A Mermaid's Tale or Tail

"Seana, stop looking at your birthmarks," Sophia grumbled. Sitting Indian-style on Seana’s twin bed. While Seana stood in front of her full-length mirror, looking at the arc-shaped birthmark under her right arm. Turning and lifting her T-shirt. She could see the same birthmark on her left side. 

“We have been over this a million times, and you asked your mother more times than I can count what they are. She said they were birthmarks. Can we move on?”

Before Seana could respond, Corey breezed into the room, as usual, with the energy of a tropical storm.

“Did the meeting start yet? What did I miss? Is everybody here? Am I still plus one?”

“YES!” replied the other three girls. 

This is the weekly meeting of the Three Musketeers, plus one. Better known as 3MT+1. Seana, Sophia, and Juliana have been friends since kindergarten.

As the three started their freshman year, Corey immediately meshed with the Three Musketeers, and she became their plus one. 

Seana is a tall, slim competitive swimmer. She works to get good grades, not jeopardizing her status on the varsity swim team. Most days, she wears school sweats, Virgin Mary blue ( a little darker than sky blue), and gold. Corey teases Seana that she wears her swimsuit 24/7. 

The weekly meeting of the 3MK+1 is called to order. This is a busy weekend for all of us, so let’s get started,” said Seana, the group's natural leader.

Juliana pulled her head out of the French book she was studying. 

“Every spare minute, I’ll be studying French. I must ace the French exam next week to keep my average up. For extra credit, I will be on the French float in the homecoming parade. I will see all of you at the game tomorrow night. Right!”

“Right! Right! Right!” chorused the other three. 

Cory reported, “I will be marching with the band and playing at the game, so I hope all of you will sit near the band so we can hang out.” 

“Sophia, are you with us?”

“Yes, but you know how my parents are; overprotective does not even describe it.” 

“I am supposed to be on the Sophomore float in the parade. They said okay, but they were not sure about the game. You know one must come to the game to be my chaperone.” Sophia scrunched up her face and put the chaperone in air quotations. 

“Well, on that note, I will close the weekly meeting 3MT+1.”

Seana pulled out her gavel, a large rubber, gray seal, and slapped it on her leg as the girls yelled, “Go Seals.”

 “Remember, my mom wants you to come for brunch on Sunday.” She is acting weird about my birthday. “Sophia, can you hang back and help me pick out a dress for the Homecoming Dance  unless you want me to wear one of my many tracksuits”

“That will not do,” Sophia said as she headed to the closet. “Which of these beautiful finds will you be wearing Saturday night.” 

Sophia stuck her upper body in the closet, came out with a navy blue dress on a hanger, and held it in front of Seana.

“What do you think, girlfriend? With a silver necklace and black ballet flats, you would rock it.” 

Seana looked at herself in the mirror, scrunching up her face and tipping her head from one side to the other. "I am not sure."

“OK! Next.” Sophia pulled another dress out of the closet. 

“Let me present dress number two. It’s a blue and purple tie-dye fabric with a touch of pink. The design is a slight A-line that would go great with your ankle-high suede boots.” 

“Ok, Seana, which dress do you choose? I recommend dress number one, simple and elegant, for your 16th birthday.”

“Girls, it is time for dinner,” shouted Seana’s mom Lucy.