"The Storm"

"Do you have any Aces?"  Five year-old Melody Coralson asked her mother.
"Nope,"  Ariel replied with a smile.  "Go fish."
Melody fished in the pile and picked out a card.
"All right, your turn, Sebastian,"  Ariel replied to the tiny red crab, who
was sitting beside her.  "You can either ask Melody or I."
"All right, mum.  Give me a second to get my cards togeder."
Melody giggled slightly at the sight of Sebastian trying to straighten cards
out that were bigger than he was.
"Here,"  Ariel replied with a small giggle.  "Let me help you."
After Ariel helped Sebastian get his cards situated, they continued the
game.
"Melody,"  Sebastian said, sorting through his cards once more.  "Do you
have any nines?"
Melody nodded.  "Yup, here ya go."
"All right, sweetheart,"  Ariel said turning to Melody,  "it's your turn."
"All right,"  Melody replied, taking a look around to see who she was going
to pick next.  "Mommy, do you have any twos?"
Ariel searched through the cards and shook her head.
"Nope, sorry, sweetie.  Go fish!"
Melody fished in the deck once again and came up with a card.  She smiled as
she put it down.
"I fished my wish!"  She said happily.  "I fished my wish!"

"Good job!"  Ariel cheered as she shared in her daughter's triumph.  "Now,
let's see if I'm that lucky."  Ariel replied as she picked who she was going
to ask.
A few minutes later, she finally decided.
"Sebastian, do you have any sixes?"
Sebastian dug into the card pile he had and pulled out one card.  He handed
it to the girl and waited for her to put it down.
"Thank you,"  Ariel replied.
"You're welcome.  Now, Ariel do you have any fours?"
Ariel searched through her pile of cards and handed one to Sebastian.
"Oh, Tank you, my dear."
"Uh-huh,"  Ariel replied with a smile.  "No problem."
Just as Ariel turned to Melody to ask her if she had any eights, the
doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!"  Melody said as she jumped up and headed for the door.
"Wait for us, sweetheart!"  Ariel called after her anxious young daughter.
"Okay,"  Melody replied and stopped where she was.
Ariel scooped up Sebastian and hurried to catch up with Melody.
"Who is it?"  Melody asked, before opening up the door.
"It's me, Daniel,"  the voice from the outside replied.
Melody opened the door and stepped back to let the young man in.
"And how are you doing today, Miss?"
"I'm fine."  Melody replied.
"And how about you, You're Grace?"  Daniel asked, turning to Ariel.
"Just fine.  And please, call me, Ariel."
"All right, as you wish."
"And you can call me, Melody!"  The young girl said with a smile.
"Very well, then.  Melody it is."
Melody giggled softly as she followed her mother and Daniel back into the
living room.
Daniel was a dear friend of the family, and yet he still insisted on calling
Ariel and Melody by the royal titles.
"Is Eric home?"  Daniel asked, looking around the room.
Ariel shook her head.  "He went to help some stranded people on the other
slide of the area.  But he should be back soon."
Daniel nodded.
"Mommy,"  Melody asked, looking up at her mother.  "Can Sebastian help me
with my reading lesson?"
"Sure!  That's if Sebastian wants to."
The tiny crab nodded.
"Why of course I'll help you with your reading lesson, my dear child.  I
helped your mother learn to read when she was four years-old."
"Which book should I pick?"  Melody asked.
"Why don't you get the one that we're reading together?"  Ariel suggested. 
"The one about the cats and dogs."
"Okay!"  Melody replied, as she ran out of the room to find it.
A few minutes later, her voice floated down the staircase.  "Mommy, I can't
find it!"
"Look in my room, sweetheart.  I think you left it in there last night."
"Okay!"  The young princess called back.  'Thanks!"
"You're welcome!"  Ariel called up to her.
