The Mermaid's Twin Sister
Every Sunday， after Mama， Daddy， and me come back from church and eat lunch， we pack up the car and go to Maracas Beach. At the beach we find a good spot between two coconut trees and lay out the towels. Then Mama sits and reads a book and daddy and me carry the raft down to the water and pretend we are sailing for a new island.
But one Sunday of the year we never ever go to the beach， and that is Easter Sunday. In fact， nobody I know goes to the beach on that Sunday. We go to church and then come back home and eat a big lunch， but we don't go anything else for the rest of the day. All we do is sit on the porch and watch the sunset. Every Easter I asked Mama why we can't go to the beach like other Sundays. But she would only shake her head and say， "Because I say so."
Then this Easter she told me why. She said， "Amber， if you swim in the sea on Easter， you go turn into a mermaid and you go never come back." I could see from her face that she wasn't joking.
When I asked Tantie about it later， she nodded her head. "Your mama didn't tell you before， because she's afraid you may want to try it and see yourself. But if it is true， and those mermaids never come back from the sea."
"But Tantie， who knows those who go swimming will turn into a mermaid？"
Tantie gave me a look that say， "You go doubt me？" I glanced away. But I was feeling doubtful. I mean it wasn't like I ever hear Tantie or Mama say they saw a mermaid. And I sure never did see one. But I didn't say another word. And Tantie went on inside the house to talk to Mama， leaving me outside watching the sun go down and wondering what would really happen if I went swimming on Easter Sunday.
A few days later， Tantie came over and brought a friend with her： Her eyes were gray and quiet like the early morning mists that rise off the sea in the rainy season. And her skin was smooth and bright like polished stones. She had long， black hair that wrapped around her shoulders like a pair of arms.
"Amber，" said Tantie， "this is my good friend， Miss Pascal. We known each other since we both younger than you." I smiled at Miss Pascal and kissed her cheek. But I was wondering if I had heard right. This woman couldn't have grown up with Tantie. She was much younger than my mama. But when she said hallo， her voice was crackly like dried coconut tree branches.
Tantie and Miss Pascal stayed for the whole afternoon. Mama brought out a tray with tall glasses of mauby and a plate of currant rolls and sipping the spicy coldness. Then the sun starter going down and the crickets began singing. Tantie and Miss Pascal were talking about old times. Mama picked up some sewing from her basket. And I sat there watching as people passed by on the street.
Then I heard Miss Pascal say softly to Tantie， "I don't know how long Tilly go stay with them mermaids. Been over fifty years now." Well， I didn't understand that at all. I kept real quite and wished those crickets would hush up so I could hear.
"You know，" Miss Pascal went on， "I always wonder what she doing with those mermaids all day long. Delphine， you think they having a good time down there？" Well， I could feel， more than see， Tantie shrug her shoulders. "I don't know， Jill. But Tilly always loved the sea more than all of us， so she bound to be happy there."
Well， I couldn't take it no more. I turned around so that Tantie could see I was listening to Them. I was diping she would tell me who Tilly and the mermaids were before I burst from not knowing. Tantie looked at me real seriously and said， "You want to know what happen？"
I nodded my head and sat down fast between their chairs before she could change her mind. I waited for Tantie to tell the story， but it was Miss Pascal who starter to speak. "I was there，" she said， "when my twin sister Tilly turn into a mermaid."
"What？" I shouted. "Your sister is a mermaid？"
Tantie put a hand on my shoulder. I sat back and tried to control the trembling that was taking over my body.
Miss Pascal started her story again. "Fifty years ago， me and my twin sister Tilly were twenty years old." But I gasped out loud. Something terrible was happening here. Miss Pascal was a young woman！ "Miss Pascal， you not seventy years old，" I wailed. Tantie patted my arm and kept her hand there. I got quite. "Me and Tilly were exactly alike，" said Miss Pascal. "We looked the same. We walked the same， and we dressed the same. We even liked the same things. More than anything else， we loved the sea. Every day when we were little girls， we would go down to the sea and count shells or make rafts from fallen tree branches and seaweed ropes. When we got older， we would go to the sea after work and swim. We swam like fish far， far out in the sea."
