Evelyn zoomed through the sparkly blue water! She giggled as bubbles tickled her nose. Swimming was her favorite! "Look, Grandma!" she shouted. "I'm a fish!" Grandma sat on the beach of the deserted island, smiling.
"That's my girl," Grandma said, waving. "But remember, Evelyn, we came here for your homework. Have you found anything about mermaids yet?"
Evelyn pouted. Homework on a deserted island? It didn't seem fair. It all started that morning. Evelyn was supposed to draw a picture of something she learned at school. "I want to draw a mermaid!" she told Grandma.
"Mermaids?" Grandma laughed. "Those are just stories, sweetie."
Evelyn crossed her arms. "But they *could* be real!"
Grandma tapped her chin. "Well, maybe if we went to a deserted island..."
And that's how Evelyn and Grandma ended up on a sunny beach, surrounded by swaying palm trees and sparkling blue water. It was a magical place, but Evelyn still hadn't found any mermaids.
"Maybe they're hiding," Evelyn said, swimming back to shore.
Grandma handed her a towel. "Maybe they only come out at night," she said, winking. "Now, how about we build a sandcastle while we wait? We can make it look just like a mermaid's castle."
Evelyn loved building sandcastles! She helped Grandma pile up the sand, making tall towers and sparkly moats. She even found a shiny shell to put on top, just like a flag.
As the sun began to set, the sky turned all shades of pink and orange. Evelyn and Grandma sat on a big rock, watching the waves.
"Look!" Evelyn cried, pointing. Something shimmered in the water. It swam closer and closer. It was a mermaid!
The mermaid had long, flowing hair, and her tail shimmered like a rainbow. She smiled at Evelyn and sang a beautiful song. Her voice sounded like the ocean, full of whispers and secrets.
Evelyn was speechless. The mermaid swam closer and held out her hand. In it was a beautiful, swirling seashell. Evelyn gently took it.
"Wow," she whispered. "It's beautiful."
The mermaid smiled again and pointed to the sandcastle. Evelyn understood. She picked up the seashell and carefully placed it on top of the tallest tower. It fit perfectly.
The mermaid sang one last song, a happy melody that filled the air. Then, with a flick of her tail, she disappeared beneath the waves.
Evelyn and Grandma stared at the spot where the mermaid had been, then at each other.
"See?" Evelyn whispered. "I told you they were real!"
Grandma laughed, her eyes sparkling. "You were right," she said. "I guess sometimes, the most magical things are real, even if they're just stories."
Evelyn grinned. She couldn't wait to go to school tomorrow and tell all her friends about the real mermaid she met. And the best part? She already had the perfect picture for her homework.