A few minutes later, Melody returned, book in hand.
"I couldn't find it, but I got another one."
"All right, let's go over in de dining room so dat we don't disturb your
Mommy and Daniel."  Sebastian suggested.
Melody nodded and followed her friend into the other room.
After Melody and Sebastian began the reading lesson, Daniel turned to Ariel.
"Well, I am surprised at how big your daughter has gotten since the last
time I was here."
"Yeah,"  Ariel replied proudly.  "She's six years-old now."
"Wow!  She must keep you on your toes."
Ariel nodded, and giggled softly.  "Yup, but I enjoy it."
Daniel smiled toward Melody and then turned back to Ariel.
"I just came to see Eric, and to warn you about a severe thunder storm that
is heading toward us."
Overhearing what Daniel had just said, Melody let the book drop to the
floor, and ran back into the living room.  A fearful look crossed her face. 
She sat on the couch and leaned against her mother for safety.
"A thunder storm?"  She asked, her voice shaky and kind of tearful.
"Aw, Melody, it's okay, sweetheart.  You don't have to worry about the
thunder hurting you.  It can't.  And besides, I'm here.  I would never let
anything happen to you."
"Did he say, thunder storm?"  Sebastian asked, beginning to shiver a little
bit.
Ariel nodded.  "But don't worry.  I"ll take care of both of you.  And
besides, Eric should be home before it even strikes."
"So what?"  Sebastian said, ducking into the girl's long red hair.  "It's
going to strike anyway.  Dat's all dat matters."
"Oh, Sebastian,"  Ariel replied with a slight giggle.  "You will never
change will you?"
Sebastian shook his head.  "My opinion about thunder storms, or any kind of
storm for dat matter, is as firm as de shell dat my body is in."
Just then, rain started to pour from the sky at a fast speed.
"Do you mind if I stay here until it clears?"  Daniel asked.
"Of course not,"  Ariel replied with a warm smile.  "You know you're always
welcome here."
Just then, Melody started biting her lower lip and leaned closer to her
mother.
"It's okay, honey, it's okay,"  Ariel said gently.
Just as she said that, a bolt of lightning flashed across the courtyard,
followed by a loud clap of thunder.
At that point, Sebastian began to shiver and cling to a strand of Ariel's
hair, and Melody leapt into her mother's lap, and burst into tears.
"Shh,"  Ariel soothed, as she began to stroke Melody's jet black hair. 
"It's all right, Melody.  It's okay.  Shh.  Mommy's right here.  I'm not
gonna let anything happen to you.  Just remember something, sweetie, the
thunder can't hurt you.  And neither can the lightning if you're safe
indoors."
"But it's so loud!"  She whimpered as more tears came spilling out.
"I know it sounds scary, but trust me when I tell you sweetheart, it really
isn't."
Melody nodded, but her expression didn't change, nor did the tears subside.
"Can I get you something to drink?"  Ariel asked Daniel as she continued to
comfort Melody.
"No, I'm fine.  Thank you, anyway."
Ariel nodded and smiled at him warmly.
Just then, Eric walked through the door.  He smiled, when he saw Ariel
sitting on the couch.
"Hi, sweetheart,"  the Prince greeted his wife, coming over and giving her a
kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Darling!"  Ariel replied, returning the kiss.  "How was your day?"
"Long."  Eric replied as he settled down on the couch next to her.
A few minutes later, another crash of thunder boomed throughout the house. 
Melody let out a nervous whimper and buried her face in Ariel's shoulder.
"Hey, Pumpkin,"  Eric said, realizing that Melody was upset.  "It's okay. 
The storm can't hurt you.  I know it sounds really loud, but its just
noise."
"Uh, I already went down that road,"  Ariel replied with a smile.  "I didn't
