“Why don’t we have immortal souls too?” asked the little mermaid sadly. “I would gladly give up all three hundred years of my life to become a human, even for just one day, and to have the hope that one day I would know the happiness of this wonderful world beyond the stars.”

“Don’t even think about it,” replied her grandmother. “We believe that we are in a better fate and much happier than humans.”

“But this way I will die,” the little mermaid exclaimed, “and as sea foam, I will never again be able to hear the music of the waves or see the beautiful flowers or the red sun. Is there something I can do to gain an immortal soul?”