#ms. baker

“Alright everyone, stay close to your chaperons! Now, does everyone have a buddy!” A woman with medium-length dirty blonde hair, sun kissed skin, red lips and bright green eyes spoke to the group in front of her. She was dressed in a light khaki jacket with a white blouse, black slacks paired with black flats, and wore light brown rounded frame glasses.

“Yes Ms. Baker!” A group of fourth graders responded.

Ms. Baker nodded approvingly at her students, she looked over to one of her students who was in front of the group.

“Darcy, you must be so excited to be here. Maybe we’ll even see your dad and he will give us a tour!” The woman smiled.

A nine year old girl with long smooth brown hair, sea blue eyes, pale skin, rosy cheeks, and soft pink lips simply nodded at her teacher. She was wearing her school’s uniform, a light grey jumper dress with a long sleeve button up blouse underneath, a matching light grey blazer with deep blue accents along the collar, and her school’s name emblem of a horse with a fishtail over the left pocket in the same shade of blue, white stockings, black converse, and a simple deep blue bow on the side of her head.

Ms. Baker was undeterred by her student’s subdued response, turning her attention back to the rest of the class she smiled wider. “Let’s go!”

The fourth grade teacher walked straight ahead to the Northern Pacific exhibit. Darcy followed along silently, her buddy, a boy called Henry with short strawberry blonde hair and green eyes with freckles and blue rimmed glasses gently pulls her along with the class.

The children stare in awe and whisper among themselves as they go from exhibit to exhibit. Other students from different schools all played with the sea lions, and waddled like the penguins, and cooed at the otters. Darcy's father hadn’t made an appearance.

Next, they entered the underwater tunnel. The children gasped at the sight of the sharks, manta rays, and vibrant colors of the fish. One little boy gasped then pointed near the top of the huge tank.

“Look! A Mermaid!” He exclaimed.

“Where?!”

All the children rushed to where the mermaid dived down to them, she had black hair, and her tail was a shimmering yellow. When she finally reached the children’s eye level, she smiled and waved. Henry watched in wonder, his jaw agape. Darcy simply stared. She did not smile, she did not gasp in excitement.

“Is that a real mermaid?!” One little girl asked. Darcy looked at the girl who had asked Ms. Baker. The fourth grade teacher smiled as she shook her head.

“No Alisa, mermaids are not real, but she’s the closest thing to a real mermaid.”

The child, Alisa, pouted at the teacher, “Well I believe mermaids are real!”

Ms. Baker simply chuckled, and the children returned to watching the show. Darcy silently watched. The mermaid blew bubbles kisses to the children, doing a few tricks and swirls. They watched for a while before Ms. Baker spoke.

“Alright class, let’s move on, we have many other places to see!” She smiled as she urged the groaning and pouting children on. Henry followed until he noticed his shoelaces were untied. Quickly he bent down and tied his shoes. Looking back up, he noticed his class was already far ahead.

“Hey wait up!” He called after them, running to catch up. Unknowingly leaving behind his buddy, Darcy.

The nine year old girl continued to watch the mermaid, and when the mermaid left once everyone else had gone, and still, Darcy remained motionless.

“Do you believe?”

Darcy startled, breaking her reverie. Darcy turned to look at who spoke to her. It was an Asian woman. A very beautiful woman. Dressed in a long traditional pink dress with a darker shade of pink that looked like jellyfish, a dark indigo outer robe, and dark indigo flats. Darcy’s head tilted as she took in the woman’s clothes. She had pale skin, long ink blue hair that looked so soft to touch, bright indigo eyes. Darcy continued to stare at the strange woman.

“Is this not the right tongue?” The woman frowned gently as she looked over the small child.

Darcy shakes her head. She must have been quiet for a long time if the woman thought Darcy didn’t understand her. “Sorry, do I believe in what?

“Do you believe in maidens of the sea?” The woman in strange clothes elaborated. Giving Darcy a gentle smile.

“Do you mean mermaids?”

The woman silently repeated the word, mouthing out mermaid slowly before a nod to Darcy. Darcy looked down to her feet before turning to look back at the swimming fish.

