Think Tank, TheRoost [book club suggestions .txt] 📗

When Mother had found Evangeline all those years ago, she said it was Fate. When Evangeline was told she would stay with Mother forever, she was told it was Destiny. When Evangeline fell in love, it was said to be disgusting.

I have known Evangeline my entire life; Evangeline is pretty, with vibrant, shimmering blond hair with dark navy highlights popping in and out of her hair. Her ruby lips always wore a smile, and she wore a dark indigo bathing suit top. She has the prettiest laugh, like bells on Easter Sunday. Her skin was a creamy white, her eyes the deepest violet. Her tail was the most vibrant purple too, pastel and darker shades each flowing into each other, forming a most perfect beauty.

Evangeline was the first captured Mermaid: and she was ours.

Evangeline has been with Mother since the day they met; even Father couldn't be rid of Evangeline, though who would want to? She was so happy, so bright, so wonderfully human; she was like a sister to me; even through the veil of mythology, she was blood.

We connected, she and I, though we were physically different; like I had bright red hair while she had blond. But we laughed at the same jokes, shared similar opinions, and rarely left each-others side. Mermaids, when out of water, look just like us, just slightly more disoriented and clumsy. Evangeline used to wear a kind of crown, but now it sits at the bottom of her tank, alone and growing algae. I asked her about it once; she said it was a lost dream.

She would never leave us, never ever, but she did. She left us on a humid August night, under circumstances that no one could predict. She went to her home, the one she would tell me stories about when I was a tot, that was deep on the sea floor, within trenches that were pitch black to mere human eyes, and the pressure was too much for their frail bodies anyway. That's why they never found a mermaid until Evangeline washed up on shore, sick and frail even by human standards. She was on the brink of death and human decay, but she survived. It was always a talent of hers, she said.

One more quick fact about Mermaids, before I get to what I want to tell you. They age differently from humans, far differently. They age one year for every 20 we go though. So for nearly 2 centuries, human time, a mermaid is a child. Time in the ocean is difficult to track, you understand, and they live simple lives; hunt when hungry, occasionally convert a human to one of their own, or, because they are naturally a beautiful people, drown a sailor accidentally. They are gentle, they do not want death on their hands, but it happens. It's part of life. So when Mother found Evangeline, 40 years ago, she (that is to say, Evangeline) was 14. She's 16 now, and a glowing beauty. Were she human, boys would line up on the street to see her. But since she wasn't, her existence was kept a secret, a heavily guarded one at that. She was our joy, our pride, and we would not give her up.

Not for anything, not even her happiness.

I am going to tell you about the day and night she left the human world. It is the only thing I live through, at least for now. I'm told it was the shock of events, that I would soon live life almost as I had before.

I was ill that day; that's how I know what happened. I was home, my brother, near his 17th birthday, was supposed to be out with his friends, and my parents, naturally, enjoying himself. I was recovering from a nasty bout of Chicken Pocks, which Evangeline naturally didn't get, so my bedside was near her tank, and we talked constantly. As I was no longer contagious, I was allowed to venture to the tackle shack to prepare Evangeline's lunch: worms, sushi, coral, and starfish. To her, a typical meal. To me, a disgusting chore, but I did not mind then. I was happy I was allowed out of my bedroom. And, with her plate in my hand, I stood waiting for the elevator.

My parents were the first people to create the hydrogen-powered car, so we had a lot of money. My parents had bought a tank that was 7 stories high, with the glass clear and shining, so their chocolate faces would shine back at them when they looked in. The tank was kept like the bottom of a coral reef, with exotic fish swimming around, and a variety of plant life. It was rather pretty, but it didn't have the authentic feel of the ocean, the peace, the calm, the rocking of the waves; it was still and artificial, and it was no wonder Evangeline wasn't happy. She also had a long, open window near the top, which showed a view of the real

sound, with it's sparkling white beaches and occasional people making footprints in the sand.

I was now at the top of the tank, where a clear walkway, though more like a deck, sat over the tank, where Evangeline, if she so desired, could jump up and look out the window. It was where we sometimes entertained men of science, who would ooo

, and aahh

at Evangeline as her purple tail swished in the water: it was where Mother and Father would stand and talk to her: it was where I sat as a young child, to shy to say hello, but too curious to leave her be.

It was where my brother, my tall, confident, handsome brother, Vincent, was talking to her.

