A Mischief of Mermaids by Suzanne Harper

Author:Suzanne Harper
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

Chapter

NINE

When Poppy and Nerissa walked up the sidewalk, the front door of the Malones’ house was ajar and all the windows were open.

Poppy sighed. “The air-conditioning must be out again,” she said to Nerissa. “Sorry. It’s going to be pretty hot.”

“I don’t mind,” Nerissa said brightly. Her mood seemed to change like the weather on a spring day. Her face was shining as she looked at the house. She ran lightly up the porch steps, dropped her backpack, and did a little pirouette. “I’ve never seen a mortal’s home before. What’s this?”

She pressed the doorbell. Her eyes widened with delight when she heard the chime, and she pressed it again.

“Please,” said Poppy. “Stop.” (Mr. Malone had bought the doorbell from a specialty catalog; it rang the theme from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Poppy could never hear it without wincing and planned to quietly disable it at some point before she invited any new friends over.)

“It sounds so pretty,” Nerissa was saying, just as Mrs. Malone came to the door.

“Oh, there you are, Poppy,” she said, smiling over the top of her glasses. “And just in time, too!”

“In time for what?” asked Poppy warily.

But Mrs. Malone’s gaze had moved to Nerissa. “Who is your new friend, dear?”

“This is Nerissa,” said Poppy. “Nerissa, um”—she thought quickly—“De La Mer.”

Two schools ago, she had taken French and learned that de la mer meant “of the sea.” Poppy crossed her fingers and hoped that Nerissa would go along with the new last name she’d just been given.

She needn’t have worried. Nerissa was opening and closing the metal flap of the mailbox next to the door, a look of utter fascination on her face.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Nerissa,” said Mrs. Malone. “What a lovely name. Would you like to join us?”

“For what?” Poppy asked, grabbing Nerissa’s arm and pulling her away from the mailbox.

“We were just about to have a family brainstorm!” said Mrs. Malone, opening the screen door. “They’re such fun, Nerissa. We’d love to have you help out. I’m sure you’ll have wonderful ideas.”

Poppy rolled her eyes, but Nerissa said, “Thank you, I’d be glad to help!” and practically skipped through the doorway in her delight.

Before Poppy could follow her, Mrs. Malone whispered, “I’m so glad you’ve made a new friend, Poppy. Where does she live?”

“Oh, a few blocks away,” said Poppy vaguely. “Would it be okay if she stayed over tonight?”

A tiny furrow appeared on Mrs. Malone’s forehead.

“Her mother said it was okay, and I said you wouldn’t mind,” Poppy added quickly.

Mrs. Malone said, “Well, I really should call her myself. Do you have her number?”

“Um, Nerissa does, but her mother’s out running errands right now,” Poppy improvised. “She’ll be around later this afternoon if you want to talk to her.”

“All right. Be sure to remind me,” said Mrs. Malone as they went inside, where almost the whole family had gathered in the living room. Will was sprawled on the floor, his eyes closed. Rolly was sitting on the window seat and drumming his heels against the wall with a steady, dull beat.

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