Do Not Mess with the Mermaids by Michelle Robinson

Author:Michelle Robinson [Robinson, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408894903
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2021-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

The tree-house door was flung open by an old imp in a leather apron. Bunkum Bramwell took one look at Dennis and – POP! – turned himself into a giant magnifying glass. ‘Let me get a closer look!’

‘His name’s Dennis,’ Grace said proudly. ‘You can hold him, if you like? I think he’s waking up.’

POP! Bunkum turned himself back to normal, took Dennis gently in his arms and ushered the girls inside.

The tree-house kitchen was snug and cosy. Portia settled into her usual chair at the little table, which Grace leaned tiredly against.

‘I’m very glad to see you both,’ Bunkum said, ‘and it’s lovely to meet your new friend, too. What a lot of excitement for one day, especially with the troll-o to look forward to this evening.’

‘It’s been postponed again,’ Portia explained. ‘Queen Jeen is insisting they play their waterfolly showcase tonight instead.’

‘Oh, well. That’ll be quite a spectacle too. I’ve been to the coast before and seen them play with my own eyes, it’s really quite exhilarating.’

‘If you say so,’ Grace huffed. She went to take a seat at the table, but the seat toppled out of her reach.

Bunkum chuckled. ‘Looks like Wesley’s glad to see you, too!’

‘Wesley?’ Grace said, looking around for signs of the Bramwells’ beloved pet pop-weasel, who was extremely shy and also invisible. ‘Where is he?’

‘By your feet,’ said Bunkum, pointing at the floor.

Grace picked a spot by her armoured toes and waved at it. ‘Hey, Wesley.’

Dennis seemed to have no trouble spotting him. He clambered out of Bunkum’s arms, meeping happily and tumbling around Grace’s feet with his new see-through friend.

Bunkum turned his attention to the girls. ‘I can’t help but notice that you two aren’t as happy as those two,’ he said. ‘How about I make us some hot chocolate, and you can tell me why this merqueen’s bothering you so much?’

Grace was more than happy to let Portia do the talking. It left her mouth free for cookies and hot chocolate. She was soon feeling a lot more cheerful.

‘I hate Queen Jeen,’ she said, dunking a seventh biscuit into her third drink.

‘No, you don’t,’ Bunkum said gently, ‘and Queen Jeen doesn’t hate dragons. She just doesn’t understand them, that’s all. We’re not all lucky enough to spend time with magical creatures,’ he said, looking fondly at a space Grace suspected contained Wesley.

‘I expect life’s very different in the Outer Ocean,’ Portia agreed.

‘Absolutely, princess,’ Bunkum continued. ‘I’m sure the merqueen will love Dennis once she gets to know him. You two might even come to like her once you’ve spent a bit more time together.’

Grace scowled. ‘Not a chance.’ She was beginning to feel drowsy in the warmth of the tree house. She made a pillow with her hands and laid her head on the table, watching sleepily as Bunkum bustled about the kitchen. Her eyelids began to droop as he went to the window and tugged on a rope, raising a bucket of well water from outside. He poured it into the sink ready to do the washing-up.

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