fairy tale

Fairy Tale
The Little Mermaid with a Spanish Twist

Long ago, during the time of kings and queens, existed two worlds, the human world who lived on dry land, and the mermaid people who lived beneath the great big bodies of water. In mermaid world the king had four daughters, but his heart was more attached to his youngest one Maria. Maria had a curious and free spirit. Even though the human world was forbidden, she was greatly intrigued by their way of life. She often dreamed of living among the humans.
One day Maria was watching as humans celebrated Cinco de Mayo (May 5th). She noticed that they celebrated differently than she was accustomed. She was drawn to the fast movement music, the sweet and spicy smelling foods, and the dance movements. She began to drift closer and closer. Near the sea shore stood a young man named Jose. Jose saw this strange, but beautiful figure swimming in the surface of the water. He started to move closer to meet this young girl. He could not believe his eyes, this was a mermaid. He had read about mermaids in books, but believed it was a myth. He carefully approached her and said: “hola”. Maria was startled and quickly hid beneath the water. Jose jumped in and began to swim after her. He did not notice that he was moving faster and faster away from the shoreline. Maria was too fast for him. He was very exhausted from swimming and began to sink. He shouted for help “auxilio, ayudame” Maria noticed the he spoke Spanish like her, and quickly stopped to help him.
Maria took Jose back to the shore and asked him not to tell anyone he has met her. She explained that if her father knew she had contact with a human she would be sent away forever. Jose promised her with one condition, that they would see each other every Saturday at dawn to learn more about each other’s world. Maria agreed and every Saturday as the sun was setting they met and talked until the sun came up the next day. Maria and Jose became good friends as the months went by. Jose soon fell in love with Maria, and Maria also had strong feelings for him. Neither one told the other of the strong feelings growing inside.
Jose had decided that when Navidad (Christmas) came he would declare his love for Maria. When Jose and Maria were celebrating their own Navidad Jose gave her a present he had bought for her. It was an engagement ring. Maria was so filled with emotion and began to cry. Jose quickly apologized but before he finished talking Maria stopped him and said: “Si”. She had agreed to become his wife. Now Jose had to tell Maria’s Father his intentions to marry her. Jose seeked help from a wise man, how to go into the mermaid world The “Sabio” (Wiseman) told Jose that on the next Luna llena (full moon) at midnight he had to swim to the middle of the ocean and for only an hour he would become and mermaid. If Jose stayed longer than an hour he would stay a mermaid forever. Jose told Maria what the Sabio had said to him. They planned to go the next full moon, so that Jose could meet Maria’s family, especially her father.
Jose went to the meeting point and exactly at midnight he turned into mermaid man. They swam together to the mermaid world. They were so excited, and Mary wanted to show him everything. She took him to meet her father and he quickly took a liking to him. King Juan saw the happiness in Maria’s eyes and agreed for the two of them to marry. Time was running out. They had to swim back to the place where he turned into a mermaid so that he could turn back into a human. As they were reaching the meeting point, Jose stopped and said to Maria: “Te amo, como a nadie antes” (I love you, like I never loved anyone before). He had made the decision to stay with her forever. They looked at each other as time ran out. Jose and Maria were married the next day. He occasionally wrote to his family and told them he was doing well and was very happy.