A- MerWorld Part1

"Daddy!" yelled the impatient Malaya as she rushed through her
castle frantically. "What?" sighed the ignorant father of 5 children,
"Did you lose your shell brush again?" It was about 6:00 in the Titan
household and everyone was busy. Malaya and her family were about to
get out on the road towards Georgia, that is, if Malaya could find her
handcrafted shell brush.
"Yes, why doesn't that Brian just give up?" Malaya's cousin Brian came
over every day at 5:00 and usually managed to hide Malaya's brush that
she "couldn't live without".
Malaya had all sisters and each were one year apart. Malaya happened
to be a 16 year old with a spunky attitude. Her hair was shoulder
length and her pants drawer was full of nothing but jeans. On the other
hand, there was Abbey who was 15. She was the preppy one and she could
never play sports for fear of chipping a nail, or messing up her
smoothly applied makeup. The family was huge of course and it only made
the house seem even more crowded with Jay around. Jay was a selfish
14-year-old brat with no pity for anyone. She was rough and was always
dog piling on Malaya. Last but not least, was Amelia and Terra. Amelia
was an adorable 13 year old, and she loved her mother. She stayed by
her mother every step of the way. Terra was the youngest of the family.
She was 12 years old and didn't really seem to have much of a
personality. Her face always stayed bland, and you never saw her smile
unless she was being tickled.
"Ah ha," exclaimed Malaya, "Found it, he hid it in the laundry
basket!" Now that everything was packed the Titan family was ready to
hit the road. Everyone picked up their bags, Abbey's bag being the
fullest, of course because of all the makeup and accessories. The
family packed into their Nissan Quest and headed out.

"Ah," sighed Malaya, her head out the door of her van, "I can feel the
wind blowing through my hair!" Malaya and her family had had just
arrived in Georgia. "Malaya Elizabeth Titan, get your head in this van
right now!" ordered her mother. Malaya simply rolled her eyes and slid
into her seat. "I can't have any fun with parents around." Malaya
mumbled to herself as she rolled up the window. There was a strong cool
breeze blowing and there was fog near the ground. Abbey and Jay were
both listening to the same song in their headphones and they both were
horribly singing off tune. "Err, cut it out you two it sounds more like
this&;#8230;" Malaya said as she closed her eyes. She got a deep
breath and burst into song. "See," Malaya rolled her eyes, stopped
singing, and slid back deep into her seat. Jay sat up in her seat and
pointed to a towering hotel, "Dad, turn, isn't that our stop?" Everyone
in the van sat up and looked at the Sea Side Inn. "Why yes it is
honey," he said leaning slightly out the window, "Let me back up into
this driveway so I can pull in."
Finally they pulled into the parking lot and parked their van in the
third space down. Each and every one of the Titans piled out of the car
carefully watching each other's feet. "Now onward Titans!" said dad
excitedly pointing one chubby, manly finger towards the hotel. They
each got into their specific position in line and walked forward. The
ground was soaking wet and Abbey's high-heeled shoes were sloshing
water onto her hosed feet and legs. "Daddy, help! My wardrobe is going
to be RUINED!" She quickly opened her suitcase and pulled out a small
hairbrush and began to brush her hair. She shut the case and as soon as
she looked up rain began to pore. "Ahhh," Abbey screamed as her makeup
washed away, "Why me?"

The Titans had settled into the Sea Side Inn and had gotten used to
living in Georgia. They had all been there for 2 months and each had a
favorite spot. Terra's was the downstairs part of the hotel where she
could sit and watch T.V. with her usual blank face. Amelia's was with
her mom. Her mother's favorite spot was the bedroom where she could sit
with Amelia and read her favorite book. Jay's favorite spot was in the
front yard outside the hotel. She could sit there under her favorite
tree and chase the squirrels up the other trees in the yard. Abbey's
special spot was in the bathroom where she spent most of her days
drawing new "hip" hairstyles in her notebook. As for Malaya, her spot
was in the back yard. It was quiet and peaceful. No one came around
back because there was a white picketed fence that kept the hotel
separated from the sea. Malaya had found a secret loose board, which
she could crawl through. Malaya had gone here for 2 months to write her
daily diary entry. She also loved to watch the seals pop up every 5
minutes or so to catch their breath.
Malaya was sitting out by the sea watching the seals and occasionally
writing down the time each seal popped up. "Well I guess that's it for
today." Malaya said smiling as yet another seal popped up. "Hmm, guess
the seals aren't done with me though." Malaya grinned and walked over
towards the seal. She glanced at her watch, pulled out her notebook,
and recorded the time in her book. She decided it was time to see what
else there was to do around Georgia. "Mom," yelled Malaya from the door
of their hotel room, "I'm going over to that attraction stand next
door. I want to see what there is to do around this gloomy place."
Malaya began to walk out the door but turned around when she heard the
voice of her mother coming from the bedroom. "Be back by 4!" yelled
Malaya's mother from the bedroom. Malaya shook her head knowing her
mother couldn't hear her and stepped out the door.

Malaya finally reached the attraction stand and she had already bought
a packet with all the main attractions typed on it in bold print. "Oh
man!" said Malaya as she stopped to look more closely at the packet,
"Scuba diving!"

* * *

"Mom I'm home!" she said as she pushed open the door to room 456. It
was 4 o'clock and Malaya had arrived home after buying the scuba
equipment she needed. "I found something I want to do!" Malaya opened
the packet and showed her mom the section that said scuba diving. It
read: "For adults and children ages 10-48 Georgia's most famous scuba
diving champion will be in town this week. He will be giving classes on
how to scuba, and then everyone will get a chance to dive on their
own!" Malaya's mother was unsure about letting her child dive into the
ocean all on her own, but she had watched Malaya go out to the back
yard everyday, and she knew she was bored. "Alright, but be careful.
Scuba diving is dangerous." Malaya's mother said being careful not to
talk Malaya out of something she wanted to do. " I know," Malaya said
moving her head from side to side, " You're going to give me that same
OLD lecture about getting hurt, but I'll be fine mom!" Malaya put her
hand on her mother's shoulder and smiled, "I'm 16. I can take care of
myself." Malaya walked into the bathroom with her scuba diving junk and
change into her suit. She had finally found something she wanted to do!
It was going to keep her busy so she wouldn't be bored like she was
most of the time. Malaya loved sea life. Ever since she was a child
Oceanography had been her thing. Malaya had thought about this on her
way to her car (which had been towed from the castle) and she now
realized that her dream had come true! She could swim with the seals,
dive with the dolphins, and flip with the fish!

Finally she had reached the diving class and she was as ready as could
be. She walked up to the diving class toll booth and paid her fee.
After she paid the gate swifly swung open. She passed through the gate
waving her ticket back and forth. After a short walk she saw a crowd of
people all waiting for the class to begin. "Finally," Malaya mumbeled
to herself, "Something I can enjoy."
***

After hours of waiting the class began. "Hello All," The instructor
said, "Welcome to Stefan Groulers Dive With the Dolphins class!"

(To Be Continued)