CHAPTER 2: Strange

The next day found Teresa busily working at her make-shift home. The tank would provide an excellent shelter. She buried the edges leaving only a medium sized hole for the entrance. Then, she swam a ways back to examine her handy work. At that exact moment, Nemo happened to pass by.

"Hey you're that fish Dory, my dad, and I saved," he announced politely. "How're you today? Feeling alright?"

"I'm just fine, and aren't you the sweetest thing for asking?" Teresa smiled and gently patted him on the head.

Nemo giggled.

"Who are you?" He asked courteously.

"Well, I'm the famous Teresa. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

He shook his head.

"No!" Teresa was shocked, "What do they teach you kids down here? If you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"I'm Nemo, and I don't mind. Where are you from?"

"North America. The U.S.A. to be exact."

"U-S-A? Usa! That boat! You're from that huge boat!"

"My ship! You've seen it? Where!"

"Yesterday, it passed right over us and hit a giant reef"

"I know that much. That's how I got here in the first place. Oh, and I didn't live on that ship, it's from the U.S.A., like me."

"Oh. Where is the U.S.A.?"

"Probably hundreds of miles from here," Teresa sighed.

Nemo studied her peculiar body. She had a clownfish shape, but everything else was just……different.

He finally worked up the courage to ask her, "Are you a clownfish? Like me and my dad?"

"Yes," Teresa grinned, revealing two sharp incisors on the sides of her mouth. "I'm a clownfish. And no, not like you and your dad. I'm a rare and endangered Pina Colada clownfish."

"Sweet! My dad thinks you're strange. I think you're pretty."

Teresa gave him another warm smile before starting to work on her home again.

"What're you doing?" Nemo asked her as graciously as he could.

"I'm building myself a home. How does it look?" She requested his opinion.

"It looks great! Nice and safe," he replied.

"Thanks, but I think it could use some more stuff. It's too transparent. I do need privacy ya know. What can I cover it with?"

"How about that mud and algae?"

Nemo pointed to a puddle of mud and a rock covered in algae.

"That's disgusting!" Teresa thought to herself. "Does he really expect me to touch that? Oh well."

She made a funny face as she took a finful of mud and algae and began to coat the tank in it. Nemo laughed loudly at the faces she made, so she continued to make more. Teresa had never spent much time around children, and his laughter brought a smile to her face and made her heart melt. She delighted in the fact that he was helping her to build a new home, but even more so in his company. They had just finished covering the tank, when Marlin and Dory swam up.

"Nemo, there you are. We've been looking all over for you. What are you doing out here all alone?" Marlin inquired.

"I'm not alone. I'm helping my new friend build her home," Nemo answered.

"New………friend?" Marlin asked his son.

Just then Teresa swam out from behind the tank where she'd been covering the last corner.

"Alright Nemo, we're done with the mud, thank goodness, and now we can add—" She stopped short at the presence of Nemo's dad and friend. "Ummm, hiya."

An uncomfortable silence followed.

"Dad, Dory…," Nemo said attempting to break the stillness. "This is Teresa……my friend."

"Hi, I'm Dory," Dory said bolting up to be the first to meet Teresa.

"Pleased to meet you," Teresa exclaimed sporting a charmingly shy smile.

"Uh, Nemo, Dory, we have to go," Marlin nervously directed.

"Where are we going?" Nemo asked a bit confused.

"I'll tell you when we get there," Marlin replied as he grabbed his son's fin and dragged him along.

"Bye," Nemo waved at Teresa. "See ya later!"

"Bye," She smiled back at him.

Once Marlin felt they were far enough away, he turned to Nemo and said, " Nemo, what did I tell you about talking to strangers?"

"She's not strange dad. She's nice," He responded. "And pretty. Don't you think?"

"She's very pretty son, but she looks like she could be dangerous. The bright warning colors and the sharp teeth don't scare you?" Marlin asked.

"No, she's just different, and different is cool."

"Maybe so, but you are to stay away from her till I say otherwise, understand?"

Nemo sighed, " Yes dad."

"Good. Now go play, and be safe."

Nemo swam away sulking. He hadn't even know his new friend 24 hours, and now he was never to see her again.

"You should've let him play with Brandy," Dory said.

"Teresa," Marlin corrected.

"That's what I said. Anyway, she seems nice."

"It's a front."

Meanwhile, Teresa was almost done with her home. She placed a few rocks around the entrance to conceal it.

"There, done!" She said as she moved the last rock into place. "Now I need someone to critique it."

Just then Nemo swam overhead.

"Excellent timing!" Teresa called out to him.

He gave her a big "I'm sorry" frown, and swam on.

"What's wrong with him?" She thought.

She picked up some mud and made a disgusted face. Nemo tried not to laugh, and continued to swim away. Teresa could tell he wanted to play with her. Maybe she just needed to extend the invitation a bit.

"Not going to speak, eh?" Teresa questioned.

She threw the mud at him and it smacked him right in the face.

"Blech! Hey!" Nemo sputtered swimming down to her. "Cut it out, you going to get me in trouble."

"Not allowed to get dirty?" She asked.

"No, my dad doesn't want me to talk to you. He says you're strange. And he thinks you're dangerous."

"Wow, you guys don't hesitate with the insults around here, do ya?"

"I don't think that! Not at all!"

"Well, you'd better go. I don't want you to get in trouble. I'll see ya around……I guess."

"Bye."