My grandma recent dumped three giant, completely full plastic containers of practically everything I ever did from kindergarten up until 8th grade. Birthday cards, letters, report cards, you name it. In case you were wondering, I’m also a “Certified Junior Power Ranger.” I found this one particular story from 4th grade me about a mermaid who’s father, the king, was captured. I have to admit, it’s a little… dark for a 10 year old with the “everyone’s going to die!” But I found the ending kind of hilarious so I thought I’d share it for a laugh.
Warning: I never said the story was written well or made any sense. I left it as is, including stuff that’s clearly wrong or comes out of no where. I mean, I was 10. What do you expect from me?
The Mermaid King
One sunny day, Joan Arrons went outside her waterfront home to play. As she reached for a bright pink shell on the ground, someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was a beautiful mermaid!
“Hello,” the mermaid wept. “I am very unhappy. My Daddy, the king of the sea, has been captured by the evil sea serpent, Electra. I don’t know what to do.”
So Joan said, “Please, don’t cry, little mermaid. What’s your name?”
The mermaid replied sadly, “My name is Leslie.”
Joan replied, “Well, Leslie, I know a way I can save him.”
Leslie gave Joan the power to breathe under water in case they needed to stay under long. On their way to save the king, Joan asked, “Do you have anyone to help? We need a lot of help.”
“I have many animal friends willing to help save the king,” Leslie replied.
“Great, let’s go get them.”
When they got all the animals to listen, Leslie said, “We’re missing Splish and Splash the dolphins.”
Joan went left while Leslie went right. The animals were told to look around but stay close to the area. Leslie and Joan met together and found the dolphins. Leslie said, “Look, there are playing as always!”
Joan swam up to them when the dolphins asked, “Have you come to play with us?”
Leslie swam up and said, “There’s no time for playing. You were supposed to be at the under water animal meeting to save the king!”
The dolphins replied, “What meeting?”
“Just follow us,” Joan replied and led the way.
Back at headquarters, the animals were still looking for them.
“We found them,” Joan said. When everyone got settled Joan told them her plan. They all agreed that it would work and they’d help out.
They all swam to Electra’s den. When they got there, Joan reviewed the plan and gave them the signal to go. Inside there was a huge, mean looking eel who was watching over her suffering dad. He was tied to a huge rock and couldn’t move. There was a rope around his neck choking him and on the upper part of his body there were also ropes digging into his wrists and cutting off his veins. There was no doubt he was dying.
“We must work fast!” said Leslie. “We must not waste our time.”
Leslie looked around and gave Joan the signal it was clear. Then she gave the animals the signal to go.
The animals went around in a circle like a swarm of bees, but just around the corner came Electra, who was not there before. She captured all the animals and tightened her father’s ropes making it hard for him to breathe. Joan and Leslie tried to get away but Leslie got ropes tied around her too. There was no doubt they were all going to die. But Joan had a plan. She would distract them and make Electra get caught in a net! Then she could go save everyone!
Joan had to work hard and fast to save them. She got the net ready and made a plan so she wouldn’t get caught. Then she went to work.
She got Electra’s attention and went under the net but Electra saw it and trapped Joan instead and said, “You deserve this you foolish girl!”
Joan replied, “I don’t deserve this. You do. I’m not the one who’s hurting the mermaids and the mermen and the animals!”
Electra turned around and zapped her with her electric powers. The water around her began to turn red. Joan was dying herself and she didn’t have the strength to save her friends but she knew she had to help them.
She struggled out of the net and swam over to the Leslie and the king. The rope was cutting off their oxygen and they needed air to breathe. But she was just too weak and couldn’t cut the ropes. She fell to the floor.
A few minutes later, she got up. She saw her task was not complete. She went on trying to cut the ropes, but had no success. Just when she was about to give up a crab appeared.
“Sorry I’m late for the meeting,” he said, cutting the ropes.
“That’s ok. Let’s get out of here,” Joan said. And then they all swam away.
Looking for a much better story to read? Try Mixing Magic & Mayhem. It’s free, involves a half cat/half spider shifter hunting for a magic spatula, and was edited by a professional. 😀
