Year after year, one by one, Momo watched her sisters come of age and rise to the surface of the sea. Year after year, one by one, she listened to their tales of the world above and beyond the sea. From her garden, she would often turn her eyes upward and gaze toward the surface, imagining what lay beyond the undulating waves of the sea.
She could see changes of light and shadow and know that it was due to movement of the sun. From time to time, she would see a dark shape moving across the surface of the water and could tell whether it was a whale or a passing ship. Whenever she recognized a shape as a passing ship, she thought of all the humans that must be on board, and she wondered where they were going and what they were thinking and feeling.
She could see changes of light and shadow and know that it was due to movement of the sun. From time to time, she would see a dark shape moving across the surface of the water and could tell whether it was a whale or a passing ship. Whenever she recognized a shape as a passing ship, she thought of all the humans that must be on board, and she wondered where they were going and what they were thinking and feeling.
Momo’s five sisters gradually lost interest in new discoveries about the world above. Eventually, they agreed that the world beneath the sea was far more interesting than the world of dry land.
From time to time, though, just before a storm, the five sisters rose to the surface, arm in arm. Sadly, Momo watched as they rose, impatient for the day that she could join them.
Once on the surface, they sang to seamen who were struggling to keep their ships from sinking in the storm.
They sang about the joys of the world beneath the sea, and they sang that the seamen should not be afraid of joining them down there.
Since they were singing in the melodious language of mermaids, the seamen didn’t understand. They thought that the sound they heard was the sound of the wind in the storm.
At long last, Momo’s grandmother told her that she was old enough to go to the surface and see what it was like. Since Momo was the last of the mermaid sisters, this would be a special occasion.
Once on the surface, they sang to seamen who were struggling to keep their ships from sinking in the storm.
They sang about the joys of the world beneath the sea, and they sang that the seamen should not be afraid of joining them down there.
Since they were singing in the melodious language of mermaids, the seamen didn’t understand. They thought that the sound they heard was the sound of the wind in the storm.
At long last, Momo’s grandmother told her that she was old enough to go to the surface and see what it was like. Since Momo was the last of the mermaid sisters, this would be a special occasion.
Momo’s grandmother ordered twelve oysters to fasten themselves to Momo’s tail. She formed a necklace of sea grasses and placed it on Momo. A lettered cone hung from it as a pendant, and dozens of colorful nerites took their places on the necklace. A pair of fox miters fastened themselves to her earlobes to serve as ear bobs.
Momo would have wanted to travel with far less weight. Her grandmother, however, insisted that she “look her best,” whatever that was supposed to mean. Grandmother had her way, and Momo endured it. Finally, she bade her family farewell and rose to the surface of the sea.
Momo would have wanted to travel with far less weight. Her grandmother, however, insisted that she “look her best,” whatever that was supposed to mean. Grandmother had her way, and Momo endured it. Finally, she bade her family farewell and rose to the surface of the sea.
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