Essay.
While reading The Little Mermaid to her grandmother and Ian, Stacy realises the correlation the story has with the past of her grandmother and her feet -that is after getting to the part where the mermaid grows feet and walks on land -. The grandmother infers the desire of the mermaid to use her feet, - even if they hurt - to walk on land and visit unknown lands.
Stacy replies to her grandmother, stating the situation of the former is not related to that of the latter or the mermaid, meaning the ribbons are not meant to bind her feet, as grandmother's plight, but to tie Stacy's shoes. Stacy evidences this by performing a short dance, thus demonstrating no pain is implicated. Grandmother understands this, and lends Stacy her ribbons back after asking for them.
What effect does the story have on their relationship?
The affective bond between Stacy and her grandmother is strenghtened after finishing with The Little Mermaid's reading. Stacy learns that her grandmother merely wanted to protect her from pain, rather than being mean to her for pure pleasure. They hug at the end of the story.