Blog Post

Melody of the Sea

April 26, 2020

A little Cecaelia, a girl with a tail of tentacles much like an octopus, couldn’t help but long for music.  

To sing, to play, to hear the various notes that stuck a chord deep within.

As she swam her best friend Zale, a young little merman, joined her.

“Melody, where are you going?” He asked.

“To land,” I answered, continuing my journey.

“Again? You know we can’t be seen by any human. We can’t let them know how close you are to shore. They could find out how close our Haven is. And they could,” 

“I know. I know! Destroy everyone and put us in fishbowls. I know the bedtime stories, but I know for a fact that there is more to humans than that. Look at what they create!”

“But think about what they destroy! You should stay safe at home.”

“Zale, even some of our ancestors have destroyed. The past does not dictate the future.”

“Where are you going this time?”

“Same place I always go. To my lesson!” 

After realizing that Zale could not persuade me he swam off to ensure he would not be close to the shore. I continued moving through the water as it moved like music around me. The ocean was my home but on land, something special waited for me. 

Music, another piece of the person that I was.

I got close to the shore and pulled myself out of the sea onto the land. Gathering the water from my tail I tossed it into the ocean as I gained two human legs. Changing into the human clothes I’d stashed I checked the time before running through the village to my next lesson.

I pulled the shop door open, hearing the bell above ring as I entered slightly out of breath. I was happy to see my teacher finishing up another student’s lesson so I could recover my breath before my lesson began.

“Hi, Melody!” Miguel, the other student greeted as he packed away his guitar.

“Hey, Miguel! How was this week’s lesson?” I asked excited to start my own.

“Good. Oh! Miss Gabriel suggested we do a duet for the festival coming up. Would you be okay with that?”

“That would be fun!” I answered before realizing that would mean more sneaking away to practice. 

“Miguel, let Melody get to her lesson. We can arrange all that later with her parents.”

“Yes, Miss Gabriel. See you later Melody!” He waved goodbye leaving the shop.

I waved goodbye as Miss Gabriel got the violin out the case she let me borrow for the lessons.

“How are your parents?” She asked.

“Good,” I answered, trying not to say too much about them.

“Melody,” She said as her tone made me look at her, “Why have your parents not come to any of your lessons? I actually haven’t seen them in town. No one seems to know who you are.”

I had tried avoiding the subject for as long as I could and now it seemed I would not be able to avoid it any longer. I tried to think of an answer as she handed me the violin, placing a hand on my shoulder as I looked away.

“Melody, you can trust me. My family has kept the secret of the coves for centuries. We respect the ones who live there. If you are a mermaid you can tell me. Are you?”

“No,” I answered as she continued.

“Oh. I could have sworn. With your talent for music and no one knowing you. It made sense.”

“I am not a mermaid, but I am a Cecaelia.”

“A what?”

“A mermaid thing with octopus legs instead. We aren’t as popular as mermaids, but I think we are just as cool.” 

“I knew you came from the ocean! That is why you never practice. And why you don’t own your own instrument.”

I looked down, “Yeah, I don’t have human money to buy one. That’s why I asked if I could clean your shop in exchange for lessons. And also the fact that the water would destroy it if I tried to take one home. Even if I kept it and practiced at the shore it would still be too humid.”

“Well, we will figure something out. Let’s get started on your lesson.”

I raised the violin and held it in place. 

Smiling with an easy breath I felt whole again. As if the piece of wood and strings completed me. That their place was in my hands, as much as my hands were made to hold them.

The music flowed as I felt the vibrations of the notes, the piece rolling like the sea. As if diving in and being surrounded as nerves awoke to each note. Each new chord.

“Melody, that was beautiful! When you play you light up. You are in your bliss! Anyone watching could see it.” Miss Gabriel gushed.

I brushed my hair to the side, not sure how to take the compliment.

“It makes me happy.” Was the only way I could respond.

“You can come and practice whenever you can, but Melody I would like to meet your parents. I don’t want you to come without their permission. The town is dangerous for you to wonder about by yourself. I do not have a student after your lesson so I will walk you to the coast today, but I would rather your parents come with you.”

“I haven’t told them I’ve been coming.”

“Why not?” She asked as she chose the next piece we would work on.

“Because I am scared that they won’t let me come. And I need to be here. I need to play. It kills me when I can’t play. Like something is wrong or missing. What if they won’t let me play?”

“Parents aren’t quite the villain’s children always make them out to be. Talk to them. Let them decide. You may be missing out on your biggest fans.”

I thought about what she said after the lesson had ended, while she walked me back to the coast, and as I swam home.

I would tell them like Miss Gabriel wanted and probably never play again.

“Mom? Dad? I’m home.” I said swimming through our home in the Haven. 