get very far."
"I can see that,"  Eric replied, observing the way his daughter was clinging
onto her mother for dear life.
Just then, Carlotta came in from the kitchen carrying a tray full of ice tea
and juice.  She offered some to Eric.
"Thank you, Carlotta,"  Eric replied, taking the glass from the housekeeper.
"Would you like some, Dear?"  Carlotta asked Ariel.
The girl nodded and took a glass with one hand, while keeping the other
around Melody so that she wouldn't fall.
"Aw, what's wrong with the darling?"  Carlotta asked, as she noticed the way
Melody was clinging to Ariel.  "Is the storm scaring her?"
Ariel and Eric both nodded.
"Oh, Eric!  You're back!"  Daniel said happily, coming in from the parlour. 
"It's good to see you again!"
"It's good to see you again, too."  Eric replied with happiness as the two
friends hugged.  "When did you get here?"
"Oh, about an hour ago.  Your wife has been the perfect hostess."
Eric smiled and patted Ariel on the arm lovingly.
"I'm not surprised at that."  He said.  "My wife is a special person."
"I absolutely agree with you on that one,"  Daniel replied as he took a seat
across from the couple.  "Is anyone up for a game of Chess?"  Daniel asked.
"I'll play a game with you,"  Eric replied, getting up to get the game out.
"How about you, Ariel?  Care for a rousing game of Chess?"
"I don't think so,"  Ariel replied.
"Why not?"  Daniel asked with a frown.  "If you don't know how to play, I
would be more than happy to teach you.  I'm sure Eric would as well."
Eric nodded as he took the game down from the closet.
Ariel smiled politely at Daniel.
"I would, but I think Melody needs me right now.  I'll have to pass this
time.  I'd be happy to watch though."
"All right, you win,"  Daniel said with a smile.  "But you have to promise
to play the next time I come.  Promise?"
Ariel smiled warmly at her friend.  'I promise."
"Mommy,"  Melody said, her voice a little shaky.  "Will you sing to me?"
Ariel nodded.  "Sure, sweetheart.  What do you want to hear?"
Melody thought for a moment.
"How about, 'Daring to Dance'?"
Sebastian, who had been quiet for quite sometime now, finally spoke up.
"Dat one is one of my favourites too, child.  It sounds like we have the same
taste in music."
Melody giggled slightly at the thought of that.
"All right,"  Ariel replied.  "Daring to Dance it is."
As Ariel started to sing, Eric and Daniel stopped setting up the game.  They
turned around and became engaged in the girl's beautiful voice.
After Ariel was done, she discovered that Melody was almost asleep.
"That was beautiful, my Dear.  Simply beautiful."  Daniel said with
sincerity.
"I think so too,"  Eric replied.  "Then again, Ariel's always had a
beautiful singing voice.  That's how I fell in love with her."
Ariel smiled, and blushed as Eric came over and gave her a kiss on the
cheek.  As Ariel leaned inward to return to kiss, she heard a tiny yelp.
"Ow!  Mommy, you're squishing me!  Ouch!"
Ariel giggled softly as she realized what she had done.
"Sorry, sweetheart.  Come on, let's get you up to bed."
"Okay,"  Melody replied surrenderingly.  "But what if there's more thunder?"
"Tell ya what?  Why don't I stay with you until you fall asleep.  How's that
sound?"
Melody smiled for the first time since the thunder storm hit and hugged her
mother.
"That sounds good to me!"
"Okay, then.  Let's go.  Say good-night to Daddy, and then we'll head up."
Melody nodded as she got off the couch and ran over to give her father a
kiss and hug good-night.
"Good-night, sweetheart.  Sweet dreams,"  Eric said as he gave her a hug and
a kiss on the cheek.
"You too,"  Melody replied as she ran to catch up with her mother.
"She is a sweet one,"  Daniel said as he turned back to the game.
"Yeah,"  Eric replied in agreement.  "She certainly is."



