"So you really think there might be life elsewhere in the universe?" Martin Stovall asked Eric Anderson.
The two were-mermen were still sitting in the bottom of the Stovall's fresh water swimming pool, talking.
The conversation had started with Eric seeking advice from his fiance's father about how to deal with the longing between them when they were apart and somehow progressed from there.
"The odds are just too great for there not to be," pointed out Eric. "Now what kind of life there is, let alone whether or not any of them have actually visited Earth already are other matters. For one thing, the number of UFO sightings, let alone alleged visitations and abductions, have decreased dramatically since the advent of video cameras, camera capable cells, and the Internet."
"I see," agreed his future father-in-law. "For me, when I was your age, it was the oceans. Captain Nemo, Jacques Cousteau, National Geographic specials..."
"Understandable," said Eric, while lazily moving his flippered feet in the water. "How many have you explored?"
"Mostly the Pacific between the United States and Japan, north towards Alaska and south to the equator.
Were-mers can take cold water to some extent, but even with global warming, the Arctic Circle and Antarctica are just too chilly. But someday I would love to check out the Atlantic, especially around the Bermuda Triangle and see what all the fuss is about," admitted Martin. "Melissa and I have been to the Gulf of Mexico a couple of times, but the last occasion was only for the International Were-mer Convention."
"Really? When's the next one?" asked Eric.
"Not till the summer of 2016* off the coast of Hawaii, since they're only held once every 4 years, like the Olympics or Presidential elections. It will be Julie's first, and yours as well."
"I can go?"
"Sure, with your parents permission. You're a were-mer aren't you, and more importantly my daughter's fiance."
"I have to admit, Julie has become a very important part of my life. It's gotten to the point where I cannot picture a day without her," said Eric, thinking about the jewel of his heart.
"I know the feeling in regards to Melissa. Personally, I think it's because were-mermaids might also be part siren, but in a good way," replied Martin. "Whether they know it or not, they call to us, and we'd be stupid idiots to ignore such love. But like I told you earlier, this," he said, pointing to his head, "can be more in control than this," he added, pointing to his heart, "or any other body part," he concluded, but not pointing to anything else.
"It takes time and concentration. For example, while I was visiting my mother, Melissa was never far from my thoughts. Yet on my way home, I still managed to check in with the Town Hall and had a conversation with my wife about everything that happened while I was away before we gave in to our passions."
"But there are times when I feel so alone and empty without Julie," confessed Eric.
"I do too about Melissa. Maybe it's time we get out of the pool and rejoin the ladies," suggested Martin, before swimming for the steps at the shallow end, as Eric anxiously followed.
MEANWHILE...
Ben Twist managed to finish his homework and was now working on the drawings of his beloved Kenya Adaeze, but despite how he felt about the werepanthress, his heart just wasn't in it at the moment.
Instead, he grabbed the cellphone he wore on the over sized lanyard around his neck and called her.
Each ring felt like an eternity before she finally answered. "Hello, my love," said Kenya, her voice sounding like music to his ears.
"Hello my heart. Hope I'm not interrupting a class, but considering the call I received from you earlier, I just wanted to make sure you were all right."
"That is so sweet. But other than not knowing why there has been an increased security presence on campus, everything is fine. In fact, I'm about to get into my car and head home for dinner and to do my school work for tomorrow."
"It was probably just a stray real bear or something wandering onto the college campus. That does happen from time to time, and you can imagine how they react around weres."
"I see," replied Kenya. Being originally from New York City, she never had to deal with such things before.
"Then does that mean we're still on for tonight?" asked Ben, hopeful.
"You better believe it my handsome werewolf. Besides other things, I'll teach you how to successfully and gracefully climb a tree yet," she teased.
"If anyone can..." he said, feeling a smile cross his face. Then Ben paused, trying to find his courage before saying, "Kenya, I know we've talked about our feelings and the future before, but I want to make it official."
He can't be about to propose to me over the phone. Can he? wondered Kenya.
"I love you Kenya Adaeze," declared Ben.
"And I love you too Benjamin Twist," replied Kenya instantly, happy to hear those words. "After sunset? Our usual spot?"
"I'm looking forward to having you in my paws again."
"Me too," she added happily, before ending the call.
Ben looked at his clock radio and saw it was approaching 5. With sundown about half past 6, he still had plenty of time for a quick shower and meal before leaving his mothers a note and going out on his evening date, so turned back to the drawings he was working on.
One was a close up of Kenya's lovely, smiling face; while the other showed her and him together in the foreground holding hands as regular humans with a certain werepanthress and her werewolf in the background.
With that, Ben sharpened his pencil and went back to his art for awhile.
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*While this series was started in 2015 and celebrates its first anniversary this month, it is the last week of October in that year at the moment.—tmw.