Chapter 4.1 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.3

Generation Four: Orange

Appearance: Orange hair, Island clothing style
Traits: Foodie, Good, Active
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Occupation: Lifeguard
House Goal: 40,000 worth

The Lonely Gnome

Morning dawned somewhere beyond the fog, and ... somehow... when I waded back to shore, there was a Gnome sitting next to my mailbox. Oh yeah. It's Harvestfest. Pangs of loneliness assailed me as I realized this was the first time I'd even not been around my family and friends for a holiday. Feelin maudlin, I pulled out my phone and flipped through my contacts. One caught my eye. My biological Father. Sure, I'd always known he hadn't been a Mermaid, and that my beloved Dad, Kado, wasn't my actual Father. We just had never really talked about my real Father much. So, on a whim, I tried out the new Social Bunny app on the phone, and sent him a friendly message. I had no idea what would come of it, but at least I'd made the first step.

Then, I decided to check my messages. Sure enough, I'd gotten both jobs I'd applied for.. and I started the lifeguard one tomorrow morning! Luckily, I had another day or two to raise the money I needed for my dive gear for the other job, and a lovely swimsuit top had been included in the purchases Mom and I had made. Of course, it hadn't occurred to either of us that I needed a bottom for when I wasn't in the ocean, too.... so I was going to have to save for that.

On my way back from getting my food stall breakfast, I was startled to find a strange red-haired man standing awkwardly by my Mailbox (and gnome). I hesitated, but he noticed me watching him, so I had to put on a quick friendly face and wave a hand in greeting. To my surprise, he introduced himself as Rua - my biological father. He apologized for just showing up on my doorstep, but having seen the state of my Mother's house in the beginning of her stint as Naiades family Matriarch, he was concerned that I might be suffering the same fate. With a shrug, he motioned to the gnome.

"I see you have a friend." He joked.

"Well... yes. He just showed up on my.. um.. doorstep this morning. I suspect he's here because of Harvestfest. I do wonder what he wants, though. I mean, it's not like I have a huge amount of things to offer him." I replied with a wry smile.

"I find that the usual way to welcome a gnome is with a pie. If you'd like, I can go grab one for you? I know someone locally who makes pies that gnomes really seem to like. It won't take me but a few minutes to go get one." He asked, then sort of wrung his hands in nervousness.

"Um.. sure?" I said, because clearly he wanted to help me in some way, and getting a pie for a gnome seemed a rather harmless way to let him help.

Before long, he was back, and I offered the pie to the gnome, who was so pleased he apparently sprouted a halo. Shrugging, I left him to his pie and went to thank Rua.

"Rua... I very much thank you for the pie, but - despite appearances - I am not in need of rescuing. I already have a healthy chunk of money saved towards building my home, and I should have a roof over my head within the next few days. Part of my inheritance conditions is that I have to do it all myself. Thank you, though, for thinking of me. Perhaps, after my house is built - and I have some dining room furniture - I could make you dinner and we could get to know each other a bit better?" I said slowly, consideringly - trying to be very careful with my words so I wouldn't offend him.

"Oh. Are you sure?" He replied, then took a long, pointed look around at my empty beach, "Are you certain I cannot loan you some money so you can get a house sooner rather than later?"

"I'm sure. But.. thank you, anyway." I smiled widely at him, and waved goodbye as he hopped on his expensive jetski and revved it up. He waved goodbye a little sadly, then took off at a breakneck pace.

Feeling more lonely now than I had before his impromptu visit, I plopped my rear down on my nearly empty beach, and fought tears for a while. Finally, I sighed, and really started considering my situation. I hadn't lied to Rua. I DID have a healthy bank account towards my house, but I had no idea how to get started on it. I know Mom had just contacted the local contractors directly and had them start with a little hut... but I was very sure that I didn't want to do that. I wanted a REAL house. You know, one designed my architects. Which brought my mind back to my boyfriend, Magnus, who had expressed dreams of being an architect like his Dad. I wondered if his Dad would be willing to design me a nice beach house for a reasonable fee.. and as the sun was already starting to set, I decided to just take a chance and give Magnus a ring to ask.

A 30 second phone call later, and I was literally sitting on the beach staring bemusedly at my now-silent phone.

Fifteen minutes later, Magnus showed up and gave me a hug. I dodged a kiss aimed at my cheek, though... and suddenly, epiphany struck. It was like a light bulb went off over my head, and I wondered silently, with a silly little giggle, why the beach wasn't suddenly brighter.

Magnus gave me a slightly strange look, and asked what it was I wanted, but my mind was elsewhere, and I missed his question. I had suddenly realized that there really was no future for the two of us. I had dated him because he was cute, and ... he was there... not because we had any sort of chemistry. Now that we had both graduated and grown up - I honestly couldn't see him as anything more than a friend. Sighing, I realized he was still just looking at me expectantly, and with a slightly worried expression.

