Jed put his empty pint glass on the bar and handed Debs five not so crisp notes.
‘Easy pickings,’ he said with a grin. ‘These tourists are so easily parted from their holiday cash! Now, the weather’s set fine for tomorrow so get yourself out there ready for the first boatload.’
‘What time Grandad?’ she asked as she counted the notes in her hand. Good money for a holiday job even if it was a bit of a strange one and boring as hell most of the time.
‘I’ll put out of here at 11 o'clock. Remember if I’m flying me red flag you go and hide; only come out if you can see me green’un.’
‘I know. Green for gullible. Red for right know-alls with binoculars.’
‘You got it gal. Now are you gonna buy your old granddad a pint?’ Jed whipped a fiver from Deb’s hand and waved his glass at the bar maid. The Mermaid was his local all year round. It was deserted apart from the locals for most of the year, but in the summer this small harbourside pub was always packed out with holiday makers.
It was one quiet winter evening last year that Jed had hatched his money making scheme. He’d had a few pints and as he left the pub he’d looked up at the pub sign swinging and creaking above his head. The painted mermaid, bosoms discreetly covered with seaweed, seemed to be talking to him. ‘Bring boatloads to Carr Point to see me,’ was what she said with a wink. So, Jed had painted his boat, renamed her The Fair Mermaid, painted Mermaid Boat trips signs, took leaflets to the hotels and B & B’s and then wondered who he could talk into being his beautiful mermaid. Debs was the obvious choice. She was seventeen, beautiful in the right sort of way and she was in need of money. It had been easy to persuade her to join in his plan.
Carr Point was a good half an hour’s sailing from the harbour, round to the next bay where a jagged range of granite stuck out into the Channel. Most boats kept well clear but Jed had a lifetime’s experience of these waters and besides he would stay far enough away from land so that those on board would only catch a distance glimpse of Debs the mermaid.
The next day he was at the harbourside touting for custom.
‘Boat trips to see the mermaid,’ he called out. ‘Get your tickets now to see the amazing mermaid.’ As usual the twenty places soon filled. Most were families with children eager to find something to occupy themselves before lunchtime. He hoisted the green flag – everyone on board looked as if they would believe what they saw – and set sail.
He could see Debs in position as he rounded the edge of the next bay. She had obviously clocked his green flag and had perched herself high on the rocks. Good girl. Now he could point her out to those on board.
‘Now ladies and gentlemen, I do believe you are in luck today. If you look over to your right hand side, on those rocks over there you will see the marvellous mermaid – a strange creature – the top half is of course a beautiful woman but look below and you will see her fishy tail. She comes to these rocks to comb her golden hair. Obligingly, as if on cue, Debs adjusted the seaweed to cover her white bikini top and then waved her green lycra legs to which was attached a bright green painted triangle of a tail. Jed’s boat was pitching and tossing so much that any attempts to take photos were doomed to failure. As Debs ran a comb through her hair it touched the metal frame of her sunglasses. Quickly she whipped them off her nose.
‘Mummy why is that mermaid lady wearing sunglasses?’ a little voice piped up.
‘I don’t know dear. Perhaps you better ask the Captain.’
Jed had to do some quick thinking.
‘Well son. Maybe she’s been to SpecSavers today. Look she’s waving to you. Are you going to wave back?’ The little lad waved politely and said no more.