THE END




"The Lesson"


It was about 8:34 in the morning, when Ariel awoke.  It took her a couple of
minutes  to realize that she wasn't on land anymore.  It also took her
another couple of minutes to realize that she wasn't the only one lying in
the double-sized bed that her father had helped her and Sebastian move into
her old bedroom.  Lying there beside her was her seven year-old daughter,
Melody.
Ariel smiled as she bent down and gave Melody a kiss on the cheek.  So far,
the young princess seemed to like it in Atlantica.  She was anxious to know
what her mother's life was like before she met her father.  And now, she was
learning first-hand-or fin- how what it was like to be a mermaid.
A few minutes later, Ariel heard a knock at the door.
"Come in,"  she whispered, so that she wouldn't wake Melody up.
"What are you doing up dis early, girl?"  Sebastian asked, hopping onto her
dresser.
"I couldn't sleep.  First night back syndrome I guess.  You know how it
is."
Sebastian nodded.
"So, does de girl always sleep in?"  Sebastian asked, pointing to Melody,
who was still fast asleep on the left side of the bed.
Ariel nodded and giggled softly.
"Usually, when she's home, she sleeps until eleven  o' clock.  And that's if
I let her."
"Are you going to wake her?"  The tiny crab asked.
Ariel shook her head.  "Nah.  I'll wait until at least nine-thirty ten o'
clock before I get her up."
Sebastian nodded.  "So is Gabriella coming to visit today?"
Ariel nodded eagerly.  "Yup.  And we're going to search for more human
things.  Now that I've lived on the surface for a while, I actually know
what some things are called."
Sebastian sighed, and groaned.  "I like Gabriella, but I don't like human
tings!"
Ariel giggled as she swam out of the room, leaving the door cracked open
ajar.
"Oh, Sebastian,"  Ariel replied in between giggles.  "You'll never change
your opinion about human things, will you?"
Sebastian shook his head.  "You got dat one right, Ariel."

* * * * * *

About forty-five minutes later, Ariel, Sebastian, and Urchin were sitting at
the table in the dining hall chatting away about anything and everything.
"Remember when we went searching for gem stones in Quaking Canyon, and
Flounder got turned into a howling hair-fish?"  Urchin asked, in the middle
of laughing his tail off.
Ariel nodded and tried not burst out giggling.  Just then, an idea popped
into the young mermaid's head.
"I'll be right back."
"Where are you going, Ariel?"  Sebastian asked.
Ariel smiled mysteriously.  "I have to get something back in my room."
"Can you see if Melody's awake?"  Urchin asked eagerly.  "I really wanna
meet her."
Ariel smiled and laughed softly.  "Sure."
"I wonder what she's going to get,"  Urchin replied with curiosity as he
watched his close friend leave the room.
"I don't know,"  Sebastian replied.  "But whatever it tis, you can bet it
has something to do with humans, mun."
Flounder gave Sebastian a Look.
"Sebastian, you seem to forget, Ariel is a human now.  Or at least she was
until she came back home."
Sebastian nodded.  "And dat makes it even worse."
Flounder rolled his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh.  Sometimes Sebastian could
be really unbearable.

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, back in her bedroom, Ariel began searching rapidly, and quietly
for what she was looking for.
"Ah-ha!"  Ariel replied, a little too loudly out of excitement.  "I found
it!"
"Found what?"  A voice asked from behind.
Ariel turned around to see Melody sitting up and pushing the covers off of
her.
Ariel smiled and swam over to her daughter.
"Aw, sorry, sweetheart.  Did I wake you?"
Melody shook her head as she gave her mother a hug and a kiss good morning.
"No, I was sort of awake anyway.  Besides, I was hoping to do something
exciting today.  Like go to your grotto or go search for gem stones or
something.  Anything but music lessons!"
Ariel giggled at this.
"Ooh you!"  Ariel replied, giving Melody another hug.  "You are the spitting
image of me."
Melody smiled as she followed her mother out of the room.
"So what do ya got there?"
"Oh, it's just something."
"Come on, Mommy!  Let me see."  Melody replied, getting sort of anxious.
Ariel pulled it away and smiled.  "Cool your fins, Miss.  You'll see it in a
minute.  Besides, I was planning on passing it down to you anyway."
This made the young princess even more anxious to find out what the
mysterious object was that her mother was carrying.