"Uh.. what'd you say?" I asked, hoping I hadn't missed something major.. and praying it hadn't been anything about our romantic future.

"I asked what you wanted to ask me. You know, the reason you called me. Not that - of course - you need to have a reason to call me, you know, but you sounded like you really had a question." he said, smiling at me, but somehow realizing he ought to keep his distance.

Sighing, I wondered how I was going to break it to him that I really only wanted to be friends. "Um.. Magnus, I think we need to talk."

"We do?" he asked, starting to look rather concerned. "What's wrong, Charlie?"

"Nothings... wrong." I paused, again trying to sort through words so as not to hurt someone's feelings for the second time in as many hours. "I just.. " I wrung my hands, glanced at the vacantly staring gnome, then continued in a rush or words, "I don't know how to say this other than just coming right out with it. I'd rather us just be friends."

"Oh. Well, was that why you called earlier?" he said, cocking his head to the side a bit, "For some reason, I thought you had another question."

I gave him a sheepish look. "I did."

"Well, perhaps we should get to that .. but, just for the record, I've always been your friend. Not dating anymore isn't going to change that." he said, laying a hand on my shoulder.

Sighing, I answered, "You're not upset?"

"Not in the slightest. It was just a teenage fling... and if you hadn't said something, I was going to. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings." he assured me.

"Oh! Geez. Same here. So.. Friends?" I asked, holding a hand out.

With a grin, he shook my hand, and replied resolutely, "Friends."

I glanced over at his expensive jet-ski, and wondered silently what it was with men on jet-skis today. With a grin, I motioned to the sand, and asked him if he'd like to help me make a sand gnome so my little friend would have company for the night.

Magnus laughed, and agreed, kneeling down to collect some damp sand and start packing it into a mound.

As the sand-gnome started to take shape, I asked him about his architect dreams. He replied that they were on hold for the moment as he earned money working for the construction company so that he could help pay for University. He didn't want his Dad to pay for everything.... plus, working at the construction company would show him how houses were actually built - which would be good to know when he started designing them. There was also a scholarship for construction workers he could apply for in a year or two.

Impressed, I finally got to the reason I had originally called him. "I'm... um.. looking for someone to design a house for my little strip of land here. I was wondering how much your Dad charges."

"Oh! Why didn't you just say so!" he replied, and laughed loudly. A couple of seagulls took off from nearby in surprise, catching my attention, and it finally occurred to me that the sun was long gone by now. He continued, "For a good friend of mine, I'm sure he'd be willing to waive his fee. Especially for a Mermaid family as famous as yours." he winked, and said he'd talk to him tomorrow, and have his Dad call me.

By this time, the sand-gnome was done, and I stifled a yawn. It had been a long, and rather.. strange.. day. I was tired.

Magnus, to his credit, took the hint, and we hugged goodbye with a laugh. He then looked around with a confused smile, and asked, "Where are you camping?"

"Um.. I'm not." I replied, "I sleep in the ocean. Old Mermaid trick. You'd be amazed at how comfortable it is."

He gave me a weird look, then shrugged, and walked towards his jet-ski, "Okay then... have a nice night, then. At least it's not supposed to rain this week!"

I waved goodbye, and waded out into the sea, thinking to myself that it wouldn't matter if it was raining. Mermaids could fix that. I yawned again, and swam a bit off the shore again, then flipped over to float in the gentle waves. Before long, I was deeply asleep, dreaming of angry gnomes shaking fists at seagulls poo-ing on them...

...But I didn't remember the dream when I woke up. I took the little gnome to the curio shop and sold him, and was just browsing when my phone rang. Startled, I answered it.

It turned out it was Magnus' Dad. He noted that he had an appointment open that afternoon, and would I be interested in coming over so we could go over some details and design ideas.

I agreed, and a short while later, I met him at his very posh office in a fancy little modern building on the beach. We talked about house styles, and I showed him pictures of my land. He commented that he had looked at that particular property himself, but the city had apparently had it reserved for future Naiades heirs (or, me, as the case may be...) Before very long, he had pulled out some sample plans, and was sketching a custom design just for me. I pointed out details on the samples that I liked, and before long, we had a workable plan. He had designed a house that could be built in phases, so as to accommodate my budget. Or lack of budget. We laughed over that, and I let him know exactly how much I had available for the initial build. He seemed surprised that I had as much as that, and commented that - for that amount, he could get the entire first floor and pier built this week.

Startled, I agreed, and told him I'd bring the money by later that evening. Which I did. ... After wandering around the town in a bit of a daze, reeling at how easy it had been to get a shell of a house built, and how soon it would be there. I stopped by the bank, then by Magnus' Dad's office, and then headed home. The next day I was to start work, and I definitely needed to be awake for Lifeguard training!

Chapter 4.1 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.3