It is a well-known fact that Merpeople love to sing. Their vocal cords are uniquely designed to produce sounds that travel underwater.
In Meeshell’s kingdom, Merchoirs existed for every age group, and while not everyone joined, everyone could sing. And sing well. So while under the water, Meeshell’s voice sounded similar to the other mermaid voices—perfectly in tune and fluid like the water itself. And like her friends, she mastered many sea-creature languages, which required a variety of sounds that human vocal cords cannot produce. So even though she was a princess, when Meeshell sang in the kelp grotto with her friends, she was simply a member of a choir, equal in tonality and harmony.
However, when Meeshell surfaced, which Merpeople often do, her voice changed in a unique way. It sounded…human. According to the Sea Witch, an avid collector of voices, Meeshell’s above-water voice was magnificent. Breathtaking. The most beautiful voice the Sea Witch had ever heard. It was something to be coveted.
But none of the other Merpeople seemed impressed with this discovery. It was tradition to sing underwater, and that is where they made most of their music. So the fact that Meeshell sounded human above the water did not cause a commotion. Except with the Sea Witch.
“Why does your mom collect voices?” Meeshell asked Coral one day. Coral often swam behind Meeshell and her friends, never joining in, but always there, watching.
“She hates her own voice,” Coral said. There was good reason. The Sea Witch, who was only part mermaid, had a voice dark as a storm and prickly as a sea urchin. “So she likes to try on other voices, like trying on a new hat. Your mom’s was once her favorite.”
The Sea Witch had possessed Queen Pearl’s voice, but only for a short time. That changed when the story went in another direction and Prince Philip fell in love with his Little Mermaid and agreed to live below the waves with her.
“True love always breaks spells,” Coral said. She looked slyly at Meeshell. “Do you know why my mom wants your voice?”
“She likes the way it sounds,” Meeshell said simply. Everyone knew that.
“Yes, but that’s not the only reason.” Coral swam a little closer. “Mom told me that she’s sick of being the Sea Witch. She wants to become a famous singer and travel the world. She thinks your voice will make that happen for her.”
“Really?” Meeshell tried to imagine the Sea Witch living on land, traveling from town to town, putting on concerts. Would someone have to push her around in a tank of water? Or would she be able to magic herself a pair of legs?
Coral and Meeshell swam under a coral arch. “My only regret about being half Sea Witch is that I inherited my mom’s bad voice.”
“No, you didn’t,” Meeshell said honestly. “Your voice is nice.”
Coral laughed. “Nice? Have you ever heard me sing?” Meeshell shook her head. Come to think of it, Coral had never participated in any of the choirs. “I’m terrible. The worst!”
“You can’t be that bad,” Meeshell said.
“You wanna bet?”
They swam to the surface. It was a calm afternoon. The water was as smooth as glass. Coral swam to a reef and sat on a rock. She opened her mouth and…
Meeshell’s fingers flew to her ears. The sounds coming from Coral’s mouth were unlike anything Meeshell had ever heard. The noise started out screechier than a gull, then dipped deeper than a seal’s bark. “Okay, okay,” Meeshell said. “Stop. Please stop.”
Coral closed her mouth. Then she laughed. “I told you so.”
Meeshell climbed onto the rock next to her. “Do you think your mom might give my voice to you instead?” Meeshell brightened at that idea. To give up her voice was a sacrifice she’d been born to make, but to give it to the nasty Sea Witch had always seemed unfair. Giving it to Coral, a nice girl who’d never done anything mean to anyone in the ocean, seemed much more palatable.
“That’s a nice idea, but Mom definitely wants your voice for herself. Besides, I don’t care about singing. It’s totally not my thing.” She dipped her hand into the water and scooped out a little fish. Meeshell cringed, wondering if Coral would eat the fish whole, just like the Sea Witch always did. But Coral got a dreamy look on her face, then released the little creature. “If Mom becomes a famous singer and leaves the ocean, that means that I’ll take her place as the Sea Witch, and you know what I’m going to do with all that power?”
Coral sighed, her shoulders slumped. “Drat. I thought you’d have a good suggestion. I’m not really sure what I want to do.”
“That’s okay,” Meeshell said. “We have a long time before we have to make those big decisions about our lives.”
As they sat on the rock, looking out over the water, both girls knew that destiny was at work. Coral’s magic would get stronger. And Meeshell’s voice would not always belong to her.