Octopus's House Mouse Pad

Most people scoff at the legend of Atlantis – how could an entire civilization sink beneath the waves and leave no trace? But such places exist if you know where to look for them, and this building, in which a mermaid named Aquamarina makes her home, is one such example. Maybe it was originally a photography studio, a movie theatre or an opera house – no matter. Upon discovering it, Aquamarina swept up the algae covered floors with her little kelp broom, polished the windows with her sea sponge and neatly lined up her shell dishes in the cupboard, claiming it as her own. As much as she loved her charming little home, Aquamarina longed to travel, and she and her cuttlefish companion, Fernando, jetted about the briny deep in search of adventures and new friends. Off the coast of Japan, they made the acquaintance of Shiokara, an enormous squid, who decided to accompany them to Sweden, where they enjoyed a rousing game of Eight-Handed Stud with a giant octopus named Lutefisk, who decided to tag along to the British Isles, where a little squirt named Scrimshaw pointed out the best place to scrounge oysters. Scrimshaw joined the entourage as it made its way to Venice and they became fast friends with a dapper cephalopod named Calamaro who followed them back to Aquamarina’s house, which luckily, had plenty of room. The surly crab, Edgar, came with the house. Now whenever Aquamarina and Fernando set off on a deep sea jaunt, the cephalopods keep the house nice and tidy for her, sweeping the floors with the kelp broom, polishing the windows with the sea sponge and straightening the shell dishes in the cupboards. Though they miss her terribly when she’s gone, they distract themselves by guarding the house, winding their tentacles about its spires and balconies and pointedly changing color as a warning to any overly interested passersby. For that reason, it’s usually best to call ahead if you are planning to stop by for a visit. This original artwork and story are copyright Ramona Szczerba 2010. Copyright to this material is in no way transferable with the sale of this item. The buyer is not entitled to any reproduction rights – neither image nor story can be reproduced without my express written permission. Thanks!