My brother and I were as close as any siblings could be, but we were different physically, like Evangeline and I. His skin was a dark, rich chocolate, like Father's and Mother's, whereas I was a pale, white chocolate; his skin was smooth with crisp brown eyes that crinkled when he laughed, and I have freckles everywhere with grey eyes that simply cool or twinkle; I have brilliant red hair and a slim body, whereas he has a broad, muscular frame with dark curls; he is 16, I am 14. We are polar opposites, and he and I, but we respect each other and love each other.

But that was then; we are so very different now.

Their conversation is of vast importance to Evangeline leaving, so I will relate it too you.

"Evangeline, you know I can't do that," Vincent was saying when I walked in. As I dashed behind the tank's row of life-vests, he said "I cannot leave my world."

"But you would be joining mine

, Vincent. You would never feel like you do now ever again." Evangeline was halfway out of her tank, her tail still swishing in the water. "We can be together."

He grabbed her hand, clutching it in his own. The way he looked at her...I've never seen that shine in his eyes before. It was so pretty, so bright, so...loving

.

"We still can be, remember? You told me that if you didn't touch water for a year..." Vincent was talking, and I could see the gears winding and twisting in his head.

Evangeline flinched and slowly took her hand away. "That could kill me, Vincent. You know that. All the food I need to eat comes from the water, and if there's one drop..."

"I know, dearest, I know, but isn't the prize worth the risk?"

Evangeline stared at him, her violet eyes cold, a counter to the brightness in Vincent's. "So, my life is worthless if I'm not human

?"

Vincent was the one that winced now, slowly retreating away from the tank. "No, no, of course not...I just thought you wouldn't want to be...what you are anymore."

"What

?" Evangeline exploded, rage shaking her to the core, the current of the water becoming fierce, like that of a storm. "Am I a freak to you, Vincent? Am I repulsive? Just because I'm not 100% human means I can just be dissected, studied, trapped

forever in this ridiculous tank?"

Vincent glared at her. "I thought you were happy here...with me."

"With you, when your'e swimming with me in here, I think I am. But you don't visit; I'm just trapped here, like a goldfish, alone. I have no one now, Vincent; do you even think about how alone I am? How I feel to have those utterly disturbing scientists leer at me behind your Mother's back, to overhear questions that they ask each other about my anatomy, to be treated more like a pet

than a person?"

"You really don't understand how humans think, do you? You mean so much to us..."

"If I meant so much, you would let me go home. Or you would come with me."

Vincent glared at her, now walking toward the elevator. "I will have Mother call Dr. Roberts back for an over-night study. And, Angel," Evangeline's back was turned to him, and he was to far to hear her chocked, stifled, broken sobs. "I can't lose you, not now. And if I let you go...how do I know you won't leave?"

Another chocked sob, too soft for him to hear. To him, the air was pressing, strained, stressed, but silent; for me, my earth shook, the air seemed to be sucked from the atmosphere around me. Evangeline wasn't happy...she wanted to be home...but she would still miss this life. That's why she wanted Vincent. But still, I had never suspected they were anymore than close friends.

I walked out of my hiding spot, the plate of food still in hand, and calmly walked over to her. She was still softly sobbing. The sun was just setting...odd, how time flew...after all, when Evangeline was still sobbing after Vincent left, I closed my eyes for a second....

"Oh! You're here, little one." Evangeline smiled at me, her eyes holding a sad sparkle. "I am starving."

I watched her pick at food on her plate and bring it under the water, her blond hair swirling around her, her blue highlights enhancing her beauty in all the right ways.

"Evangeline," I whispered, holding her above the surface with my eyes. "We are sisters, correct?"

She nodded, chewing her starfish thoughtfully. "With no doubt in my heart, little one."

"I heard the conversation with my brother, Evangeline." She blushed and I continued. "And I am very disappointed with him. He lied to you, and you opened your heart to him. It's not your fault it's crushed now. If he knew love, even if it's not like family love, as we have, he would have let you go, if that made you happy." I paused, tears filling my eyes. "Will

it make you happy?"

"More than anything..."She whispered. "But after what you've told me, I wouldn't dream of leaving, not now. Maybe when you're grown..."

I shook my head. "No, that just gives you more time to talk yourself out of it. That's not right either. You're family is probably worried."

She gave a sad kind of sigh. "I would like to think not. They shouldn't have to suffer for...for..."

"For you being sick? For you getting help? For you being alive? I think, once they see you, they will be overwhelmed. You told me once before survival was a talent of yours; surely they know that too."