Breathe and Count Back from Ten

Verónica and Geoff present Verónica’s idea to Barb, who says they can perform it during Verónica’s first live performance in only 10 days. The pressure is high, but Geoff whispers words of confidence, and Verónica knows she has a solid partner. Heading to the apartment pool to practice, they meet Leslie and Alex there. Leslie makes the costumes; her lack of tailoring skill shows, but she does her best as Verónica writes the story of the Huacachina and choreographs moves to communicate it. Verónica wonders why legends of mermaids always seem to depict women as “pretty, evil, or sad” (264). She worries that telling such a sad story won’t fit with the atmosphere of Mermaid Cove and will cause her to lose her position or, worse, for business to crumble at the cove. Realizing that it is her responsibility to make sure the performance goes well, she tells herself not to flinch.

Verónica is at Alex’s apartment for the first time. She notices that it is just like hers but reversed and remodeled. Knowing what her parents would think if they knew where she is, Verónica feels rebellious and irritated that her parents see her as not capable of making her own decisions.