Read Online Between Land and Sea by Joanne Guidoccio - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joanne Guidoccio
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shiny button that appeared on her tablet then peeled off the coating, applied it to her left temple, and waited for the unsettling sensation. She sat down and rubbed both of her temples for a few minutes.
Lisa738 waited until Barbara regained her composure. “Will there be anything else?”
Barbara decided to engage the Numbers mermaid in a conversation. It was still early in the evening, and she wanted to postpone calling Graham. “I’ve been meaning to ask you a few questions. I know you’re busy.”
“It’s been a very slow day here. We can talk for a while. What do you want to know?”
“I’ve been wondering about those Specialist Skills buttons. I’ve already used up two of them, and I want to make sure that I choose wisely in the future. What other skills could I obtain with that button?”
“That really depends on what you want to do with your life.”
“Can you give me a few examples of what other mermaids have asked for?”
“Almost all of them asked for cooking skills. Fashion sense and decorating skills are two other favorites.”
“Why would anyone ask for fashion sense? All they need to do is pick up a few magazines and study what the celebrities are wearing. Or they could ask the salesperson at a high-end store for advice.”
“Fashion sense is obviously not a priority for you. At least not yet.”
Barbara looked down at her comfortable jeans and sweatshirt. Everything was hanging loose, but she was determined not to buy anything until she reached her goal weight. “I can’t see myself becoming a clothes horse. Give me more examples.”
Lisa738 thought for a while. “A few asked for athletic ability in such sports as golf or tennis.”
“Would I be able to get athletic ability in all sports?”
“You already have that with the basic buttons,” Lisa738 said. “The Specialist Skills buttons give you exceptional ability in a particular area. They put you on an even plane with high achievers like Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, and Celine Dion. Most humans achieve that level only with innate talent and after years and years of practice.”
Barbara decided to wait before making any more decisions about her remaining Specialist Skills button. She smiled at Lisa738. “Thanks for all your help. You have been very patient with me.”
“I enjoy helping you, Barbara. I want to see you do well in the human world. We all do.” Lisa738 faded into the screen.
Barbara got out her manuscript. She could spend the rest of the evening making corrections, but she knew that she couldn’t put Graham off any longer. These human connections were becoming more and more complicated. She couldn’t just compartmentalize, like she had done so often in the mermaid kingdom.
Her eyes became misty as she recalled the long evenings of storytelling. She would spend all day creating and rehearsing, and then deliver a spectacular performance in the evening. Afterward she would rest and re-energize. If she chose to spend a few days cavorting with the other mermaids in her set, she could easily do so. No one had expected her to work or get overly involved in any of the sticky situations. And there must have been many of those. Annabella was constantly meeting with different groups of mermaids and mermen throughout the kingdom. There was a lot of squabbling, especially near the island of Crete. If Barbara had stayed, she would have eventually assumed Annabella’s leadership role.
“I wouldn’t have liked it.” Barbara was startled by her own voice. Her mermaid life had been idyllic, but it would not have lasted forever. Gillian was right. Annabella had sheltered her for too long. She glanced about the apartment. It was home. But like everything else, it would not last. In ten months time, she would have to leave and start over somewhere else.
Barbara forced herself to focus on the present moment. She picked up the phone and dialed Graham’s number.
“Hello, Bella.”
Barbara’s hands shook.
“I can hear
Lisa738 waited until Barbara regained her composure. “Will there be anything else?”
Barbara decided to engage the Numbers mermaid in a conversation. It was still early in the evening, and she wanted to postpone calling Graham. “I’ve been meaning to ask you a few questions. I know you’re busy.”
“It’s been a very slow day here. We can talk for a while. What do you want to know?”
“I’ve been wondering about those Specialist Skills buttons. I’ve already used up two of them, and I want to make sure that I choose wisely in the future. What other skills could I obtain with that button?”
“That really depends on what you want to do with your life.”
“Can you give me a few examples of what other mermaids have asked for?”
“Almost all of them asked for cooking skills. Fashion sense and decorating skills are two other favorites.”
“Why would anyone ask for fashion sense? All they need to do is pick up a few magazines and study what the celebrities are wearing. Or they could ask the salesperson at a high-end store for advice.”
“Fashion sense is obviously not a priority for you. At least not yet.”
Barbara looked down at her comfortable jeans and sweatshirt. Everything was hanging loose, but she was determined not to buy anything until she reached her goal weight. “I can’t see myself becoming a clothes horse. Give me more examples.”
Lisa738 thought for a while. “A few asked for athletic ability in such sports as golf or tennis.”
“Would I be able to get athletic ability in all sports?”
“You already have that with the basic buttons,” Lisa738 said. “The Specialist Skills buttons give you exceptional ability in a particular area. They put you on an even plane with high achievers like Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, and Celine Dion. Most humans achieve that level only with innate talent and after years and years of practice.”
Barbara decided to wait before making any more decisions about her remaining Specialist Skills button. She smiled at Lisa738. “Thanks for all your help. You have been very patient with me.”
“I enjoy helping you, Barbara. I want to see you do well in the human world. We all do.” Lisa738 faded into the screen.
Barbara got out her manuscript. She could spend the rest of the evening making corrections, but she knew that she couldn’t put Graham off any longer. These human connections were becoming more and more complicated. She couldn’t just compartmentalize, like she had done so often in the mermaid kingdom.
Her eyes became misty as she recalled the long evenings of storytelling. She would spend all day creating and rehearsing, and then deliver a spectacular performance in the evening. Afterward she would rest and re-energize. If she chose to spend a few days cavorting with the other mermaids in her set, she could easily do so. No one had expected her to work or get overly involved in any of the sticky situations. And there must have been many of those. Annabella was constantly meeting with different groups of mermaids and mermen throughout the kingdom. There was a lot of squabbling, especially near the island of Crete. If Barbara had stayed, she would have eventually assumed Annabella’s leadership role.
“I wouldn’t have liked it.” Barbara was startled by her own voice. Her mermaid life had been idyllic, but it would not have lasted forever. Gillian was right. Annabella had sheltered her for too long. She glanced about the apartment. It was home. But like everything else, it would not last. In ten months time, she would have to leave and start over somewhere else.
Barbara forced herself to focus on the present moment. She picked up the phone and dialed Graham’s number.
“Hello, Bella.”
Barbara’s hands shook.
“I can hear
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