Myrtle X

“Myrtle.... Myrtle!”I can hear my Mother yelling out my name in a dark cave and I can’t find her. I keep trying to run but there’s nothing but darkness. I finally see an opening and there’s a bright blue light shining at me and I start running towards it. I trip on a rock and wake up. I can see my Mom looking over at me with a stern expression on her face. Even with that expression, my Mom is strikingly beautiful. A glimmer of blue green hair with dark hazel eyes and a spiky back. Oh, did I mention my Mom is part seahorse? I grumble,rub my eyes and get out of bed. “You’re late again”, she mutters. “Ugh, yeah sorry, I got stuck in a dream.” I say. “Again, Myrtle? That’s the third one this week.” She says. “Yeah, I don’t understand either, Mom.” My Mom shakes her head and leaves my room. “Aw, shiitake mushrooms and cream sauce!” I yell. “I have an Island history quiz today!” “You know I don’t like when you say that.” My Mom yells up at me. “It’s so.... weird.” “I am weird! I yell. I’m half crab!” Yes, I Myrtle X am half crab. I couldn’t turn into something cool like a dolphin or a Mermaid. So I’m stuck with a crab claw for my right hand and only half of my head can grow hair while the other side is bald with red spots. It’s super punk rock. We’re all a little different here on Lunamor Island. There was a volcano explosion three years ago that turned us all into sea life. My Mom turned into part seahorse, my Dad turned into part tuna, or if you ask him “The big Katuna”. His name is Karl. Ugh, the king of Dad jokes. My little brother, Laguna is part clown fish... which is just appropriate. My parents named us both after vacation spots. My parents went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on their honeymoon. Why you would go to a beach when you already live on a beach blows my mind, but I’ve been trying to figure those two out for 16 years. My brother was named after Laguna Beach in California. They went there on their 10 year wedding anniversary. So yeah, we’re all a bunch of weirdos. My Dad is an oceanographer and my Mom is his assistant. He’s actually in charge of the research project on how we all turned into sea creatures, which is actually pretty cool.

And now I’m really late for school.

I grab my book bag and run downstairs. “I made you chicken salad for lunch.” My Mom says while handing me my lunch bag. “A crab’s favorite... chicken.” I say. I kiss my Mom goodbye and head out the front door.

Island life is pretty neat, I guess. The weather is usually nice and we get to have school in the ocean because half of the students need to be in the water at all times. I have some pretty good friends, and there’s always Caden... sigh, that guy. He’s Mayor J’s nephew. He actually lives with him. His parents died in the volcano explosion. Sucks. Anyway, he’s a dream boat. Caden walks up next to me, “Hey Myrtle” he says. “Did you study for the quiz?”

Oh gosh, I was just thinking about... “um, no I didn’t, I mumble unable to speak properly. “Oh yeah, me neither.” He says. Awkward silence. “How was your weekend?” He asks. “Good, you?” I say. “It was good. Got to surf.” “Awesome. “I say, turning a little pink. “Well... I’ll see you in class” he says and gives me a high five. I watch him walk off with his half turtle shell. Sigh, that boy is the coolest.

I finally get to homeroom which is in the ocean and stand next to my friend Kira, who is half octopus. Kira is beautiful. She has long dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She also has 5 arms or tentacles if you will. She can get a lot done. “Hey girl.” I say. “Caden just walked up to me and I almost died.” “Oh yeah?” She says. “Did you ask him out?” “No way! “ I yell a little too loudly. Jadence and her mermaid sisters start giggling at me. Ugh, the mermaid triplets. Jadence, Sephia and Ronnie. They’re all knockouts and perfect. Jadence has bright red hair with purple eyes, Sephia has yellow hair with green eyes and Ronnie has orange hair with dark yellow eyes... she’s the majestic one. I can’t stand them.

Mr. P addresses the class. “Good morning everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I hope you studied for today’s quiz. I also wanted to remind you that Saturday is Paparazzi day”. The whole class groans.

Paparazzi day is when the press and tourists visit our island to gawk, take pictures and interview us. When word got out about the volcano eruption, the world went crazy. We have gift shops, people dress up like us, it’s bananas. Makes you feel like a freak of nature too. The whole town hates it but Mayor J insists it boosts the island’s morale and helps with our economy. It’s a load of garbage if you ask me.

“Ugh, why do they have to come here?” shouted Tommy, the half seagull. “It’s good for us”, keeps us connected to the world, “says Mr. P. “Guess I’m staying in my room that day,” whispers Kira. Me too, I say. “ I flipping despise paparazzi day or pooperazzi as I like to call them, mature I know, but it keeps me laughing.