The Ocean Between Us

Dear Abby’s kids,

I am the thing that always stays with you, no matter what. People come to me and say I act weird or I have a funny way of doing things. Well, they’re right. You see, I am a thing that will make you love me forever and ever. Anyway, my life’s purpose is to demolish the whole human race, but since I’m just a beginner, I was just told to clear out all of Oak Creek Middle School! I’m no Frankenstein, or Vampire, and definitely no Mummy, I am something way cooler. I am a Siren.

It was a windy, autumn day at Oak Creek. I was sitting in the back of Mr. Frank’s English class, bored to my fins. Well, Mr. Frank didn’t know I had fins and neither did the whole school. My ‘friend’ Abby, thought we were besties, but little did she know, she was going to be gone soon. Ever since I failed my duty last year of taking a friend and turning her inside out, I have been stuck in this prison job. This year, I’m going to prove all of them haters out there that I can do this better than any siren out there.

“Hey Sally, wasn’t Mr. Frank’s class great? He’s really getting out there and trying new things!” My poor excuse for a friend Abby exclaimed.

“Yeah, totally! He’ll probably even go to explore the sirens tomorrow!” I told her sarcastically, “face it, we got the worst English teacher in the history of the world.”

“Well, at least I have you,” Abby told me, almost hugging me.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m the best friend in the history of friends, I know. Well, I need to go to the… place where we eat to go get some water.” I felt like such an idiot. How did I not know what that was?

“You mean the cafeteria? You’ve needed an awful lot of water lately, this is your 5th time going today and it’s only noon!” Abby said.

“I know I know, it’s a… medical thing, the doctor says I get dehydrated really easily, I’ll meet you in a minute.” I yelled back to her. I looked down at my legs and started seeing a rough outline of scales. Oh no, it was starting. My shoes were getting tighter and it was getting harder and harder to take normal steps. I knew my fins were replacing my feet and my legs were slowly growing together, forming a tail. I raced down the hall, trying my best to cover my legs with my jacket until I got to the cafeteria. I took the nearest cup of water and gulped it down in one swift drink. I sighed and looked at my legs. The scales were fading away and my shoes weren’t as tight. I walked around a bit and noticed I could walk regularly. I looked around and saw all of the 6th grade looking up at me. Embarrassment rushed over me. Oh great. It’s actually possible to get embarrassed surrounded by younger kids than me, 6th graders? I ran out of the cafeteria when I thought of the most amazing idea. What if I just took some little booger’s water bottle? Then I wouldn’t have this problem very often! I ran back in to the nearest table and took a pink fluffy unicorn water bottle from a kid in pigtails. I dashed out of the cafeteria again and heard a distant whine from the girl I stole from.

Big whoop, I thought, she’s going to have way bigger problems soon when I demolish her and her little unicorn water bottle.

I went back to Mr. Frank’s class and saw all of the 7th graders there looking at me.

“Hello Miss Scopuli, please sit down.” Mr. Frank said in a bored old voice, “everyone is working on their mythical creatures reports. They’re due next Friday. Get to work.”

This should be a breeze. I’ll just write down my plan because I won’t have to turn it in. He will literally be dead!

I started writing my plan on a lined piece of paper I got:

1. Get in a school assembly.

2. Sneak on stage.

3. Sing my song.

4. Eat everyone.

5. Oak Creek= GONE!

The bell rang and everyone filed out. I shoved the paper in my bag and rushed out. Abby caught up to me and pulled out a flier from her backpack.

“Hey Sally! Did you hear about the talent show on Friday? We could sign up together!”

It all clicked. I could just do it all at the talent show! I would even be early to doing it! That would show all of them.

“Oh yeah! I’ll think about it. I’ve kind of been planning something on my own but maybe I can do something with you too!” I reassured her.

“Oh um, ok! Well, I have to go to science. See you later!” Abby called back to me. I pulled out my checklist and crossed off the first thing.

1. Get in a school assembly. Get in the talent show.

2. Sneak on stage.

3. Sing my song.

4. Eat everyone.

5. Oak Creek= GONE!

Every day until the special day, I went home and practiced on little guppies singing and eating them, when on Thursday at school, the worst thing possible happened. I was called to the King Triton of Oak Creek, the principal. I walked the walk of shame all through the hallway all the way to the principal. I sat down in that old rickety chair, thinking the worst thoughts possible. What if he saw my plan? What if I was missing too much class for water? Or worst of all, what if he found out somehow that I’m a siren?

The principal, Mr. Vance, walked in, his big boots clunking on the wooden floor. “Miss Scopuli, do you know why I brought you here today?”

“N-no s-sir,” I stammered.

“I think you have something of her’s,” Mr. Vance said, gestured toward the door. The little girl in pigtails who I took the pink fluffy unicorn water bottle from came in. She looked scared, like she had stole something from me. Her hands were up at her chest, her head was bowed, slightly peaking up.

