Mermaids on Earth

Old Post Alert : I wrote this when I was in school. I was taking some classes for kids in my apartment and had to tell stories. This particular story influenced me greatly. I had no idea, why I pulled it off this blog. Reposting it again, just for records.

Have you seen a mermaid, walk across and stand up with a smile?

This short story is inspired from Chicken Soup For the Women's Soul. I read the story about a week back, along with 25 other stories. After about 7 days which included 3 days of hectic travel - this is the only story that makes its rounds over and over again. I thought of it almost every night before I went to sleep. I have not read the story later on. So what follows, is a recollection of memory, and it certinaly would not be verbatim.The story goes like this. A group of children were playing in a church. The teacher, exhausted and tired wanted a simple game for the kids - Simple enough to be played without much instructions but enjoyable enough to keep kids occupied. She announced the group to stand in two lines - one line for angels and another for elves. The group was then asked to run around in circles, along with their line members. And the game went on. The teacher satisfied with her idea, sat back to relax and watch the kids play when one young girl tugged to her gown. She asked - "Where should the mermaids stand?". That question made all the difference.

In life, when we really have to do something different and come out of the ordinary - we all have to become a mermaid. It is everyone to be a angel or a elf, but only few who get to be a mermaid. It takes a lot to stand up, and say "I am a mermaid and I dare to be different"

There have been innumerable instances in my life, when I have done that. Sometimes, people find me crazy or weird. Other times, they find me pompous or secretive. There have been times when I have simply refused to go with the crowd and followed my inner call, or times when I have vehemently opposed the ways of angels and elves.

Lets go ahead and stand to be different. It is time we took the road less travelled - and became mermaids!