The Cowboy and the Mermaid

The Cowboy and the Mermaid

Dwight sits out on the patio reading. He hears the ocean surf and finds the sound somewhat soothing and his eyes start drifting and he feels as if he is going to fall back asleep. He shakes himself, stands up, not wanting to fall back asleep. He just got up for crying out loud. He walks stiffly into the house and decides to check his email. He has several emails from his fellow trainers as well as his former boss. He sends out replies and writes a few letters that he prints out to snail mail to a few of his buddies that don't use computers. He takes those out to the mail for pick up.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7866/45924446224_ac70883011_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4817/46639839292_6fcfb7551e_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/46639838962_f618f5227d_b.jpg

While outside he looks around and decides to take a quick dip in the pool. The water looks warm and he did love swimming in the river back home. He shucks his boxers and carefully gets in the water not wanting to aggravate any of his injuries. He realizes as he gently swims around that his pain is much better. The water supports his muscles and bones. He swims around the pool until his stomach begins growling and insists on being fed. Toast and jelly! Yum.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7890/46639838732_96a63386d3_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4899/45979087734_197c685164_b.jpg

Lorelei wakes from her nap and goes to the science center and turns in the seashells she collected. She earns a tidy sum for collecting the seashells that are plentiful in the ocean depths.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7908/45931797584_4710ef42d4_b.jpg

Suzuki Hinata introduces himself when she arrives at Pleasant View Park. They have a few things in common and quickly become friends. She looks at him and wonders why she doesn't feel any sparks for him. He is very handsome and funny. Is it because he is not a merman? Or, because he is just not the right one?
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4837/45931795344_370339791e_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7908/45931795174_5228c6d051_b.jpg

Time to meet up with Pearl. They shop til they are ready to drop and then go to Micks to grab some dinner. Pearl takes her upstairs to the game area since Lorelei does not want to sing Karaoke. They play a few games of dominoes which Pearl with her high logic skill wins handily.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4813/45755262235_bde4bc2a77_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7842/31728593997_d1ae2d5e5c_b.jpg

Dwight decides to go swimming again and since it is broad daylight he digs in the drawer and finds his old swimming trunks. He gets about halfway down the staircase when his bum leg buckles and he falls the remainder of the way down. He moves his legs and arms gingerly and he doesn't think anything is broken. The pain in his back and leg is pretty intense though after the fall. He knows better than to try to climb back up until it eases. He sits at the bottom of the steps waiting for the pain to ease.

Why, he thinks to himself. Why, all this pain and I'm completely useless because some cretin couldn't stand the thought that other riders were better than him. Other horses were better than his horse. One rider dead, two horses dead and me......I might as well be. I'm not good for anything anymore. My beautiful Kolinar is gone. I can never ride again risking permanent paralysis if I do. All my friends just don't understand. They tell me I will get a chance to do something new with my life. I was perfectly satisfied with my old life thank you very much. What use is life if I can't even get up and down the stairs without falling.

The intense pain eventually eases and he is able to get his bottom up a couple of steps and use the rails to stand. He shakes his head and thinks it is pretty sad that he is reduced to getting up like a toddler.
He climbs back up the stairs like a tired old man.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/45931793634_5b8263e8b7_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4822/46656755181_b64c14e576_b.jpg

He tries to soak some of the pain from his aching body but it doesn't help. He has run out of pain pills and muscle relaxants. He drinks a few of the brews and that helps him forget the pain and heartache for a little while.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7910/46656755031_e62bcd9c8f_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4912/45787147535_014ac4d89c_b.jpg

Dwight becomes caught in a vicious cycle.....eat, drink, sleep, eat, drink, sleep. He doesn't leave the house or try to go outside anymore. The only person he speaks to is the guy that delivers his brew and groceries. Those are dropped off at the doorway as he is paying for it online now that he set up an account. He barely manages to get downstairs to use the bathroom. The house is a mess and the flies are taking over. He does not even turn the tv or radio on anymore. His mind is a bit on the befuddled side from too much brew. He stares at the vase holding the orchid and wonders who actually made that bizarre little vase.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4889/31761249557_1f2bd5db0f_b.jpg

Lorelei finds a gnome in distress and quickly figures out a way to extract him from the rock. He apparently misjudged his destination when he teleported to the dive lot. She cautions the gnome to be more careful in the future as she may not be around the next time he needs rescuing. She spots a beautiful tiger shark circling in the depths as if it is protecting the treasure. He circles a few times and then disappears.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4905/45931795694_fce9a49d8d_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4876/46656756841_dacd48073b_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7803/31739848137_23b002c677_b.jpg

Lorelei swims back home and seeing no lights on at the property next door she hurries over to practice her diving. That dive had to be at least a 9.8.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7860/45755261455_912464f27c_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4878/45755261255_e3d5c17638_b.jpg

Dwight hears splashing noises and stumbles out of bed and staggers to the next room to see who is playing in the pool. It is very dark in the yard and he doesn't hear anymore splashing in the pool. He thinks he can see someone just passing the fence. He knows he will never make it up the stairs inside the house and then down the stairs on the outside of the house before the person is gone. Dwight decides he will order some outdoor lighting and perhaps that will deter the pool visitor.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7828/32806355628_24a29950ea_b.jpg