda grabbed her own comb and combed her long, wavy, lavender hair. All mermaids’ and mermen’s hair match the color of their tails. Between Merinda and her sisters, they make a rainbow. The eldest, Coralia, has a spring green tail, Pearl has a creamrose tail, Melody has a pink tail, Marina has a navy blue tail, Oceane has a teal tail, Merinda has her lavender tail, Finley has a ruby red tail, Mishell has a honey yellow tail, Alana has an amber orange tail, Avalon has a silver tail, Vanora has a white tail, and Lola, the youngest, has a violet tail.

While Merinda combed her hair, her strokes became slower and slower as she waited for one of her younger sisters to say happy birthday to her. She watched them as they braided their hair and added yellow floating hearts in their braids. They always did their hair nice to feel like princesses, an obsession she didn’t understand.

They were also