* * * * * *

When they returned to the dining hall, Melody became kind of shy.  She
stayed close to Ariel and didn't say much.
"Hey, kiddo,"  Urchin replied coming over to introduce himself to the young
mermaid princess.  "I'm Urchin.  I'm a good friend of your Mom's."
"Hi,"  Melody replied timidly as she took a seat next to her mother.
"Hey dere,"  Sebastian replied, noticing how shy Melody was being.  "How's
my favourite little girl doing today?"
Melody brightened a little.  "Fine."
"So what do ya have there, Ariel?"  Flounder asked, swimming over to his
best friend.
"Yeah, Ariel,"  Urchin replied eagerly.  "I'm dying to know."
"Yeah, Mommy,"  Melody chimed in.  "What is it?"
Ariel smiled slightly as she revealed what she had in her right hand.
Inside of her palm was a golden locket with pink and green starfish and
hearts on it.
As the gang got a look at the beautiful locket in Ariel's hand, they looked
on in amazement.  Even Melody became a little more bolder, and tried to get
a closer look by pushing Flounder out of the way accidentally.
"Hey!"  Flounder replied in surprise.  "I wanna see too!"
"Melody!"  Ariel scolded firmly.  "That wasn't nice.  Now, apologize to
Flounder."
"I'm sorry, Flounder,"  Melody replied as she backed away slightly and let
the little fish get a closer look at what her mother was holding.
Flounder smiled softly.
"Aw, it's okay, Melody.  It was an accident.  Don't worry about it."
"Is that mine now?"  Melody asked, looking at the locket in awe.
Ariel nodded.
"Yup, sweetie.  It's yours.  My mother gave it to me when I was your age,
and now I'm giving it to you.  Here, let me help you put it on."
"Okay,"  Melody replied happily.
Ariel fastened the locket around her daughter's neck.  After it was secured
and she had made sure it wasn't too tight, she stepped back to admire her
handy-work.
"It's beautiful!"  Flounder said in amazement.
"Yeah,"  Urchin replied in agreement.  "It's really pretty.  I like the
hearts and starfish."
"Me too!"  Melody agreed as she gave her mother a big hug.  "Thank you,
Mommy!  I love it!"
Ariel smiled and hugged her back.
"You're welcome, sweetheart.  Now, take good care of it."
"I will,"  Melody replied.  "I promise."
"Aw, dat locket is something else.  Isn't it?"  Sebastian asked as he
finally got a good look at it when Melody sat back down.
Ariel nodded.  "Yup.  It is."
"So what do you guys wanna do?"  Urchin asked.
"Well, what do you wanna do?"  Ariel asked her friend.
"I don't know.  What do you wanna do?"  Urchin asked.
Hearing this, Melody started to giggle.
"Brace yourself, child,"  Sebastian said to Melody.  "Dis could go on for a
while."
Melody nodded.

* * * * * *

"Melody!"  Ariel called frantically.  "Melody, where are you?  Oh,
Sebastian!"  Ariel said, beginning to panic.  "Where could she be?  One
second she was next to me and the next, she was gone."
"Now calm down, girl.  I'm sure she's around here somewhere.  After all,
Atlantica isn't dat big."
"That's easy for you to say.  She's only seven years-old.  There's a lot of
trouble she can get into out there, without even trying to."
"Aw, mun, I see what you mean.  After all, you got into a lot of trouble
when you were her age."
"I did not!"  Ariel said defensively.  "And besides, I was curious."
"Well, dat's de same with Melody.  De girl is curious and adventurous. 
Just like you.  She wants to explore, find out tings for herself.  Dere's
noting wrong with dat."
"Yeah, except for the fact that I told her to wait for me."
Sebastian smirked.  "Yeah, well.  If I had a seaweed dollar for every time
I told you dat as a child and you didn't listen, I'd be a rich crab."
Ariel ignored him as she swam desperately through the ocean looking for her
daughter.

*  *  *  *  *

"How are we going to get out of here?"  Flounder asked, shaking in Melody's
lap.
Melody shook her head.  "I don't know.  But if there's one thing I do know,
is I'm going to be in BIG trouble if Mommy finds out."
"That's the least of our worries,"  Flounder replied as the walls began to
cave in.
"CAVE IN!"  They both exclaimed at the same time.
As Melody dove underneath a cavern, she hit her wrist hard on something
sharp.
"Ow!  Ouch!"
"What happened?"  Flounder asked.  "Are you okay?"
Melody shook her head.  "I hit my wrist on a rock.  I think I bruised it."

