The Cowboy and the Mermaid

The Cowboy and the Mermaid

Lorelei gets up the next morning and wakes up KoolAid telling him all about her date with Dwight. "He kissed me!" she smiles dreamily and gives KoolAid an extra helping of his food she is so happy. The doorbell rings and the Simexpress has left a delivery for her. It is the underwater camera she ordered. Finally!
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She hurries to the water and swims directly to the underwater rock formation. She takes several pictures from different angles hoping that she read the instructions properly and pushed the right buttons. She is good at many things, but technology leaves her flustered, anxious and cranky.
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She takes the camera to the science lab where Pearl works. Pearl promised to download the pictures and print them out for her on her work computer. Back home, Lorelei tacks the pictures to the wall and studies them. She can make out some of the symbols on the petroglyph but does not have a clue what they mean. The language is not a mer-language. It looks more ancient to her untrained eyes. She will have to get some help to decipher the meaning. But who? If she takes it to the science lab, they will take over the project and she does not want that. Pearl might feel she must tell the other scientists so not her. Dwight knows how to use those confounded computers! Perhaps he would be willing to help her solve the mystery. He is always reading those mystery stories so this would be a real life mystery for him to solve.
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She picks up the phone and calls him. "When you finish your exercises can you come by my place? I have something I need to show you."
"I am jogging home now, so yes, I can be there in about ten minutes. Everything ok?", he asks.
"Oh, yes, I want to show you some pictures I took while diving. I need some advice and help."
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Dwight arrives and even though he is a bit sweaty and ripe from his jogging he has thought of kissing Lorelei since he woke up this morning. She doesn't seem to mind a bit of sweat and responds eagerly.
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She shows him the pictures she took and explains her predicament in deciphering the stone.
"The language is not one I am familiar with and I know quite a few older languages and water languages. I need some help on doing the research and I don't want to turn the site over to the science lab as they will take credit for it and I found it. I can't use that computer thing and was hoping you would help with that part of it. I know you like mysteries. Would you like to help?"
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"You got some great pictures but we probably need a few more from other angles of the stone. Some of the detail is not as clear as other parts of the stone. It would help if I could see it in person. I've only had one diving lesson and snorkeled in the shallow waters, but I could try with your help to dive to the site."
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"This is a very deep dive and would not be recommended for a beginning diver. I'm very experienced, but until you've gotten a few more dive levels I wouldn't want to risk taking you that deep. I can help train you though. The stone has been there for centuries, I expect it will be there once we get you trained."
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"Are there any sharks in that deep water?
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"Oh certainly! There are sharks in the deep waters as well as sharks in the shallows. As long as you are with me though, that won't be a problem."
"So, you are a shark whisperer?" teases Dwight.
"Kinda," Lorelei laughs. "Pearl invited us to go dancing with her and her new boyfriend Ricardo tonight. Would you like to do that and we can start training and research tomorrow?"
"It sounds like fun. I'll go home and clean up and be back to pick you up in just a bit."
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"Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?" Dwight holds Lorelei's hands. "That dress was made for you."
"You look very handsome all dressed as well. I'd say we are the best looking couple here tonight."
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Dwight and Lorelei join Pearl and Ricardo upstairs which has been renovated for those who want to dance. Dwight introduces himself to Ricardo while Lorelei and Pearl chat. Dwight and Lorelei enjoy dancing with each other. Dwight is pleased he only had to sit out a few dances to rest his back and leg. They get the munchies and Dwight orders shrimp cocktail for the group. Ricardo and Pearl are in the corner somewhere smooching and don't join them.
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Dwight and Lorelei kiss goodnight in the moonlight. When they kiss it is as if they are the only two people on the planet. The world recedes and it is hard for them to let go of each other, but they finally both need to take a breath. Dwight takes a deep breath and tells her he will be over in the morning after his exercises and they can start the research and dive training. He watches her go in and hears the lock click before he walks down the steps.
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Dwight walks back to his place and looks out at the sea. He is hopeful for his future and happy for the first time in a long while. He will always miss the life he had, he will never forget. Life is full of changes and he is finally accepting that. He will look forward from now on, never forgetting the lessons he learned in the past that will make him stronger in his future.
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Dreams
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