Adele's Stories

Sofia shifted in bed and waited for Nana to come tuck her in. When Nana finally came in Sofia bounced up and down excitedly. Nana just laughed. 

“Story time!” Sofia squealed. Nana sat down on the bed and patted her knee. 

“Alright settle down. You’re supposed to be getting tired. Now, which story would you like?” 

“The story about the mermaid!” Sofia leaned forward. 

“Ah yes, the story about the mermaid.” Nana cleared her throat and began to tell the story. 

There was once a beautiful young mermaid with long raven hair. Her name was Sophia. 

“That’s my name!” Sofia exclaimed. 

“Yes now hush.” 

Now Sophia had the most beautiful singing voice anyone had ever heard. But Sophia was sad because her father had forbidden her from singing. For when Sophia sang anyone who heard it became enchanted and fell desperately in love with her. Sophia loved to sing, so she had found herself a little cove far away from the underwater kingdom where no one ever went, where she could sing to her heart’s content.  

  Now, one day Sophia was singing in her cove when a young, lone pirate happened upon her. See this pirate was the new captain of a ship. But his shipmates had pulled mutiny and took over his ship and cast him off to sea in a small boat. When the pirate, whose name was Jack, heard the young mermaid sing he fell madly in love with her. 

Jack suddenly leapt from the boat and into the water. He swam desperately towards the mermaid who grew frightened at his sudden appearance and she swam away in fear.

“But why was she so afraid?” Sofia asked.

“Because he startled her. She didn’t know him and he was coming straight for her.” Nana explained. Sofia nodded in understanding.

Being a mermaid Sophia swam much faster than any human. She tore away from the pirate and swam all the way home, without stopping. Once she was far away and safely in her castle Sophia was able to think. She quickly realized that the sailor had probably heard her sing and she grew even more terrified. If her father found out someone had fallen in love with her because of her voice, and a human no less, she would be in trouble. But she was most afraid of what her father would do to the human.

She decided that the best thing to do would be to not tell her father what happened and wait a few days until the human finally left the cove then just forget this whole thing ever happened. 

What Sophia did not know was that Jack was waiting for her. He waited in the cove four whole days before Sophia finally returned. Sophia was shocked to find him there, but didn’t swim away this time. When the pirate saw her he swam out to her. Sophia was unsure what to do. But once Jack reached her she came to a decision. She would just have to convince him not to love her anymore.

Sophia spent days trying to convince Jack to leave her. But what Sophia did not truly understand what it meant to be enchanted. There was nothing anyone could say or do that would make him stop loving her. And while Sophia was trying to convince Jack to abandon his love, she began to fall in love with him. 

It wasn’t long before the mermaid gave up trying to stop the pirate from loving her and instead took every opportunity she could to just be with him. Sophia began sneaking away more and more until eventually her father grew suspicious. One day, he followed her. When he saw her with the pirate he grew enraged. He burst into the cove yelling and raving threatening to destroy the pirate captain. 

Sofia gasped. 

“You act like you’ve never heard this story before.” Nana joked. 

“It’s scary everytime!” Sofia exclaimed. Nana held back a laugh and continued to tell the story.

Afraid for the life of her love, Sophia began to quickly explain what had happened. That he accidentally became enchanted and she tried to stop it, but ended up falling in love as well. 

Her father was still angry, but calmer now. He was quiet for a moment then decided the best thing to do was to reverse the enchantment. The two lovers began to protest but the merman would hear none of it. As her father began to take away the enchantment Jack continued to profess his love. Even when the enchantment had been fully taken away, the pirate continued to speak of his love for the mermaid.

For Jack’s love went deeper than an enchantment. Jack’s love was true. 

Sophia’s father was stunned by this realization. He knew now that there was nothing he could do to stop the two from loving each other, and separating them permanently would only cause his daughter pain. 

Unsure what was left to do he asked his daughter what would make her happy. Sophia told her father that all she wanted was to marry her pirate love and explore the seas with him. After considering this for a moment her father complied. 

He gave his daughter the ability to trade her tail for legs whenever she wished and then the mermaid and the pirate married. As a wedding gift Sophia’s father returned Jack’s ship to him, and the unlikely lovers sailed the seas together and lived happily ever after. 

Sofia sighed happily and leaned back against her pillow. “Will I ever fall in love like that?” she asked innocently.

 Nana smiled. “I’m sure you will. God has a man planned just for you.” 

Sofia leaned forward. “But what if there’s something that tries to stop us? Like what happened to the mermaid and the pirate?” 

“If it’s meant to be, God will make a way. Just like with the mermaid and the pirate. And just like with me and your grandpa Jack.” 

Sofia tilted her head. “What’s your guys’ story?” 

“I’ve already told you our story.”