Ready, Steady, Swim by Lucy Courtenay

Author:Lucy Courtenay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2020-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“So how are you feeling?” Marnie asked, helping herself to one of the kelp cookies on Orla’s bedside table. Nurse Nurse-Shark wasn’t there, so they had the place to themselves.

“Much better,” Orla said. “To be honest, I was feeling pretty good this morning. But I thought staying in bed would be more fun than PE.”

“You were right,” Marnie said. “There were these slimy nets, and all this mud . . . urgh. Oh, and Gilly was stung by a jellyfish Mr. Marlin had hidden in the tunnel.”

“I know,” said Orla. “She came in earlier. Her arm was bright red. What happened?”

“She pushed past me,” said Marnie. She shivered. “If she hadn’t, the jellyfish would have stung me instead.”

“Gilly is taking this whole thing way too seriously,” Orla said. “All she talks about is winning.”

Marnie didn’t want to think about Gilly. “If you’re feeling better,” she suggested, “why don’t I teach you the stuff we learned in cheerleading practice today?”

Orla brightened. “Cool!”

Marnie showed her the moves. They swung their tails from side to side, and Orla copied Marnie’s arm movements. They had to imagine the anemone pompoms, which Miss Tangle had promised to get for the next practice.

“Arms like THIS,” instructed Marnie. “Tail like THAT. Swim straight UP. Whitecaps surge with sea-foam bright, Billows roll with all their might . . .”

Orla threw herself into the routine. The First Aid Cave was a bit too small for dramatic arm-waving, but they did their best.

“Watching Breakers is a treat,

Ripples are the ones to beat.

Lady Sealia’s wins the day,

Lady Sealia’s, hip hooray!

Lady Sealia’s wins the day,

Lady Sealia’s—hip, hip, HOORAY!”

On the last “HOORAY!” Marnie showed Orla the complicated backwards somersault they were all going to do. Orla copied it a little too enthusiastically, and her tail crashed into the old chandelier on the ceiling of the cave, which shook and jingled. There was a funny flash of gold. Several little bottles were knocked off the top shelf and drifted gently to the floor.

“Oops,” Orla said, giggling breathlessly. “Maybe I should save that somersault for outside.”

They quickly collected the drifting bottles and put them back on the top shelf. Marnie glanced curiously at the old chandelier as it swayed and settled back into place. She’d probably imagined the golden flash. There was nothing golden about the chandelier’s dark green, algae-covered branches.

Nurse Nurse-Shark swam into the cave just as they replaced the final bottle.

“I hope you are resting,” she said to Orla.

“Yes, nurse,” said Orla, hopping back into bed and pulling the covers up to her chin. “I’m still very ill.”

“Hmm,” said Nurse Nurse-Shark. “I think perhaps you can go back to your classes.”

Orla coughed hopefully.

“Although not PE,” added the nurse shark. “It might be wise to leave that a little longer.”

Marnie shot her friend an envious glance. Lucky, lucky Orla.

“Jellyfish? Coral spikes?” said Aunt Christabel. She helped herself to sea-sponge pudding. “This PE teacher of yours sounds horrible. Let’s arrange for an octopus to kidnap him.”

Marnie relaxed a little. It was hard to stay anxious when her aunt said things like that.

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