“I think you have my water bottle,” she squeaked, “and I want it back.”

I handed her the bottle and started standing up.

“Sit Miss Scopuli. As a punishment for stealing, you shall not be participating in the talent show tomorrow.” The little girl smirked.

“WHAT?! I have to be in it!” I was enraged, “I HAVE to be in it! I am going to be guaranteed the best! You’re going to regret kicking me out because the rest of your acts are going to stink! Literally, one of the acts is him not wearing deodorant, brushing his teeth, and not taking a shower for a month.”

“That may be so, but you have done something wrong so we need to teach you, you may be dismissed,” Mr. Vance stood up and waved me off. As I stomped out of the office, I heard the little girl whisper under her breath, “you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.” I looked at her and growled. I mumbled, “shut up.”

Friday finally came and I was not prepared. What was I going to do? This is my one chance and I am not going to blow it! Wait! What if I just sneak backstage? Perfect! The talent show was literally starting in an hour so I had to go and start getting ready. I ran to the auditorium and saw the janitors vacuuming the carpets and and teachers setting the first act’s props. I snuck backstage where I saw all of the performers putting on makeup, costumes, and mini microphone ear plugs. I saw Mr. Frank holding a piece of paper which I knew as the order for the acts. All I needed to do was add my name somehow.

“Mr. Vance, will you please watch this? I need to go to the bathroom.” Mr. Frank said, setting down the paper.

“Sure, go fast, you’re on in 20,” Mr. Vance called to him. The principal turned around and I knew this was my chance. I quietly sprinted to the paper and right before the intermission, I added my name. “Sally Scopuli- singing mystery song.” That was it! Nothing could go wrong! 20 minutes had passed and Mr. Frank announced the first performance. It was about a half hour before the name before me was called. I was so excited I could hardly believe it! Something inside me started growing and I didn’t know what it was. It took me a minute but I realized that feeling was guilt. This so called ‘guilt’ was for Abby. I know she was annoying, clingy, unnecessarily happy, and overly enthusiastic, but she was also loyal, attentive, and she always knew what to say to make me feel happy. I would feel bad hypnotizing and eating her.

At last, Mr. Frank called my name, “Sally Scopuli, preforming a mystery song!”

I walked out and saw 100s of people watching me. I wanted to run, wanted to hide in my rock. What were they thinking? Was that obnoxious little girl spreading rumors about me? I started on a C, and by the time I was 4 measures in, everyone in the room was staring at me, confused yet addicted to me. It’s working! I’ll never be known as the outcast anymore! I kept singing louder and louder, and then I looked back. Abby was back there, her eyes spinning like a pinwheel. She goggled at my sight, like I was some hypnotist. I thought back to the beginning of the year, when Abby had let out a warm, welcoming hand when no one else did. I thought of the Christmas extravaganza and how we were the only two Christmas trees. It just wouldn’t be right, brainwashing her and all of her friends.

I was about to start on an A, when I thought about Abby, standing backstage, confused why I was up here, what I was doing to her. She was so innocent, I didn’t know what to do. Should I listen to my head and kill them all, that’s what the sirens would want, or listen to my heart, and spare them all for Abby? My mind was racing, then my mouth said something I didn’t expect.

“Abby Miller, would you please come out here?” Abby looked shocked. Everyone shook their heads awake. She slowly started walking out on the stage and stopped by me. “Abby here, is my best friend. When I started going here, everyone stared at me, all except Abby. She introduced herself the minute I walked in to class. Sure during the year she was annoying, clingy, unnecessarily happy, and overly enthusiastic, but she was also loyal, attentive, and she always knew what to say to make me feel happy. I want to tell you all a little secret. I am a siren.” There was a gasp, then the crowd broke out in laughter. “Whether you believe me or not, I was sent here to sing my sweet siren song and eat you all. Ever since I met Abby, I’ve changed my mind. Thank you Abby.” I turned to my friend and hugged her.

Someone in the audience yelled, “Are you going to keep singing or not?”

I whispered to Abby and yelled, “Hit it!” The intro to our favorite song, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift started. Once the chorus was playing, we were at the point where we were choreographing and all as we went.

We were out of tune, but we didn’t care. I had to go to the principal again, but I didn’t care. For once in my life, I felt like one of the humans. Once the school year was over, the sirens told me that I didn’t finish my task, but I did change them. Instead of taking sailors and luring them towards us to eat them, we lure them towards us so we can give them directions.

I’m now an adult siren and I work at a school where I teach beginner sirens how to lead sailors the right way. Me and Abby don’t see each other a lot but we do keep in touch as much as we can. I know that me and Abby were meant to be friends and that we always will be, even if I am a siren.

Your god aunt,

Sally