Moon Lake’s Rec Center was a large two story building. Featuring an indoor gymnasium, squash court, fitness room and many other recreational activities one could envision. But what made the Rec Center popular was their large indoor pool. Double the size of an Olympic sized swimming pool and thirty feet deep in one end; it was used heavily by the aquatic were’s that live in Moon Lake. Primarily the wer-mers as the pool was a fresh water pool.
Douglas pulling into the parking lot of the Rec Center and getting out of the car along with Joan and Darrell. After both he and Joan breaking down in tears; their emotional turmoil of love and lose confusing them, Darrell who is only five years old was surprisingly able to pull them from the brink with his energetic nature and insistence they leave for the pool. Joan agreeing with Douglas that the trip to the storage locker Alyssa had rented can wait; as well as a stop at Awareness, they make their first stop at the Rec Center.
With Darrell being the first to run to the front door; all excited and happy, Douglas and Joan soon follow. Each looking happy, despite the emotions still under the surface. Douglas opening the door and Darrell running right on in, the kid is soon stopped in his tracks when the front desk attendant stepped infront of him.
“Hold on squirt; wait for your parents.”
“Uncle Yogi and Joan are not my parents,” Darrell answering.
“Uncle Douglas,” Douglas reminding Darrell; “and hold up a moment. You’ll have your fun in a bit.”
“Yogi,” the attendant recognizing the sheriff.
“Were-grizzly,” Douglas responding; “my nephew likes the Yogi Bear cartoon.”
“Ah,” the attendant chuckling; “nothing like the classic Hanna Barbara shows. So what will you be using today?”
“The pool,” Douglas pulling out his Rec Room membership; “my nephew and Joan are joining me.”
“Sign here,” the attendant pulling out the sign in sheet; “you know the rules. No running, no horse play and no shifting.”
“It’s the fresh water pool we are heading to,” Douglas looking at the attendant and speaking low; “Darrell may only be five here but you know he is a wer-mer. As a were-mer yourself…”
“Is this his first time swimming in a pool,” the attendant replying.
“It is,” Douglas answering; “his mother, my cousin was going to take him swimming, but she was killed recently.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” the attendant speaks; “So the kid doesn’t know he can…”
“See, Talk and breath underwater,” Douglas finishing; “I’m aware that wer-mers are referred to as the quiet were.
“That is not something we like to have discussed freely,” the attendant looking grim; “who told you of this?”
“Your wer-mer rep,” Douglas smiling; “Andrew Curtis. If you have an issue with it,” Douglas grabbing the towels; “take it up with him.”
*******
Douglas was hit with a splash as Darrell gleefully jumped into the pool. After getting into their swim trunks and meeting Joan as she left the female change room; Darrell could not help himself as he ran towards the pool; jumping in a diving into the water, Darrell giggled as he sank to the bottom and then swam up not realizing he never held his breath when entering the water. Heading out of the pool; Darrell ran and dove back in, he did this repeatedly over and over laughing and giggling all the while.
“So how long before he figures out he can breathe underwater,” Joan asking.
“I don’t think he knows,” Douglas watching the kid have fun as he slowly wades into the pool; “let’s let him have his fun for now.”
“Well I see a diving board I want to use,” Joan zeroing in on the deep end.
“Darrell,” Douglas shouting; “you stay close to me for now.”
“I want to join Joan,” Darrell seeing Joan dive into the water from the small diving board.”
“No,” Douglas swimming to Darrell; “that area is the deep end. Stick to this area for now.”
Darrell sticks out his tongue as he dives underwater. With his hearing far better underwater then above; Darrell notices a few giggles as he sees a boy roughly his age approach him.
“Hi, I’m Josh. What’s your name?”
“Darrell,” Darrell answering; “how are we talking underwater?”
“Because we are the same,” Josh smiling; “wer-mers. Plus have you thought why you’ve never had to hold your breath while underwater?”
“I’m breathing water,” Darrell looking surprised; “how?”
“Didn’t your parents explain it to you,” Josh asking; “your father over there?”
“Uncle,” Darrell answering; “mom never told me about dad.”
“Okay,” Josh responding; “your mommy then.”
“Bad men took my mommy away,” Darrell looking sad; “my uncle is going to make them pay. He is the sheriff,” Darrell speaking up.
“Well,” Josh speaking; “we can talk and breathe underwater because we are wer-mermaids. Mom and dad say all wer-mers can do this. We just have to wait until we are older before we get our tails. I hope min is like dads,” Josh beaming; “red and yellow scales. What about you Darrell?”
“I don’t know,” Darrell answering; “mommy was going to take me swimming but-“
“Barrel,” Both Josh and Darrell hear through the water. Douglas was trying to get Darrell’s attention by calling his name. With Douglas not being a wer-mer; his attempt to speak in the water was muffled and distorted; yet both knew he was calling for Darrell. Swimming up to the surface and seeing his uncle; Darrell is soon joined by Josh.
“I can breathe underwater,” Darrell looking thrilled; and I can talk too!”
“I know,” Douglas chuckling; “who is your friend here?”
“Oh this is Josh,” Darrell beaming; “he is like me as well.”
“I know,” Douglas answering; “so you made a friend already?”
“He swam up to me,” Darrell answering; “is it true? Will I get a tail when I get older?”
“Around when you are fourteen,” Douglas responding; “but first you need to grow up some.”
“Can I play some more,” Darrell speaking; “I want to see how far I can swim.”
“Why don’t you practice your diving some more,” Douglas chuckling; “I’ll even show you how to a belly flop that will make the biggest possible splash.”