“Melody, we are so glad you are safe. Zale said you went to the coast. He was worried, and so were we.”

“Trout mouth.” I mumbled before answering my parents, “I’ve been going to the coast town. I’ve been learning to play the violin. My teacher found out today what I am and where I am from. She doesn’t want to continue teaching me without your permission and one of you bringing me to the lessons. I didn’t say anything before because I knew you wouldn’t approve, but I have to play.”

“Why did you think we would disapprove of you wanting to play an instrument?” My mother asked. “We do not approve of you going to the surface alone, but we wouldn’t disapprove of the lessons. In fact, your father played the cello, and I played the piano. You get your love of music from us.”

“Melody, you will have consequences for not telling us and sneaking out. For the next month anywhere you go, on sea or land, you will be accompanied by an adult. If your friends ask you will tell them it is because you disobeyed the rules about the surface. You children do not understand the dangers of the surface or how to be cautious. What if your teacher was lying and took you away from us?” My dad asked.

“You are right. I didn’t think about that, even though she isn’t someone could bad I didn’t know that before. I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I wasn’t sure what you would do.”

“We will always support you if we can. You don’t have to hide what you love from us. You can talk to us. Sometimes we might say no, but we want what is best for you Melody. And it is wonderful that you love music. We can’t wait to hear you!”

“Thank you!” I said hugging them, “I can’t wait to show you! Miss Gabriel, my teacher says I light up. Playing makes me happy.”

“I don’t doubt that. You can go find Zale and tell him you are home safe, but tonight is the last night. Your consequence starts tomorrow.” My mom said.

“I will go tell him and come home!” I yelled as I swam out leaving my parents shaking their heads at who knows what.

I danced through the water, giggling every once in a while. I couldn’t believe it! They would let me play! 

I found Zale at our usual hang out when he saw me I noticed he looked worried. 

“Melody, I am so sorry! I didn’t want to tell, but I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. I was worried you would get hurt. The coast is so dangerous.”

“Zale, it’s fine. Breath! I am okay and you were right. I should have told my parents sooner. I shouldn’t put you in a position that made you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry too.” I responded.

“It’s okay. Just be more careful? Okay? I don’t want you to get hurt.” He said as he looked concerned again, “So are they gonna let you keep playing? Or did I ruin it?”

“You didn’t ruin anything! And I can keep playing, but I have be accompanied by one of them. For the next month wherever I go for my punishment, but the lessons will be all the time. But Zale I am so happy! I get to keep playing and even share it with them!”

“Why do you like to play so much?” Zale asked seeming distraught and thinking really hard.

“Because when I play, it feels like everything is how it is supposed to be. That I am doing what I was meant to do. It fills this part of me that is missing that can only be fixed by my music. When I don’t play, I can tell. Something doesn’t feel right. It’s like I am a fish out of water. It’s just wrong. Why?”

“I feel that way too. When my family went to the town for the festival last year someone was letting the kids try painting. My parents let me, and I stayed for a while. The person said I was good. That I could be an artist. I want to paint, the way the brush feels when it hits the canvas and the colors! The way that combining them forms something out of nothing with just your imagination and the brush strokes. I want to go, but I’m scared to leave the ocean.”

“If it is something you want to do then you should do it! My parents could talk to your parents, and I’m sure Miss Gabriel knows someone. She knows everyone!”

“What if I’m not good?”

“You probably won’t be very good at first, but no one is. My playing sounded like, well, Michael when he tries to talk dolphin.” I giggled.

“Wow. That is bad.” Zale responded with wide eyes.

“Exactly, no one is good when they start. It is like Miss Gabriel has told me. You have to have the courage to be bad at first and keep trying, keep learning. Nobody is perfect the first time and you don’t know how you will do until you learn. Anyone who ever succeeded or mastered their talent had to start out not knowing anything. They learned and you can too!”

“I am still not sure about leaving home.” 

“One more thing I learned Zale, is that sometimes you have to leave what is safe and comfortable if you are going to find the thing that makes you feel complete. This could be something that fits, but you won’t know until you try.”

After that conversation and approval from Zale’s parents, he came to the surface with me and mine.

Miss Gabriel introduced him to an artist named Donny who also had a magical heritage. Zale began to excel and found what made him feel complete.

Miss Gabriel loved my parents and welcomed them to play whenever they wished and even got them to play with me. Playing the violin by myself had always been amazing, but playing with my parents by my side felt out of this world.

It felt good to help Zale find his talent and bring my parents back to theirs. I loved seeing them enjoy the thing that made them feel all was right. 

All it took was the courage to try and get out of the comfort zone.

I smiled as Miguel and I took to the stage at the festival. I picked up my violin, got set, and played the first note. 

Smiling, as the world was right, and I lived my bliss.