[Now that she's spoken her piece, she feels a little embarrassed. All eyes are on her now! She rubs at her head sheepishly.]

R-right then. Sorry about all that, but, uh... yeah. The... the real story...

[She clears her throat and pauses for a moment while trying to actually figure out what her version of the ending should be.]

So, you see, it was like wot she said just now, 'cept that then the mermaid woke up. She realized it was a nightmare! But she knew some things 'appened for sure. Like that the cooke had sold her gem, an' she didn't see 'im since then. She kept worryin' that things would turn out out like that dream she had, which was a really, really sad endin'...

[She smiles softly as she goes on.]

Until one day she 'eard that voice callin' out. An' she saw 'im, out in the middle of the sea. Turns out, that cookie used the money to buy a 'ouse wot would sail on the water, so's they could be together. ...'E... 'e said 'e was sorry for sellin' 'er treasure... but that 'e only done it so they could find new treasures together...

[Gina looks down, her cheeks heating at imagining something so corny, yet so pleasant.]

...An' - an' I think they got on nice and 'appily from then on, yeah?