In the town of Paluay, when the little boys go out run and play, one boy remained behind. The boys, HEPAS, was lame. he had been sick of a strange disease when he was baby. When he got well, he could not use his legs. He had to use crutches to move about.
Hepas was the son of a fisherman. Because he could not play with other boys, Hepas spent most of his time sitting on the big rock on the seashore watching for his father. He liked to see the vawes dash against the rock. But he was careful not to fall into the water because he could not swim. When the tide was high, the water rose to just a few inches below the rock.
He often sat there until late in the afternoon. He loves to watch the rats of the setting sun reflected on the waves.
One afternoon, Hepas was tossing pebbles into the sea . He had been very sad. He had just seen boys playing and running around. It made him sad to think that he could never do as they did. Because he did not want to feel sorry for himself, he thought it best to amuse himself by throwing stones into the sea, and noting the splash they made.
Then he was something coming out of the water.It look like the head of a little girl. It was a little girl! He rubbed his eyes. He thought he was dreaming ----but there she was , a pretty girl with light brown hair. She swam toward the rock where he sat . Easily she pulled herself up on the rock. Hepas was frightened. Half of her body from the waist down was that of a fish bit from the waist up she was a pretty little girl.
She laughed at him. "Don't be afraid. I am a mermaid. And I know you are a little boy. I live far out there--deep under the sea. Once I was playing with some fish. They swam away. I followed them here and I saw you . I always saw you after that. At first I was afraid of you, but after watching you many times, I knew you are a kind little boy."
Hepas could only Smile shyly. He asked "How can you live under the water?"
"We can breathe even in the water. The sea is our home. We would die if we brought on dry land." And the mermaid started to describe to Hepas the wonders of their king and of the beautifully colored plants and animals in the sea. Hepas couldn not believe her.
Where are the boys and girls? Why are you always alone?" She asked. Hepas told her that little boys and two good legs and that they usually played at run about. But he was lame and could not two do these things, so he just watched the sea. They became very good friends after that first meeting.
The little mermaid often watched for hepas. Sometimes she brought him nicely colored shells and plants from the bottom of the sea .
One day the mermaid appeared early. She was very much excited." My grandmother said you may come with me to our home today."she said .
" But I can't swim." Hepas protested.
The mermaid produced a small flask." Drink this oil,quick,and you can stay in the water like me without getting drowned."
Hepas drank the oil and slowly he slid into the water .He was surprised to find himself swimming as easily as the mermaid did.
On their way to the bottom of the sea,the mermaid warned him"Never mention anything about the land or your home while we are under the sea." Hepas promised.The mermaid explained to him that people can stay under the sea as long as they do not think about their home.
All along the way hepas delightfully admiring the wonderful seaweeds the fishes of various colors and sizes.He had never seen such beauty on land .No wonder the mermaid is very happy,he thought. At the bottom of the sea they came to the mermaid's home. It was made of red,dark brown and white coral. It was decorated with shells with the colors of the rainbow.
"This is my garden," the mermaid said as they passed through tall seaweeds that look like trees. Red-orange anemones were like wildflowers on the sand. They enter the door which was a large conch shell.
"Come,let's us eat," the mermaid said and they sit down for the meal. They eat fish egg which taste like grapes. There were heaps and heaps of succulent seaweeds.But most of all Hepas liked what looked like noddles but was so delicious -he had never tasted anything like it before.
"That is from the belly of certain sea cucumbers," the mermaid explained."Yes ,I know,land people have never tasted anything like it."
Then Hepas change to look through the window of the mermaids home.He pass was large school of fish. He remembered his father.He said loud "Oh,if my father could catch fish like these everyday he will be able to earn much.It would mean better clothes for my mother and much food for us."
The mermaid gave a stiffled scream of despair and fear." Oh,Hepas!" was all she said.Then Hepas remembered her warning,but it was too late.He had said something about his home, his mother and father who lived on land.
Before he realized what was happening, he was back on the rock fumbling and blue cowrie shell which the little mermaid had given him.
The mermaid was there in the water.She was crying."Why did you have to mention your father and your mother? You could have stayed with us forever under the sea if you hadn't. Now you will never see me again," and the mermaid swam away.
" Wait!"Hepas shouted but the mermaid disappeared.
For many days Hepas set and watched for the mermaid, but she never shown up.Then one day, as he sat on the rock,he heard a big splash. He thought it was a mermaid,but no one appeared. Then he heard a voice,"If you still like to come and stay with us in the sea kingdom ,-you can You can live there forever.But you must promise not to mention or even think about your father and your mother."
Hepas made a move as if to leave the rock.He really wanted to live in that beautiful undersea kingdom,but how could he leave his father and his mother?" No ,I can't leave my motherand my father."
"Then goodbye forever," moaned a soft voice.He heard another splash and then all was quite.Hepas know he woul never see the mermaid again.
To this day some people in Paluay still talk about Hepas story about the mermaid.Most of theme of course did not believe him.But an old man was so the blue cowrie shell Hepas had ,believed him.He told the children," Yes,there are mermaids in the depths of the sea."
It is said that the great grandchildren of Hepas possess the blue cowrie which they show to any curious visitors.
"End Of The story"