*  *  *  *  *

Meanwhile, Ariel and Sebastian continued to search for Melody.
Ariel was about to give up, when she heard a voice calling for help.
"Can anyone hear me!  Help!"
She recognized it right away.
"Melody!"  She called back.  "Is that you?  Where are you, sweetheart?"
"A-A-A-Ariel!"  Flounder's frightened voice called.  "We're down here!"
"All right.  Hang on, I'm coming!"
"Ariel, wait!"  Sebastian said, frantically.  "Ariel, please!"
Ariel ignored him once again, as she dove toward the sound of her daughter's
voice.
A few minutes later, she found her.
"Ariel!"  Flounder said with relief, throwing himself at her.  "I'm so glad
to see you."
"Me too.  But I know a certain young lady who has some explaining to do," 
Ariel said sternly, looking straight at Melody.  "Bigtime."
"Can I just say that I had absolutely nothing to do with this."
"Thanks a lot!"  Melody said hotly.  "Talk about living me out to dry."
"Hey, you two,"  Ariel said firmly.  "We don't need an argument.  Come
here, sweetheart."  Ariel hugged her daughter close and gave her a kiss on
the cheek.  "What did you think you were doing?  You had me really worried."
Melody's heart sank.
"I'm sorry,"  she said, a little tearfully.  "I just wanted to get out on my
own a little."
"I know,"  Ariel said gently.  "But there's a time and a place for that. 
And if Mommy tells you to stay close to her, it's for a reason. 
Understand?"
Melody nodded as she wiped a couple of tears away.
"I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you,"  Ariel said as she
hugged Melody closer and let her lay on her shoulder.  "I love you more than
this world, young lady.  You know that?"
Melody nodded.  "But I'm still gonna be punished?"
Ariel nodded.  "Oh, yeah.  Bigtime."
Melody sighed as she looked at Flounder and winced.
"Now, let's see if we can find a way out of here."
"I saw an opening through the cavern to the left,"  Melody replied. 
"Follow me!"
"I'd rather follow your mother out,"  Flounder replied nervously.
Melody giggled.  "Come on, Flounder.  Live a little."
"I'd rather live a lot."
This time, Ariel and Melody both giggled.
"Aw, come on,"  Ariel replied in Melody's favour,  "let her be adventurous. 
After all, she's going to be spending a lot of time in her room when we get
home."
Melody gulped slightly.
"You mean home as in back home-home, don't you?"
Ariel smirked.  "Now, what do you think?"
Melody sighed.

