This piece is part of a children’s book called Unfinished Bedtime Stories that puts you in the shoes of the protagonist. It sets up the world and the character, but lets your imagination do the rest. Read this before you go to sleep.
You are snorkeling with your mom in the crystal clear turquoise waters of a tropical island. She is a marine biologist and it is her job to protect the life in the oceans. Beneath you, red crabs scurry over the white sand of the sea floor, littered with beautiful sea shells of all shapes and sizes. You swim further and soon you are floating over a colorful coral reef brimming with life. Red, blue, yellow, orange, and purple fish dart through the water. A giant sea turtle drifts past and you're sure that he smiles at you.
With a flap of his fins the turtle sails off into the haze. As you watch him fade into the distance, another shape appears. The shape grows in size. It’s coming towards you. Then another shape appears. And another. It’s a school of dolphins! They rocket out of the depths and begin swimming in circles around you. You look at your mom, amazed. She smiles at you.
You suddenly realize that you've been holding your breath underwater for a very long time. You can't help it and you take a big breath of water. You immediately realize your mistake, but instead of swallowing water, it feels like you take in a breath of fresh air. You're breathing underwater. How is that possible?
Before you can think you feel something grab your arm. It's your mom. She motions for you to watch as she grabs onto a dolphin fin and the dolphin pulls her along. She is riding a dolphin! You do the same and soon you are both being pulled in circles. Then the dolphins break off and they dive deep into the blue water. You look at your mom, wondering if you should let go, but she hangs on and you do to. You dive deeper and deeper into the warm water.
You feel like a torpedo. The water grows deeper shades of blue and then the opposite happens, the darkness begins to grow lighter, but you are still heading deeper. What's going on?
Soon the water becomes clear again, like polished glass, and it feels as if you're flying through the air with a school of dolphins. Down below, you notice shapes forming on the seafloor -- whales, dolphins, fish of all shapes and sizes, crabs and lobsters, octopus and squid, and last but not least, mermaids, are all swimming among giant, magnificent sandcastles.
You look at your mom. She is stunned. Neither of you can believe what you’re seeing.
One of the mermaids flips her tail, hair flowing in the water behind her, and swims up to you. The dolphins stop swimming and you float there. It all feels very natural.
The mermaid extends her hand, “Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
You open your mouth, expecting bubbles, but by some miracle the words come out, “We can't talk underwater.” You clasp your hand over your mouth in surprise as you hear the words aloud. You hear laughing. It’s your mom. She’s giggling! How can you speak and hear underwater?
It doesn’t matter. It’s amazing! The mermaid smiles at both of you and says, “Follow me. The oceans are in trouble and we need your help.” And she leads you to a great gathering of sea creatures where your adventures have only just begun.