Miss Pascal stopped and took a deep breath. Tantie handed her the glass of mauby. I was going to ask a question， but Tantie pressed on my arm， so I kept quiet. Then Miss Pascal went on. "I think Tilly began liking the sea even more than me. She never wanted to do anything else but float over the waves or dive deep down and touch the bottom. I started liking other things besides the sea. And sometimes I just wanted to read a book instead of going to the sea. But Tilly went every day.
Then one Easter Sunday， when no one goes swimming ever， Tilly decided she would go. "Tilly，" I begged， "Don't go today. You know no one supposed to go swimming on Easter." But she didn't listen to me. She went down to San Souci， which right next to where we lived in Toco， and she waded far， far out. I followed Tilly to san Souci and stood on a rock to watch her because I did not know what else to do. The tide was out and for a long way the water only came to Tilly's knees. Then she was so far out that I could barely see her. I watched her tiny body dancing with the waves. I was hoping she would see she was swimming on Easter.
But Tilly just kept on dancing with the waves， waving her arms in the air like a water fairy. I shaded my eyes from the sun and watched as hard as I could. But then I couldn't see her anymore. I took off my Sunday dress and waded in."
"Miss Pascal" I interrupted， "you went swimming on Easter Sunday too？ And you not a mermaid！" I gave Tantie a look as if to say， "See？"
"Miss Pascal not finish， Amber，" said Tantie.
Miss Pascal took another sip of mauby. I could see she was having a hard time telling this story， so I reached up and put my hand on her knee. "Is okay. You don't have to finish the story，" I said. Although I was dying to find out what happen next. Miss Pascal shook her head. "NO， the rest of the story is the most important.
I swam out to where Tilly had been. But she was gone. I dove beneath the waves and looked for her. I shouted her name. I swam up and down and all around for a long time until I was so tired， I didn't think I could ever swim back in. I turned on my back to float and rest and think what to do. And that's when I saw her.
"Tilly？" I called softly. "Is that you， Tilly？" I was whispering because my voice was hoarse from shouting. But she didn't answer. She swam in front of me， pulling my long hair gently so I drifted behind her. She was heading toward the shore. And she swam quick like a fish， slicing through the water even smoother than she ever had before.
And when we got to the shallows， she let go my hair and whispered in a voice that sounded like a cloud floating on the sea. "They don't know it's two of us. So go now and be my earth self， and I'll be your water self." Before I could answer， she turned fast and swam away. And all I could see was a long， beautiful fish slicing the waves."
Miss Pascal stopped talking and picked up her mauby glass again. I sat on the floor and not a word could come out my mouth. Tantie and Mama didn't say anything either.
Then far off in the clear evening air， I heard the happy notes of a steel band playing. We sat and listened until it stopped. The stars had come out bright in the dark sky， and Miss Pascal sat glowing in starlight.
"Tilly never came back，" she said softly， looking right at me. "And I never grow old."
Daddy came home soon after that and drove Miss Pascal home. I stayed outside on the Porch with Tantie， feeling the night's sweet coolness all around me.
"Amber，" Tantie said in a soft voice， "Miss Pascal is the same way for the past fifty years. She look the same now as when she and Tilly went swimming on that Easter Sunday. And she say the only reason she didn't turn into a mermaid was because the sea was confused. It didn't know was two of them. So Miss Pascal got away. But she knows the truth of swimming on Easter Sunday， and she wanted to tell you herself."
"But how she could look the same after all these years， Tantie？" I asked.
Tantie shrugged. "I don't know， but it have something to do with her twin sister， Tilly."
"Maybe she want to stay the same， so Tilly would recognize her if she came back from the sea." I suggested.
"Maybe，" said Tantie. And both of us got quiet with our own thoughts. I know I go never ask to go swimming on Easter Sunday again.