*  *  *  * *

That night, Ariel and Melody were in Ariel's room.  Melody was laying on her
mother's arm, while Ariel read a book to her.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in,"  Ariel said softly.
"Hey, you guys,"  Flounder replied.  "What's going on?"
"Nothing much.  I'm just reading to Melody before she goes to bed."
Flounder nodded.  "Sorry again for what happened.  I should have had more
sense.  Then again, I go on adventures with you all the time, so I've kind
of lost what sense is."
Ariel gigged.
"Aw, it's okay.  Melody should have listened to me, and then this never
would have happened.  Right, Miss?"
Melody nodded.
"So how long is your punishment going to be?"
"I really don't wanna talk about it,"  Melody replied as she tried to find a
comfortable spot.
"Your Mom came down pretty hard on you, didn't she?"
"I said I don't wanna talk about it,"  Melody replied, with an annoyance to
her voice.
"Ariel?"
"If Melody says she doesn't wanna talk about it, then you have to respect
that.  Ow!  Melody, stop it!"
"Sorry,"  Melody replied.  "I was just trying to find a comfortable spot."
"What is she doing?"  Flounder asked, wondering why his friend had suddenly
gotten stern with her daughter.
"She's digging her elbow in my shoulder-Melody, I said stop it!  I mean it!"
"You better chill out,"  Flounder cautioned.
"It's just that there's a-"  Melody started to say.  Just then, she tried
to move over and accidentally dug her elbow into her mother's shoulder
again.
"Melody Noelle Coralson, I said stop it, now!"
"Sorry, but I'm not doing it on purpose!"  Melody said, her tone a little
agitated.
"Well, what's wrong then?"  Ariel asked, her tone a little softer and
understanding.
"There's a piece of wood that's sticking out, and it keeps jabbing me."
"Aw, sweetheart, I'm sorry,"  Ariel said gently, as she took Melody in her
arms.  "Why didn't you tell me.  Or ask me to move over?"
Melody shrugged.  "I didn't want you to fall off the bed.  After all, it is
kind of small."
Ariel giggled.  "Aw, you."  Melody began squealing with laughter as her
mother began tickling her.
"All right,"  Ariel said as she layed Melody back down.  "Let's see if you
can't get to sleep at a decent hour tonight.  I'll sing you a song, and then
it’s off to sleep you go.  Okay?"
"Okay,"  Melody replied, giving her mother a hug.
Ariel began to stroke her daughter's jet-black hair, and began to sing her
the lullaby that she had sung to her ever since she was a baby.
After she was done, she discovered that Melody was half asleep already.
"Dat singing ting always does de trick,"  Sebastian said as he came into the
room.  "So what happened?"
Ariel shook her head.  "Tomorrow.  I'll tell you tomorrow."
Sebastian nodded.

*  *  *  * *

A couple hours later, Ariel awoke to someone thrashing and calling her name.
  Actually, the person was calling her Mommy.
"No, no!  Mommy!  Mommy!"  It was Melody, and she was having a nightmare.
Ariel swam over to her daughter, and put her arm gently on her shoulder.
"Melody, sweetheart.  Wake up, honey."
Melody jerked upright as a couple of tears ran down her face.  Ariel hugged
her close, while stroking her hair.
"Shh, it's okay, Melody.  It's all right.  Mommy has you.  You're okay. 
Shh."
As Ariel layed Melody back down, she shivered a little bit.
"Are you cold, sweetie?"
Melody nodded.
"Okay, here,"  Ariel said as she wrapped a blanket around the young child. 
"There you go."
Just then, Sebastian rolled over and his claw poked Melody in the right eye
by mistake.
"Ow!"  Melody said in the middle of crying.  "That hurt!"
"It's okay, sweetheart.  What happened?"  Ariel asked, wondering why her
daughter had suddenly yelped out in pain.
"Sebastian just poked me in the eye."
"All right, it's okay.  Here, let Mommy see."
As Ariel took a look, she realized why Melody was so upset.  Sebastian had
poked her in the eye that had just been operated on not too long ago.
"Shh, it's okay.  Okay, sweetheart, I know it hurts.  Just relax, and close
it for a while.  I promise, it'll feel better soon."
Melody nodded as the tears continued to fall.
"Shh,"  Ariel soothed.  "Do you want to lay with me?"
Melody nodded.
"Okay, come here, sweetheart."  Ariel replied.
After Melody was safely in her arms, she began to stroke her long jet-black
hair and rock her back and forth.
"Shh, it's okay.  It's all right."  Just then, Melody moved and jabbed Ariel
in the shoulder.  "Melody, no, don't do that.  Stop it, please."
"What?"  Melody asked.  "I didn't do anything!"  She replied, her tone kind
of whiny.
"You jabbed me in my elbow.  And don't whine.  You know Daddy and I don't
like that."
"Sorry,"  Melody replied sincerely through her tears.
"It's okay.  I know you did it because you're scared and you don't feel so
hot.  But still, try and keep the whining to minimum, please?"
Melody nodded.
"Thank you,"  Ariel replied as she bent down and gave her daughter a kiss on
the cheek.  "Now, close your eyes and try to get some sleep."
Melody nodded.
"That's my girl.  There you go,"  Ariel said gently as she began to stroke
Melody's jet-black hair.  A few minutes later, Melody was fast asleep again.
As Ariel listened to the waves tossing and turning, she too, fell asleep
within time.


THE END