The Mermaid's Tail

Dane meets a woman on the California coast and falls in love... it just sucks that the girl of his dreams happens to be a mermaid. Talk about your cultural barrier! How on Earth will Dane be able to take this one home to meet mother?

Story Excerpt:

"Wow, and I thought my childhood sucked. Where have you been living if you've never heard of an iPod?" he couldn't help but ask, flustered, then cursed himself for his eternal case of foot-in-mouth disease.

It wasn't his business just where she'd been...at least not yet. This was only the second conversation they'd had, perhaps it was a bit too soon for the 'so, regale me with tales of your past' type conversations. Still, he was certain the gods of courtship would forgive him this one faux pas, because who hadn't heard of an iPod ?! There was a reason, after all, that Steven Jobs' death had been bigger news, for a time, than the national deficit.

Her face turned sad, then reflective, her voice distant as she said, "I've been swimming."

Which, fine, if she wanted to be glib instead of answering the question he supposed he couldn't hold it against her.