每个星期天，我和爸爸妈妈从教堂礼拜回来，吃完午餐后，我们就坐上车前往玛拉卡斯海滩。在海滩上，我们在两棵椰树之间找到了一个很好的场地，摊开毛巾，妈妈坐在上面看书，我和爸爸就驾着木筏顺流直下，假装要前往一个新的岛屿。
但是，有一个周日，我们却没去海滩。那天刚好是复活节，但是，就我所知那天没有人去那个海滩。我们礼拜回家后，吃了一顿丰盛的午餐，然后好好休息了一下，没有去任何地方玩。我们坐在门廊里，看着太阳落山。每次过复活节，我总是问妈妈为什么我们不去以前每个星期天都要去的海滩。妈妈总是摇摇头说：“我说不能去就不能去。”
可是，这个复活节，妈妈却告诉了我原因。她说：“安珀，如果你在复活节那天在海里游泳时，你将会变成美人鱼，就永远不能回来了。” 从她脸上的表情，我看得出妈妈不是在开玩笑。
后来，我问坦蒂时，她也点点头说：“你妈妈以前没有告诉你，是她害怕你自己去试，自己去弄个明白。不过她说的确实是真的，那些美人鱼从没有从大海中回来。”
“但是，坦蒂，谁知道去游泳就会变成美人鱼啊？”
坦蒂看了我一眼，说：“你怀疑我说的话？”我赶忙移开我的目光。但是我确实很怀疑。我认为事实不太可能像坦蒂和妈妈说的那样。我也确信他们并没有看见过美人鱼，不过我也没有说什么。坦蒂回到房间和妈妈说话，我一个人待在外面看日落，想着如果我在复活节的那天去游泳，到底会发生什么呢？
几天之后，坦蒂过来了，带了她的一个朋友。她的眼睛是灰色的，就像雨季的早晨，海面上升起的雾。她的皮肤非常的好，就像经过打磨的石头一样光滑明亮。她黑色的长发盘卷在肩膀上，就像一双手。
“安珀，”坦蒂说，“这是我的好朋友帕斯卡小姐。我们在比你现在还小的时候就认识了。”我对帕斯卡笑笑，亲了下她的脸颊。但是领我纳闷的是我这个女人不可能和坦蒂一样大，她比我的妈妈还要年轻许多。
当她说“你好”的时候，她的声音如此的清脆，就像干枯的椰子树分叉时发出的声音。
坦蒂和帕斯卡小姐整个下午都待在一起。妈妈拿出一个托盘，上面放有盛满莫比饮料的高脚杯和一盘葡萄干，妈妈吮吸着加了香料的冷饮。在太阳开始落山，蟋蟀开始唱歌的时候，坦蒂和帕斯卡小姐开始聊起往事。妈妈从篮子里拿起东西开始干针线活，我则坐在那里看着街上来来往往的行人。
我听见帕斯卡小声地对坦蒂说：“我不知道蒂莉和美人鱼们待了多久，也许已经有50多年了。”天哪，我根本无法理解。我刻意把我的心平静下来，真希望那些蟋蟀也能闭上嘴巴，好让我能听清楚。
“你也知道，”帕斯卡继续说，“我总是想她和那些美人鱼在一起整天做什么呢。戴尔芬，她们在下面过得开心么？”
天哪，现在我的感觉胜过我所看见的，坦蒂耸耸她的肩膀。“我不知道，吉尔。但是蒂莉总是更爱大海，而不怎么爱我们。因此，她注定要在大海中才快乐”
天哪，我再也受不了，我转过脸，故意让坦蒂知道我正在听他们说话。我非常希望她能够告诉我蒂莉和那些美人鱼到底是谁。坦蒂严肃地看着我说：“你想知道到底发生了什么事吗？”
我点点头，并趁她们没有改变主意之前赶紧坐在他们中间，等着坦蒂告诉我整个故事。然而，却是帕斯卡小姐开口说话了，“我的孪生妹妹蒂莉变成美人鱼时，我在场。”
“什么？”我喊道。“你的妹妹是美人鱼？”
坦蒂按住我的肩膀，我背靠着，极力控制住我激动得颤抖的身体。
帕斯卡小姐接着讲她的故事。“50年前，我和我的孪生妹妹蒂莉，当时都20岁了。” 我不仅尖叫了起来，她们一定发生了可怕的事情，帕斯卡小姐还很年轻！“帕斯卡小姐，你看上去并没有70岁啊，”我喊道。坦蒂拍拍我的胳膊，她的手还放在那里。我平静下来。“我和蒂莉很像，我们看上去一模一样，我们走路一样，穿的一样。我们甚至喜欢同样的东西。我们也同样喜欢大海。当我们还是小女孩的时候，我们每天都要下海，数贝壳，乘着木筏跨过倒下的椰子树和海草织起的绳子。我们岁数大点后，工作和游泳后就去海边。我们像鱼一样游向大海的深处。”
