Going... Gone!

Jenny stared at the phone for a minute or more, overcome with curiosity but wondering whether she'd be going too far by calling back. *What am I worrying about? She called* me *first!* She thought, smiling and hitting the Reply button on the phone like Mom had shown her. It only rang a few times before the same voice she'd heard before said, "Hello?" "Hi, Michelle?" Jenny grinned, wondering what question to ask first. "Y-yeah..." The tremble in her voice returned, "Jenny? I guess there's a lot of stuff you wanna know and yeah, I am a mermaid, no, I can't tell you why, well, maybe I could. But not right now. And..." Jenny interrupted her with her giggling. "You're a mermaid 'cause you were *born* one, silly. Didn't your mom ever tell you how you were born?" "No, not exactly. Well, um... I've gotta get into the pool now, but you can come over if you want, since you know anyway." Jenny perked up at this, jumping up off her bed and running through the house to find her mom. "Okay! I'm on my way once I ask Mom!" She yelled excitedly. "Bye!" Hanging up the phone, she found her mom in the living room watching TV. "Can I go over to Michelle's house pleeeeaaaase? She invited me over and I've known her since I dunno when!" Mom looked at her with an odd, vaguely amused expression on her face. *"Please?"* Finally, she replied. "Sure, hon. Just be sure to be back by dinner." Mom smiled, and Jenny cheered, running out the door to the house a couple of blocks away.