The Tail of Emily Windsnap - Liz Kessler [57]
“Mr. Windsnap.” One of them shoved a microphone shaped like a huge mushroom in my dad’s face. “Simon Watermark, Radio Merwave. Your story has melted Neptune’s heart. How does it feel to have made history?”
“Made history?” Dad laughed. “At the moment, my only feelings about history are that I want to go back twelve years and catch up with my wife and daughter.”
The reporter turned to Mom. “Mrs. Windsnap, is it true that your baby-sitter helped with your plan?”
That was when I noticed Millie sitting on a plastic chair at the front of the boat. One of the mermen was perched on the deck opposite her, his tail dangling over the side, the pair of them frowning at a pack of tarot cards spread out between them.
“We couldn’t have done it without her,” Mom said.
The reporter turned to me. “Emily, you were a brave girl to do what you did. You must have had some help along the way. Is there anyone you’d like to say a special thank-you to?”
“Well, I’d like to thank my mom for being so understanding. I’d like to thank my dad for believing in us.” He kissed my cheek. “And Millie for falling asleep at the right time.”
The reporter laughed.
“And I’d like to thank Shona. My best friend. I could never have done this without her.”
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure. Merpeople were talking and laughing in groups all around us, but he was on his own. He looked up and smiled a shaky, crooked smile at me, his head tilted in what looked almost like an apology.
And I forgave him.
Almost.
There was just one thing he could do for me first.
He jumped a little as I swam over to him. I whispered my favor in his ear.
“A mass memory wipe?” he blurted out. “That’s ridiculous — not to mention dangerous.”
“Please, Mr. Beeston,” I begged. “Think about all the nice things I said in there. After everything that’s happened, I should hate you forever. But I won’t. Not if you do this one little thing for me.”
He looked at me hard. What did he see? A girl he’d known all her life? Someone he perhaps cared about, just a tiny little bit?
“Very well,” he said eventually. “I’ll do it.”
I kept my head down as we stood by the side of the pool. Everyone around me chatted in groups. Julia was with Mandy, giggling together in the corner. Fine. I didn’t need Julia. I had Shona and no one could be a better best friend than her.
My heart thumped in my ears, blocking out everything else.
Bob arrived. I stepped forward, put my hand up. “Please, sir — I’d like to show you something.”
Bob frowned.
“I’ve been practicing.”
He waved a hand out. “All right then,” he said with half a smile. “Let’s have it.”
I stepped toward the edge of the pool.
“Look at fish girl,” Mandy sneered from the corner. “Showing off again.”
“That’s right,” I said, looking her right in the eyes. “Fish girl is showing off.”
I glanced up to the window. Too high. I couldn’t see outside, but I knew he’d be there. He promised.
I had five minutes. Five minutes to be proud instead of scared. Five minutes to be free, to be myself. But mostly, I had five minutes to give Mandy Rushton the biggest shock of her life!
And so I dove in. Piercing the surface as gently as I could, I swam underwater all the way to the opposite end of the pool.
“Big deal!” Mandy snorted. “So fish girl can do a length underwater. Whoopdi-do!”
As she mocked me, something was happening under the water. My tail was starting to form. The familiar feeling filled me with confidence. This was it!
I dove straight down. And then I flicked my tail up in the air. Spinning around and around under the water, I could feel my tail swirling and dancing, faster and faster. I couldn’t wait to see Mandy’s face!
I swam up to the surface, wiped my hair off my face, and looked across. Thirty open mouths. Total silence. If they’d been playing musical statues, it would have been a dead heat.
Mandy was the first to step forward. “But — but —” she sputtered. “But that’s a — how did you —”
I laughed. “Hey, guess what, Mandy? I’m not scared of you — and I don’t care what