“I used to. But they’re not real.”

“Well, not this one.” The woman looked at the swimming fish. Who seemed rather keen to stay a safe distance away. “And who says mermaids are not real?” She huffs.

Darcy frowns at the woman. “My teacher says they're not real.”

The woman scoffed. “What does she know about mermaids, she didn’t notice one of her disciples is missing”

Darcy blinks curiously at the woman’s words. Although she did have a point, Darcy wasn’t convinced. “My daddy says mermaids aren’t real.”

“Well, he’s wrong because mermaids are real.” The woman smirked at the little girl.

Darcy frowned. “My daddy is a scientist, he studies the ocean. Believe me, he’s looked.”

“Not hard enough, they are elusive creatures.” The woman shrugs her shoulders as she gives Darcy a smile. “And even the most enlightened scholars can be wrong.”

Darcy stared at the woman in bewilderment. There is no such thing as mermaids, everyone knows that. Did this adult really believe in mermaids?

“Are you teasing me?” Darcy asked the woman dubiously.

“No, I am being sincere, I promise.” The woman chuckled.

There was nothing Darcy could do if this woman was adamant about mermaids being real. This wouldn’t be the first time Darcy knew someone who truly believed mermaids existed. Darcy sighed, looking back to the exhibit.

“So if you do not believe in mermaids, which one is your favorite?” The woman leaned forward a bit, tilting her head as she looked at Darcy.

Darcy was silent for a long time, but the woman never urged her for an answer. At long last, Darcy spoke.

“Sea horses.”

The woman smiled, Darcy couldn’t help but smile back.

“Show me.”

And so she did. Taking the woman’s hand, Darcy led her to her favorite place in the entire aquarium. Taking her back near the entrance, passing the main Tropical Reef exhibit, and into a hidden darkened room. All the other visitors had already moved on and the room was near silent. It was how Darcy preferred it.

Still holding the woman’s hand, they wordlessly walked right up to a small exhibit. There, in the blue water, were the golden sea horses that Darcy loved. Softly floating from one rock to the next.

The woman ran her fingertips over the plaque, mouthing out the words. “Leafy Sea Dragons?” The woman looked to Darcy.

“They were my mom’s favorite,” Darcy whispered, her gaze never leaving the sea horses.

The woman said nothing as she gazed gently at Darcy. The little girl’s longing gaze yet gentle smile was enough for the woman to understand. Silently, she returned to look back at them as well, leaving Darcy in peace to reminisce. And there they stayed in silence, simply basking in the beautiful creature’s presence.

With a deep breath, Darcy took the woman’s hand and led them to the cafeteria, where Darcy learned that the woman didn’t have money, nor did she seem to know what money even was. Darcy paid for both of their meals.

“What’s your name?” Darcy asked as she swallowed her ham and cheese sandwich.

“My my, we just met and you’re already asking me such forward questions.” The woman smirked, her eyes seemed to sparkle in mischief. “You don’t even introduce yourself and yet you wish to know my name?”

Darcy couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m Darcy.”

“Darcy,” The woman repeated the name carefully, “It suits you well.”

“Thanks, my mom picked it. My dad wanted to name me Sarah.” Darcy finished as she took another bite of her sandwich.

“Well Darcy, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Mingzhu.”

“Mingzhu? Is that your real name or your cosplay?”

The woman frowned. “Cos-play? What is cosplay?”

Darcy shrugged, “I don’t really know, but my cousin does it sometimes. He dresses up as characters and pretends to be them.”

“Ah, no. No, it is my real name. I do not… Cosplay. I really look like this.” Mingzhu said, “Well when I am in this form anyway.”

Darcy shook her head with a smile. “Are you from Japan? My cousin wants to go to Japan.”

“I’m not surprised, Japan is beautiful. Especially in the spring.” Mingzhu commented. “But no, I am not from Japan.”

“Have you been to Japan?” Darcy stared curiously at her.

“I have. Although I am sure many things have changed by now, it’s been years since I’ve traveled there.”

