"Mom, do mermaids like to play in parks too?" Jackson asked, tilting his head.
"Well, I'm not sure, sweetie," Mom chuckled, gently brushing his hair. "But parks are for everyone, even magical creatures!"
Jackson, a brave and elegant five-year-old, loved dragons and climbing. He imagined mermaids, with their shiny tails and long hair, would love the park near their house in Houston. He decided to find out!
The park was buzzing with life. Squirrels scampered up trees, birds sang cheerful songs, and children giggled as they played tag. The air smelled like fresh-cut grass and sweet blossoms. Jackson, holding his mom's hand, took a deep breath. "Being in nature feels good, Mom!" he exclaimed.
Mom smiled. "It does, Jackson. It reminds us that we're part of something bigger." She pointed to a ladybug crawling on a leaf. "See, even the smallest creatures are important!"
Suddenly, a beautiful melody, like tinkling bells, filled the air. Jackson's eyes widened. "Do you hear that, Mom?" he whispered.
"It sounds like singing," Mom said, her eyes sparkling. "Let's follow the sound!"
They walked deeper into the park, past the swings and the slide, towards a secluded pond hidden by willow trees. And there, sitting on a rock, was the source of the beautiful music!
A mermaid, with emerald green scales that shimmered in the sunlight and hair like spun gold, was combing her long tail. As she sang, butterflies fluttered around her, and dragonflies danced on the water's surface.
Jackson, forgetting to be shy, walked closer. "Hello!" he called out. "My name is Jackson. Are you a real mermaid?"
The mermaid stopped singing and turned. Her eyes were like deep blue oceans. "I am," she said, her voice as sweet as honey. "My name is Coral."
"Wow!" Jackson exclaimed. "Do you like our park?"
"It's lovely," Coral said, smiling. "So much nature to enjoy! The trees, the flowers, the animals. It's important to protect these things, you know."
Jackson nodded seriously. He knew being in nature meant respecting it too. "Will you sing another song?" he asked.
Coral laughed, a sound like rippling water. "Of course! This one is about the importance of keeping our waters clean."
As Coral sang, Jackson and his mom listened, mesmerized. Even the squirrels and birds seemed to quiet down to listen. When the song ended, Jackson clapped his hands. "That was amazing!"
"Thank you," Coral said. "Now, I must go. But it was lovely meeting you, Jackson. Remember to appreciate and protect this beautiful planet!"
With a flick of her tail, Coral slipped back into the pond. Jackson and his mom watched as the water settled, the only evidence of the mermaid a few shimmering scales left on the rock.
Walking back hand-in-hand, Jackson told his mom all about his mermaid encounter. "Coral is right," Jackson said thoughtfully. "We have to take care of nature!"
"She is," Mom agreed. "And we can start by appreciating all the wonders it holds."
That night, back in his room in Houston, Jackson drifted off to sleep. He dreamt of singing mermaids, playful squirrels, and beautiful parks filled with the magic of nature. He knew, even without robot arms, he could be brave and protect the world around him, just like a superhero.
