Chapter 4
On a small rock in the bay, a young merman named Antonio was examining a telescope.
"Amazing what these humans come up with." He said as he was fiddling around with the telescope, holding it the wrong way, when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Toni!" Alice called out. Antonio quickly put the telescope to his eye, and saw the small dot that the telescope made Alice appear as.
"WHOA!" Antonio exclaimed in surprise. "MERMAID OFF THE PORT BOW! ALICIA, HOW YOU DOING CHICA?!" He lowered the telescope and saw Alice sitting right in front of him. "Wow, you're fast." Alice laughed as Amelia and Toris shook their heads. "So what brings you tres here?"
"I've found something really cool!" Alice said excitedly. "Take a look at it!"
"Ooh!" Antonio exclaimed. "Human stuff. Well, you're in luck. This little puppy is something I've been studying since I was a little kid!"
"Really?" Alice asked excitedly. "What is it?"
"It's a dingle hopper!" Antonio said triumphantly.
"Ooh!" Alice said in excitement.
"Um...What's a dingle hopper?" Amelia asked.
"Oh, easy!" Antonio said grinning. "Humans use it to comb their hair." Antonio used it for a few seconds to demonstrate.
"Couldn't they just use a comb?" Toris asked sceptically.
"Humans are weird. Oh! I've got something I think you'll like!" Antonio fumbled with a bag he kept his human stuff in. "Here it is! A snarf black!" Antonio brought out a dark brown wooden pipe.
"Wow." Alice exclaimed. "What does is do?"
"It makes music! Listen." He blew on the snarf black, but all that came out was a bunch of black gunk, and Antonio lost his breath too.
"Music?!" Alice exclaimed. She had completely forgotten about the concert.
"Oh, man!" Antonio continued coughing slightly. "I forgot to clean it out!"
"Oh, no, the concert!" Alice continued. "I must have missed it by now. Father's gonna kill me!"
"Maybe we can make it back home if we hurry." Amelia said. Alice was amazed at how calm she could be.
"Yeah," Antonio commented. "Go on. Maybe next time you come, I can figure out how to work this thing. Catch you guys later!"
The three young mermaids dived down towards the palace. Although Alice was still sweating badly about getting home.
Oh so NOW, she remembers! Please don't miss chapter 5.
