1 minute read
the little mermaid
from The Scope
by PLC Armidale
A short story about selflessness and bravery
WRITTEN BY DAISY SHEEDY (ILLUSTRATED BY HUNA MOGHADDAR AND ELLA COULTON)
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12:30amaboardtheTitanic
Thecoldseaairpiercesmybodyas I shiver. Hundreds of people are hystericallypushingtheirwaytothe lifeboats, the only way to survive. Father pushes us forward but I stop suddenly. He senses my caution, and quietly whispers, “Don’t worry, Evelyn. I’ll be right behind you. I promise.”
“But,whatif-”
“That won’t happen, I promise. Look after your baby sister Lizzie for me, willyou?”
Before I can say another word, the lifeboat descends with a jolt. I hold on to Lizzie tightly, as we are lowered down and down until we were are a couple of metres from the ocean. Suddenly, half the boat jerks upwards, sending Lizzie and I crashingintotheicecoldwater.The water feels like a thousand knives being driven into my body. I lift Lizzie out of the water. She is coughing and spluttering but, to my relief, she is still alive. Holding Lizzie high in the air, I start yelling to our boat. “HELP! PLEASE!” But the boat is moving further and further away, not hearing my pleas for help. My arms begin to ache but I don’t stop holding Lizzie. I know I have to keep mysisteralive.
Deep down in the Atlantic Ocean, theLittleMermaidhasfinallyturned 16.Shecannowventureuptothe surface.Shehaslongedtogotothe exciting and beautiful world above foraslongasshecanremember. Her grandmother told her, “Remember,nevergonearortouch a human or you will perish.” The LittleMermaidjustsmiledandswam uptothesurface.Herheadbroke thewater.Toherhorror,shesawa large ship sinking. Many humans were scattered across the ocean near the boat, sinking into the depths.
Before she could stop herself, she swambackunderthewatertosee the Sea Witch. Then the Little Mermaid broke the surface yet again.Herbeautifulhairwasshaved off;thepriceshehadtopaytosave justonehuman.TheLittleMermaid heard soft singing. Enchanted, she quickly swims towards it. There beforeherwasagirlholdingupa babyintheair,tryingtocalmher with her voice. She immediately knewwhotosave.
The Little Mermaid disobeyed the rule of saving only one human. Happy tears filled her eyes seeing the selfless sister alive, as she turned into seafoam - the punishmentforsavingtwoinnocent humans.Butlookingatthegirl,she knewitwasworthit.
