The Clamshell Show by Lucy Courtenay

Author:Lucy Courtenay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2020-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

The vibrations of the rock tuba shuddered through Marnie’s scales. That was the storm sprites’ cue. For about the tenth time that morning, she, Orla, Eddy, and the others swam onto the stage.

“Your scariest expressions now!” Miss Tangle cried. “I want to see ugly faces!”

Marnie pulled her best evil storm sprite face. She sang the angry, stomping words with the others. It was starting to come together now.

“WE are the storm sprites,

WE like to start fights,

WE stir the waves, OH!

WE drive the wind, OH!”

“Scarier!” shouted Miss Tangle. The rock tuba boomed. The bladder-wrack bagpipes blasted. “You’re the villains! Be villainous!”

Eddy was right, Marnie thought as she scowled and punched the water with her fists in time with the others. Playing the bad guys is kind of fun.

“WE are the storm sprites,” she sang, over and over again.

“WE like to WIN fights!

WE storm the shore, OH!

WE fight some more, OH!”

“OW!” shouted Orla as Lupita hit her by mistake.

“OH!” sang the storm sprites.

“OOH!” shouted Lupita as Orla hit her back.

Miss Tangle waved her batons. The orchestra fizzled out. “Chorus and orchestra, take a break,” she said breathlessly. “Coral clarinets and razor-clam flute? Stay please. Gilly and Jet, on the stage now!”

Marnie swam over to join Pearl beside the rock tuba.

“I wish I could try out these low buttons,” Pearl said wistfully, stroking a row of fat limpets on the tuba’s stone coils. “But I don’t want to knock everything down.”

“I’ve got something to tell you,” Marnie blurted.

“What?” asked Pearl, her eyes lighting up.

“It’s about Aunt Christabel,” said Marnie. “She was writing a letter yesterday, to ‘Dearest Arthur.’ I think you’re right. She might have a true love!”

Pearl clapped her hands. “I knew it! What else did the letter say?”

Marnie screwed up her face, trying to remember. “‘You know it’s impossible,’” she said.

Pearl looked surprised. “It’s not impossible. You just tell me.”

“No.” Marnie shook her head. “That’s what the letter said. “‘You know it’s impossible.’”

“You know what’s impossible?”

Marnie had been wondering the same thing. “Being together?” she guessed.

“Do hurry up, Gilly!” Miss Tangle called. “We don’t have all day.”

Marnie and Pearl looked over at the stage.

“Just a minute!” Gilly was giggling about something with Jet in the auditorium. “Jet’s telling me this REALLY funny story and—”

The octopus looked at Gilly and Jet over the top of her spectacles. “Now!”

Gilly tossed her golden curls but swam on to the stage. Jet followed.

“That’s better,” said Miss Tangle. “Let’s take a look at ‘Over the Water.’”

“Which one’s that?” asked Jet.

Miss Tangle blinked. “The big song before Queen Maretta goes to war.”

Jet scratched his head. “I’ll probably recognize it when it starts.”

Miss Tangle looked like she was going to say something. Then she sighed and lifted her batons. The coral clarinets played softly. Eddy’s friend Algie’s flute floated over the top. Marnie felt her stomach melt. The melody was so gorgeous and sweet. She wished with all her heart that she was the one singing it.

Twirling dreamily in the middle of the stage, Gilly missed her cue.

“Concentrate, Gilly!” cried Miss Tangle.

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