The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Hunter

Elaine, my step-mom led us to the table where the rest of my family had gathered. Ryan, Hannah, Dad, Aunt Paige who was dad’s younger sister, her annoying bratty six year old son Elliot and I did a double take when I saw Will, my cousin seated beside Hannah. His father, my uncle who worked as a cop wasn’t at the table so that meant dad and him were still cross, so as not to turn down the lunch invite he’d sent Will on his own. And I was glad he’d come alone for the lunch gathering.

I leaned into Blue’s ear and whispered, “I’m going to sit beside you at the table. My family will probably ask you some questions. I’ll tap your knee under the table if you say something that you shouldn’t, okay?”

I noticed how Elaine was watching us with utter adoration, thinking I was having some private moment with my girlfriend. The reality, I was asking my mermaid girl not to reveal her identity.

When we approached the wide picnic table, Ryan and Hannah took turns to greet and hug Blue. When Blue said hello to Will, he just shrugged. I wondered if he was just acting shy, having not met someone like her and Elliot as usual had decided to make Blue his best friend. Leslie had taken a piss on the butler’s leg who had been standing by the table with a serving tray.

“You’re so pretty, like the doll I saw the other day in the store, right Mom?” Elliot complimented Blue. “They have mermaid Barbies with Blue hair.”

Aunt Paige nodded her head. “She sure does.”

Blue laughed, her cheeks were growing warm. “Thanks, Elliot. I think you look really cute too. I had never met a boy your size before, I’m glad I did now.”

Elliot’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. He was probably trying to decipher the meaning of ‘boy his size’. I totally sympathized with him. Blue said outrageous things most of the time; I’d gotten used to it enough not notice it.

“A boy my size?” He asked.

“Yeah.” Blue said and brought a hand close to her waist indicating his height. “A short little boy. I’ve only ever been acquainted with taller ones.”

“But, but…mom says I’ll grow taller when I grow older.” Elliot insisted. “Maybe even taller than Hunter.”

You need to get in the line, kid.

Blue laughed her sweet laughter musical to my ears. “I hope I live on land long enough to see you all grown up and I—”

I placed my hand over Blue’s thigh and tapped it once lightly. She realized her mistake and stopped talking. Ryan looked at us from the corner of his eye from the barbeque station.

“I brought my UNO cards, Blue we should play later.”

“Elliot, honey, Blue is Hunter’s girlfriend. She’s not from your school nor is she of your age. Don’t harass her.” Aunt Paige said politely from the opposite side of the table.

Blue waved her hand. “It’s quite alright. I have never played these UNO cards; I’d love for Elliot to teach me this game.”

“Really?” Elliot’s huge brown eyes became even wider. “Awesome.”

He’d began sliding more towards Blue’s side. Elliot stuffed his mouth with a hamburger that looked bigger than his size. The mustard and ketchup had dripped over the boy’s t-shirt front and chin. “Can I ask you a riddle?”

“A riddle? Sure.” Blue said.

Hannah over there seemed to be at complete bliss to have our little cousin’s target shifted from her to Blue. Hannah wasn’t very good at kids, Blue seemed to be handling it too well.

“What did the doctor ask the banana?” Elliot asked with a mouthful of bread.

“Let me think…” Blue said. My mermaid was thinking hard, “The doctor asked if he could eat the banana?”

Elliot laughed. “No, dummy.”

Paige warned her

apologized. “Okay,

“Pass.” Blue said.

banana if he was peeling better.” Elliot said and laughed

she had tears in the corner of

from six to twelve. I

joined. “What did the ocean say

he wasn’t the type to give up.

just waved.” Blue

the two began

a third wheel. Blue could have easily forgotten about me. Elaine and Dad were looking at her with an

with her hands, barely having touched the fork or the spoon. Elliot was eating the same way, but no one paid attention to the kid of course. They were

picked up towel and swiped the corner of her lips that was

wanted to do right now.” I

gross I heard that.” That was

it over her lips, and looked at me, giving me a chance to do what I’d promised.

the towel again. I couldn’t help

“Okay.” She said.

doing distance education?”

without an education was looked down upon by my father, and I didn’t want to give him any reason to ask Blue something that could hurt her feelings. Blue didn’t need an education, as far as what I’d seen she could take a book into her hand and absorb all those words in. She could become a doctor, lawyer, heck even an astronaut or a

a waitress.” She said. I

something in common

taunt at

irony was I was seated exactly opposite my father and we hadn’t exchanged a word since I’d arrived at the table, and he was going to keep addressing me in third person. What did ones father expect to hear from his son that he’d thrown out of the house? Hey, Pops, how’s it going? I think

been telling us that you make delicious desserts. She says she loves

Blue never made

I guess I have a sweet tooth. I think I enjoy making cakes and pastries more than anything. You should come to our

politely. “I would love

funny how some children are complete copies of their parents. I love your blonde hair, it’s so shinny. You’re so beautiful.” Blue complimented with all

this to impress my parents or just to suck up to my step-mom, she was saying it with genuine honesty and I couldn’t have loved her more for

those compliments. “Why, thank you, darling. Everyone seems to

all your children are so nice.” Blue said. “Also, Mr. Brantley, I was so surprised to see that Hunter looks exactly like you. I

her, his expressions not giving

at me shyly. “I wonder if I had a son and if he would look like Hunter too, or a daughter

was just having a sip of my wine, I

Dad asked. “Are they alright

talked about her family, her expressions turned

it doesn’t matter what my father

the pizza handed back on the plate. I thought my ears were ringing. The wind had stopped blowing, birds stopped chirruping, babies stopped wailing, and my heart had probably stopped

she

saying that