@Pichi28 22 September 2022

Got Gills? Grease? Smell of cooking oil after work? Nah. I don't think I'd want that. That was what we did last summer - work in a burger chain called Mambo Burger. After that experience, though it pays good de niro, I think I have had enough with flipping burgers and wiping tables. Besides, I think I need to go solo this time. So I picked Rose Island Lighthouse. Oddly, only few people are booked in for the summer. Lighter foot falls, lighter the tasks, hence, there is a much-needed alone time by the docks staring at the inviting waters. I can swim in the water, too! Very refreshing. Good thing I brought my fins and my snorkel with me.

Oh, the serenity the underwater world brings. In my head I always remember Sebastian's words to Ariel, *Ariel, listen to me* *The human world, it's a mess* *Life under the sea* *Is better than anything they got up there!* And cannot help but agree with the funny, old crab. One time, swimming under the water and aiming direction towards the dock, I noticed a shadow under where the dock is situated. I never gave it attention until looking at it longer made me realize it is an opening and may be a tunnel. There is that eerie feeling brought about the darkness of the opening but there is also that invitation to come check it out. And check it out is what I did. I had to swim fast but cautious. Should the tunnel be longer then I need to be able to return and surface to catch breath. But not too long after swimming fast, the water seemed to become lighter and I realized the water became shallower and then my head surfaces. Then later on, I am standing on ground.

Whoah! It was a cave! The tunnel led to a cave. I looked around and saw another tunnel and I walked through it. I mean, why not, right? I am already there. The tunnel led me to a room and in the middle of the room, was a golden medallion. I quicky snatched it and wore it over my head while remembering Ariel's treasure trove. I then walked out of the room, back to the cave and jumped into the water. I suddenly remembered I didn't quite prepare for the swim back and the thought of running out of air made me want to resurface. But on the way up I coughed. I have anticipated the feel of the water coming into my nostrils and also prepared myself for the pain. But I was surprised there was no pain. Matter of fact, I found myself breathing normally. I got excited but then again thought I could be dead already. I looked around to find my body thinking maybe I am already just a spirit floating about and my body is unconscious somewhere. But no it is real! I am breathing normally. I reached out for the medallion in gratitude then I proceeded to get out of there. Truly choosing this for the summer job is way better than the burger chain. I got to swim even more excited everyday. With the medallion , I get to stay undewater longer and explore every single part of the underwater world while humming "Under the Sea".

As weeks past, I noticed I have been finding it hard to breathe. I get the relief though while I am in the water. Must be really my happy place. One morning while I was preparing to go to work, I felt my legs itch a bit and then some more. And when I scratch my leg there is a feelign of slight roughness. I also thought i saw my own legs glimmer under the bright sun. I looked in the mirror to see what is itching on the side of my neck . It may be just an allergy. But i saw a slit there. "Have I gotten gills?" I thought. Days progressed and it seems so, scales are showing and the gill slits are opening wider. I have got to find a way to reverse this. Else, I just might become part of Ariel's world! Should I break the medallion? Should I put it back where I took it? What would you do? I am bound to sleep and yet my mind wants to work the keyboard out. As much as I can just spill what ever is crossing mt mind I decided to stretch my imagination with the help of a prompt. That way, a scenario is already given, I just need to write up how the story goes in my head. If you do want to try, you may use ServiceScape. My go to prompt generator was the one @meitanteikudo once recommended. But I wanted to try something else so I googled up more generators. Anyway here's mine... https://www.servicescape.com/writing-prompt-generator

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