Author135f0720

TILLY’S MERMAID Tilly had a favourite place, down by the shore. It was a rock pool, large and deep. She could only go there when the tide was out, and the waves crashed far away at the edge of the rocks. In the pool there were starfish and brightly coloured plants, deep red anemones and tiny shrimp. Sometimes there would be crabs and fish, left behind as the tide retreated. It was like another world and she loved it. But she was always careful to leave before the tide changed and the waves returned. One day, however, something large was splashing there. She stopped and then approached more slowly. ‘Maybe’ she thought, ‘it's a shark left behind by the tide’. Only it wasn't. It was something she had never seen before. Half of it was like a large silver fish, but the other half was like a young girl with long green and brown hair that floated about her like seaweed. Tilly had found a mermaid! The mermaid stopped thrashing as Tilly approached and looked at her with wild and frightened eyes, eyes as dark and blue was the deepest sea. ‘Don't worry ‘, Tilly said softly, ‘I’ll not hurt you’ ‘But humans do,’ the mermaid answered. ‘They hunt us with boats and harpoons. They tangle us with nets and fishing line. See.’ She pointed to her tail which was tangled in fishing line caught about her fin and some seaweed and rock. ‘I don't do that,’ Tilly said. ‘I set things free instead. Hold still and I'll try to get it off you.’ It was hard and it took her a long time, pulling and loosening. Her fingers were cut and sore by the time she finished, and the waves were starting to foam around the rocks, but eventually she got the tangled fishing line free. The little mermaid dived deeply but came up laughing. ‘Thank you for your kindness’ she said. ‘May you have only luck and may the sea never harm you.’ “You’re welcome,” Tilly said. “May the hunters never find you.’ Then the mermaid smiled and dived deep to the bottom of the pool where she looked just like a fish hiding in the seaweed. By now the tide was rising fast, and the waves were starting to crash over the rocks. Tilly hurried to the safety of the shore, and it wasn't long before the tide rushed in, the sea covered the rocks, and the waves again crashed against the base of the cliff. Tilly watched as the ocean deep returned to keep its secrets once more.