Darcy pondered on that for a while, “What made you want to come here then?”

“I was drawn here by the water and food, I came here last night actually.” She answered simply.

“No, I mean, why did you come to California?” Darcy clarified.

At that, a smirk crossed Mingzhu’s lips. “Curious little thing aren’t you? Very well, I will tell you if you tell me why you wandered off from your pod.”

“My pod? Oh you mean my class.” Darcy thought it over before she nodded. “Okay. I didn’t mean to, sometimes it just happens.”

“What happens?” Mingzhu pressed.

Darcy shrugged as she looked at her hands. “Sometimes things just make me feel… lost? I don’t know.” Darcy admitted.

Mingzhu hummed thoughtfully, “I understand. I feel that way too sometimes.”

Darcy looked back to the woman, “So… why are you here?”

Mingzhu’s smirk returned, she leaned forward. “I am here to repay a kind act a man showed onto me three years ago.”

“Why did you wait three years?” Darcy asked.

“I was wounded, I had to heal, and then I had to learn where exactly California was.” Mingzhu huffed as she leaned back in her chair, a pout on her lips as she huffed.

“So where are you from?” The little girl asked as she sipped her milk carton.

“From far away.” The woman stabbed her fork into her salad. Darcy mused that she wasn’t used to eating without chopsticks.

“But where?” Darcy pressed.

“A cave.” Mingzhu finally managed to get the food onto the fork.

“A cave?” Darcy asked skeptically.

“A very nice cave. Full of sea glass, pearls, and jewels.”

Darcy shook her head, her shoulders shaking as she laughed. “That sounds like a dragon.”

Mingzhu tilted her head, “Really. How so?”

Darcy shrugged her shoulders, “My cousin plays stuff about dragons, fairies, and stuff with his friends. Dragons are bad, mean, and greedy. They keep treasure in caves.”

Mingzhu grew more horrified the longer she heard Darcy speak of dragons.

“ I saw a movie where a boy found a dragon and they were best friends,” Darcy commented. “That dragon couldn’t talk though.”

Mingzhu shook her head gently as she chuckled. “Well, where I come from. Dragons are benevolent creatures, not evil. Well, most are not.”

“What’s ben-voilent?”

“Ben-eh-voh-lent. It means kind and good. They could fly, and talk to creatures.”

Darcy made an ‘oh’ shape with her lips before looking down to the remainder of her sandwich. “I wish I had a best friend. Maybe then, I wouldn’t feel so lonely.”

Mingzhu’s heart clenched. How could a child already have such a grave look in her eyes? As if the reality of the world was snuffing out the last fragments of magic and wonder in her.

“Darcy, I-”

“DARCY!” Yelled the voice of Ms. Baker who stood at the entrance of the cafeteria. Turning the heads of many visitors who stopped to stare.

Darcy gasped, she quickly gathered her things, speaking hurriedly. “I gotta go, I forgot I had to go back to school,” she grabbed her sandwich, looking to Mingzhu. “It was nice meeting you Mingzhu! I had a good time. I hope to see you soon!” Darcy called out as she ran to rejoin her class, waving goodbye.

Mingzhu smiled softly as she waved goodbye to the child. Her tender gaze never left Darcy until she was gone from her sight.

Ms. Baker was not pleased that Darcy had strayed away from the group. Darcy pleaded with Ms. Baker not to tell her dad, and Ms. Baker only relented since Darcy knew the aquarium. On the way back to Sea Colt Academy, Darcy looked out of the school bus window, thinking about the stranger woman she had met and their conversation.

As she watched the ocean from her window, she saw something large swimming in the water. It sparkled against the blue water and under the sunlight, and when it dived down, a large pink frilly tail splashed against the water, but in a blink of an eye, it was gone. Darcy deemed that she was simply imagining it. She would probably never see it again. Just like she would probably never see Mingzhu again.

Until the very next day, when Darcy looked out of the classroom’s window, there Mingzhu was. Laying on a tree branch, in the same strange clothes, with the same dazzling smile, and giving Darcy a wave hello.

Darcy dropped her pencil.

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