Ariel looked around and sighed happily. Sunshine was streaming in through the palace windows. On the dining room table, glasses sparkled and silverware gleamed.

Early morning was Ariel’s favorite time of day. Her husband, Prince Eric, sat across the table eating breakfast. He glanced up and smiled. Max the dog lay on the floor nearby.

Ariel piled pancakes and fruit high on her plate. Being human definitely has its advantages, she thought. She could even have had waffles and ice cream if she’d wanted to.

“Everything is so peaceful,” Ariel said to Eric. “It’s so quiet and—”

Crash! Ariel and Eric looked up, startled. Something had banged into a nearby window.

A seagull peeled himself away from the glass and rubbed his beak.

“Scuttle!” Ariel cried. “Are you okay?” She opened the window.

“Clear glass!” Scuttle grumbled as he flew into the room. He smoothed his feathers.

“Hello there, Ariel and Prince Eric.” Scuttle bowed clumsily.

Eric laughed. “No need for that, Scuttle. We’re all friends.”

“Sure, sure,” said Scuttle. He glanced at the table. “Is that why you have a nest? You’re keeping it for me!”

Eric looked at Ariel, puzzled. But she was used to Scuttle calling human things by the wrong name. When she’d been a mermaid, he’d told her that a fork was called a dinglehopper and humans used it to comb their hair.

Now that she was a human, Ariel had learned what everything was really called.

Ariel smiled and picked up the bread basket. “Take it!” she said. “It’s yours!”

“Thanks.” Scuttle took the basket, and admired it. “Oh! I just remembered! I was carrying something. I must have lost it when I hit the glass. Now, where can it be?”

Scuttle flew outside, then back inside. He searched up and down and all around. Finally, he landed on the window ledge.

A card was tucked under his wing.

“For you,” he told Ariel.

The princess opened the card. “Why, it’s an invitation!” she exclaimed. “Adella is having a birthday party today.”

Ariel had six mermaid sisters, and Adella was one of them. Mermaid birthdays were always fun. Eagerly, Ariel read the card:

“Of course I’ll come,” Ariel said.

“I’ll deliver the news,” the seagull said, flying off.

Ariel stood up. “I’d better get ready,” she told Eric. “I have to bring a present. Maybe that music box I saw in the village…” Her voice trailed off. “Oh, Eric, I’ll miss you. Maybe I should stay here.…”

Prince Eric reached for her hand. “Of course you should be with your family, Ariel. Max and I will be fine on our own.”

Woof, woof, Max whimpered.

“Come on, Max,” Eric said. “I’ll miss her, too. But it won’t be so bad. After all, it’s just for one night!”