Mike stood by the water’s edge, the sound of the Mermaid’s festival nearby, he felt the ocean water rush over his bare feet as he stood near the water line. He looked somewhat strange being bare footed in an official-looking polo shirt and cargo shorts. Still the large camera around his neck gave people a hint of what his job was.
As a local Mike knew that the Mermaid Festival always brought out people who wanted to dress as mermaids and merman. Be it some cheap looking costume they got at one of the booths or professional made tails which costed thousands of dollars.
So being the broke college student, he was yet skilled with his camera and photo editing software he opened a side hustle of taking photos of those people. It actually made him a good amount of money last year, so he was back for year two of his little business.
He looked at his watch, he had a full day of these shoots ahead of him, luckily he had gotten to the beach early enough to claim a spot near a large rock which people seamed to love in their photos and provided a great background/set piece.
Besides the money this job did have a side benefit, some of his clients where rather attractive to look at both the women and the men as well if he was honest. While he never asked any of them out, he had been temped from time to time. He knew he wasn’t the best-looking guy but he knew he could hold his own. Fit but not over the top with a short blonde hair around his blue eyes.
He was lost in thought as the water rushed over his bare feet again, unaware that just standing in that water was infecting him and everyone else who touched it with a virus which would forever change humanity.
The mermaid virus.
“Are you the photographer?” asked a voice as Mike turned toward his client ready to start taking their photos unaware that his and their day was about to change forever.