帕斯卡停了下来，长长的舒了一口气。坦蒂递给她一杯莫比饮料。我想提问的时候，坦蒂按住我的胳膊，我只好保持安静。帕斯卡接着说：“我想蒂莉开始比我更喜欢大海了。比起其它事来，她更想在海浪上漂浮，深深的潜入海水中触摸海底。我开始喜欢除了海洋以外的东西，有时只想读书而不想去大海。但是蒂莉每天都要去大海。”
在复活节的星期天，没有人去游泳，而蒂莉却决定去海边。“蒂莉，”我求她说：“今天不要去了，你知道没有人在复活节的这一天去大海的。”但是，她没有听我的话。她去了圣苏西海岸，这个地方在我们住的旁边。她涉水很远，一头潜入水中。我跟着她来到圣苏西海边，站在礁石上看着她，因为我不知道我还能做什么。潮汐慢慢退却，在很长一段时间海水只到达她的膝盖。她游得太远了，我都不能看见她了。我看见她小小的身体在浪尖中起伏，我真希望她能明白她是在复活节的这一天游泳的。
可是，蒂莉一直在浪尖起舞，在空中挥舞着她的手，就像水中的仙女。太阳太亮，我用手遮着眼睛，远远地望着她。但是，我再也看不见她了，我脱掉我的周末礼服，跳入水中。
“帕斯卡小姐，” 我打断她的话说，“你也在复活节的周天游泳？你不是一个美人鱼！”我看了坦蒂一眼示意她：“你明白我说的？”
“帕斯卡还没有说完呢，安珀，” 坦蒂说。
帕斯卡小姐又喝了一口莫比酒。我知道她给我们讲述这个故事的时候她心里很难受，我就再靠近她些，把手放在她的膝盖上。尽管我还是非常想知道故事的下回如何，可是我还是说了：“好了，你不要非把故事讲完。”
帕斯卡小姐摇了摇头说：“不，接下来的内容最重要。
我游到蒂莉在的地方，可却发现她已经不见了。我潜到海浪底下找她，喊着她的名字，我在到处上下游来游去的，找了好长时间，我都累的以为自己游不回去了呢。我仰面漂在水面上休息下，考虑下怎么办，可这时我看见她了。
“蒂莉？”我轻声地喊。“是你吗，蒂莉？”我的嗓子喊得嘶哑，声音变得很小。她没有回答，我在我前面游着，轻柔地拉着我的长发，我在她后面漂动着。她朝海岸的方向游去，速度像鱼一样快，穿梭于海水之间，甚至比她以前游得还要好。
我们达到浅滩后，她撩拨下我的长发，趴在我耳边小声对我说，声音就像云朵漂过海面一样轻柔，“他们不知道我们是两个人，因此现在就走了，成为了我自己的天地，我将是海水。”我还没有回答，她就快速转头游走了。我只看见一条美丽的长长的鱼划过波浪。
帕斯卡小姐不在说话了，又拿起了她的莫比酒杯。我坐在地板上，没有说一句话。坦蒂和妈妈也都没有说话。
远望明亮的昏色，我听见一支钢铁乐队在演奏着欢乐的乐谱。我们坐下来听到他们演奏结束。天色变黑，星星出来了，璀璨地点缀着苍茫的夜色。帕斯卡小姐坐着，在星光下显得很耀眼。
“蒂莉不会再回来了，”她声音低缓地说，目光正对着我。“我也不会变老了。”
爸爸之后就回来了，把帕斯卡小姐送回家，我和坦蒂站在门廊外面，感到整个晚上我们既甜蜜又寒冷。
“安珀，”坦蒂声音温柔地说，“帕斯卡小姐和过去50年里一样，她看起来还和当初与蒂莉复活节一起游泳时长得一样。她说她不能变成美人鱼的唯一一个原因就是大海迷惑了。大海不知道他们是俩个人，因此帕斯卡小姐才得以脱离。但是她没有说明周日复活节那天游泳的真相，她只想告诉你她自己的事。
“但是经过那么多年她怎么还和当初长得一样啊，坦蒂？”我问道。
坦蒂耸耸肩说：“我不知道，但肯定和她的孪生妹妹蒂莉有关。”
“也许她想保持原来的样子，这样如果蒂莉从海里回来的话就可以认出她。”我认为。
“也许吧，” 坦蒂说。我们都陷入沉静之中。我知道我再也不会去问在复活节周日游泳的事情了。
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