I have to get ready for the festivities that will occur later tonight, but I am tired so I decide to take a quick nap before doing so. My mom has to finish up the soup that we will bring.

My sister on the other hand has been exiled from the kitchen for the next few hours or so, so she decides to sleep too. I lay down on my bed and sleep quickly finds me... as well as the mysterious blue haired girl.

Today in my dream, I am swimming back and forth between the bottom of the sea and the surface. I am collecting shells and pearls. The purpose of the exercise is known only to the girl who floats nearby seeming to judge me as I swim.

I can see the judgement in your eyes I think to myself. Much to my surprise though, she talks back to me but it sounds strange.

"How do you know I'm judging you? I believe it would be better described as evaluating you."

Evaluating me for what? I think.

"You will learn soon what I mean. And by soon, I mean the next time we meet."

As I start to wake up, the dream fades, and I realize why her voice had sounded so strange. It was in my head which meant she was reading my mind.

The first thing I hear when I wake up, is the door closing. I know that it means that my dad is home. It also means that we will leave in less than half an hour. When I check the time, I see that I overslept by an hour.

I have to shower, get dressed, and comb my knotted hair which takes half an hour alone.

Unfortunately I don't have that time, so I just rinse off, put on my traditional dress-with secret shorts and tank underneath, and drag a comb through my hair seven times. When that does not work, I manage to braid my long hair into a somewhat presentable 'do and put my shoes on while running downstairs.

I get down just as everyone else is coming into the kitchen which is right by the door. Mom grabs the pot of crab soup from where it's sitting cooling slightly on the stove.

"Let us go," my dad says as the four of us file out the door to walk down to the beach. That is where everyone will meet and is where the potluck almost party will be held.
When everyone is here, we start the traditional song.

It is a long song, but I don't actually mind because it's beautiful. It tells the story of our island legend- the one about the mermaid and sailor. It tells of love and heartbreak and anger and a tragedy. Usually I am not one for all this sappy stuff, but as I said, it's beautiful. Plus it happens once every blue moon.

Literally. We hold these festivals every blue moon to please the mermaid in the legend. Who knows if it actually works though.

After that is done, we get to the part that is a favorite to many, the food.

Where I live, good food equals happy people. We eat a little of everything then are free to go "socialize" as the parents call it.

I spot my friend Kida and run over. She is with some of our other friends about to start a game of Chicken which Joyce and I join.

Chicken is like that game Truth or Dare, except without the truth. Basically, someone comes up with a dare for you to do. You have to do it unless you want to use a chicken, which is like a pass. You get two. If you use both, and don't want to do another dare, you're out. So whoever is in the longest wins.

It's a good way to pass the time. Also a good way to possibly get in trouble... We go around the circle once, and I dare the girl across from me to jump into the ocean right now because at this time of night the water's freezing.

Then, Kida is being dared to test the legend about the mermaid. I'm very surprised to hear her use a chicken because she usually is up for anything. The boy who dared her to do so, tells me to do it instead.

I accept because I don't believe the legend is true and I run to go grab a small rowboat from the stash by the shed. To test this, I have to go the place where the mermaid and the sailor used to meet. On this tiny island, there are a bunch of rocks at the edge. You have to go to the rocks, sit on the one closest to the water, and look over. Our legend says that you will see a face staring back at you... the mermaid. She will get you to come closer until you are close enough for her to reach out, grab you, and pull you in.

I am reminded of this happy story right as I push my little rowboat off the beach into the water.