Author: Francesca Lyman

Beachgoers caught an uncommon fish sighting on the shores of Lake Washington recently. Lounging on the rocks amid a tangle of seaweed was a mermaid. An 11-year-old — whose name is Hannah ( no relation to Darryl ) — she was caught basking in the sun on a Kirkland beach. She didn’t speak to us, but taking a short breather that afternoon, gave us a rare chance to snap some shots of her tail. Later, in an even rarer email exchange with a water nymph, Hannah spoke about her journey from girl to naiad. “At first, no, I was not born a mermaid,” wrote Hannah, who says she dreamed of being a mermaid at age 9. Finding a treasure trove in an enchanted jewelry box, she wrote, sparked her metamorphosis at age 10. “Of course there is a kingdom under the sea with plentiful mermaids, who don’t want to be found,” wrote Hannah, “but I am a special kind of mermaid who does not mind the land folk attention.” According to this mermaid, “The coolest thing about being a mermaid is probably seeing everyone happy, when they see my tail.” Her only complaint: Dogs are a bit less delighted by her presence—they bark at her, she said, probably because they’re a bit “freaked out”. When asked how people react to her appearance, she responded, “People treat me wonderfully (except the scientists).” While her experience bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Darryl...