Fire Safety (107)

Ariel spent the next week working with her old boss to set up the final preparation for the fireman's fair. Everything was set including her act.

When the day finally arrived the whole city was a buzz and the crowds gathered for the event.

Ariel was dressed in her costume and waiting in the water for everyone to take there seats.

"Ready?" Marcus asked.

"Let the show begin." She smiled and started swimming in a circle. The curtain opened and everyone clapped as they watched her swim and when she jumped in the water and made a big splashed.

She then pulled herself onto the floating lily pad. "Hello everyone." She waved.

"Hello" the crowd said back.

"What friendly people we have here. My name is Ariel and if you could not see I have a tail. I am a Mermaid." She waved her tail at the crowd.

"I am here today to help all the brave firemen raise money to help teach fire safety. Where I come from there is no fire so I am glad I could come and learn something today. Let me introduce my new friend Fire Chief Harper."

Harper walked in in full gear. He waved at the kids. "Thank you Ariel."

"Can you tell me what a fire is and how can I be safe from one?" She asked.

"A fire is a hot flame that burns and destroys what ever in touches. Wood, Paper, and even our cloths can catch on fire."

"How can we stay away from this monster?" Ariel asked.

"By not playing with matches or lighters. If you do catch your cloths on fire remember to stop... drop... and roll till the fire is out then go find help. If you see a fire call 911. Can you all repeat what I said?"

Ariel and all the kids said together, "STOP... DROP... ROLL... CALL 911 FOR HELP."

"Very good. With the money we are rasing today we will teach this to every student in school this fall. We will also hold house to house visits to check smoke alarms and help the elderly make sure their furnaces are up to code. Most house fires start with trying to keep warm in winter. Ariel Thank you for having me here and everyone enjoy the rides and booths. But I think these smart boys and girls deserve a Mermaid tale."

The children started yelling.

"Ok, Thank you Fire Chief Harper. What story should I tell you... I know I'll tell you how I came to visit your world."

"Once upon a time I lived at the bottom of the ocean in a big seashell castle with my father King Triton. My father hated the outside world because my mother was killed by humans on a whaler. She was trying to save her friend. I was just little so I grew up just with my father. One day I was swimming along and me and James, he was a star fish and my best friend, we found a sunken ship. There I found a small chest filled with strange things I had never seen before. But there was also a card that read :If found return to Sarah Jones Capital city. I had never heard of this place so I went and asked Peter the dolphin and he told me were to find Capital city. When I told my father what I was going to do he got angry and told me I could not go. That night I took the little chest and ran away. It took me a very long time to find my way here. I pulled myself up on shore and was so tired I fell asleep. When I woke up I had legs like the little doll in the box. I was scared but I knew I had to find Sarah. A kind lady first found me her name was Heather and she gave me cloths to wear and helped me find the girl. Sarah was not a little girl anymore but an old lady. She had lost that chest when she was six years old. Fifty years had past but she was very happy to have it back.

After that I went back to the ocean but was unsure how to get my tail back so I could go home but once I stepped into the water it came back. Over the years I have visited your town many times. Most people I find are kind and caring just like all of you. So please keep helping when you can. I will see you all later." Ariel had Marcus help her out of the pool and carry her over to a tent. She got out of her tail and slipped on her dress and walked out to sign autographs for the kids. They were all in awww about her.

She did three shows that day and as the night came to an end she headed to the box office to find out how they did.

"Well not bad with ticket sales. 200 thousands 4 hundred and 25 dollars. I sure hope the food venders did just as well. This is the most we have ever raised." Heny said.

"I'm glad." Ariel said taking a seat next to him. "George, can I ask you a personal question?"

"Ask" he said turning to face her.

She looked down at her hands and was wringing her finger.

"Ariel don't be afraid just ask." he said laying his over hers.

"Why are you all so nice to me?"

Heny patted her hand. "Little Mermaid, we are nice to you because you are a nice person. Plus our brother is very happy with you and seeing him happy makes us happy. Why?"

"I was just wondering why an important man like Marcus would choose someone who swims for a living."

"Because he loves you and he never looks at what a person does. He only see their heart."

"I'm not sure of all that but I am really glad that she did. I have fallen in love with him. But I keep feeling that it's to good to be true."