The Magic Charm

by Summer Waters

  Icy fingers of fear gripped Antonia. “Move!” shouted her brain, but her body refused to shift. The jellyfish drifted closer. Any second now and they would be on her, brushing against her, setting her skin on fire with their stings. “Silver Dolphin!”

  Antonia’s head jerked round in surprise. She had forgotten Bubbles, hiding behind the rocks.

  “Swim out of their way. They won’t chase after you.”

  Antonia stared at Bubbles. What was he saying? Panic had closed her mind and all she could hear was a high-pitched whistle.

  Bubbles swam closer, nudging Antonia with his nose. His eyes beseeched her.

  “Silver Dolphin,” he whistled. “Swim with me.”

  Antonia looked past Bubbles, helplessly watching as the jellyfish came closer. What would it feel like to be stung by so many of them? What if they got tangled in her hair and stung her face? Antonia’s heart raced, but she was still too scared to move.

  “Silver Dolphin,” clicked Bubbles.

  He butted her in the back, pushing her clear of the jellyfish swarm until Antonia snapped out of her trance and began to swim. Blindly she splashed through the water not caring where she was going, so long as it was away from the jellyfish.

  “Silver Dolphin, watch out!”

  Glancing up, Antonia saw a lone jellyfish drifting towards her. She swerved left, almost crashing into Bubbles.

  “Steady,” he clicked.

  Antonia kept going and Bubbles swam alongside her until at last he squeaked, “You’re safe now. You can stop swimming.”

  Antonia shook her head. She wouldn’t feel safe until she was out of the water. She swam on towards the beach.

  “Stop,” whistled Bubbles. “Silver Dolphin, come back.”

  “I can’t,” clicked Antonia, finding her dolphin voice again.

  The water was getting shallower. Soon she could stand on the seabed. She gave up swimming and waded to the shore. Frothy waves broke on the beach and were sucked back into the sea. Antonia splashed through them, gritty grains of sand battering her legs. Suddenly something wet and slimy wrapped around her ankle. She screamed, imagining a jellyfish stuck to her skin.

  Wildly she kicked her foot, but it was only seaweed. It plopped back into the sea and Antonia splashed out of the water and raced across the sand. She didn’t stop running until she was off the beach. Looking back, she could see Bubbles out at sea swimming in distressed circles. Antonia turned away. She didn’t want to leave him like this, but there was no way she was going back into the water. Not today.

  By the time Antonia reached her house she had calmed down and was feeling slightly embarrassed. What must Bubbles be thinking? She hadn’t even thanked him for saving her. If she’d stayed calm she could have worked out how to avoid the jellyfish herself. But they are scary when you are allergic to them. Antonia remembered how painful her hand had been the time she had been accidentally stung. She hadn’t been able to use it for a whole week. Antonia stood at her front door wondering if she ought to go and find Bubbles and explain to him what had happened. But she wasn’t keen to go back into the sea just yet.

  Quietly she let herself indoors. As she climbed the stairs she could hear someone in the bathroom. Antonia sneaked past and went to her room, then threw herself down on her unmade bed.

  Her dolphin charm began to tremble. Soon it was vibrating like mad, its tiny tail thrumming against her neck. Antonia sat up, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Surely Spirit didn’t need her help again so soon? Antonia ignored the vibrations, but when the dolphin charm started to whistle she unhooked it and shoved it right to the bottom of her sock drawer. Then she sneaked downstairs and phoned Sea Watch, leaving a message on their answer phone about the oil drum at Gull Bay.

  Antonia left her necklace in her sock drawer all day and after much agonising decided not to wear it when dressing for school on Monday morning.

  “I’m not scared of going back in the water,” she said out loud.

  It just seemed pointless wearing the necklace to school. How would she get away if Spirit did call her? She thought of all the excuses she could give for slipping out, but none of them rang true. She couldn’t even say she had a dental appointment because Mum worked in the office and would know she was lying, even if everyone else believed her.

  Antonia walked to school with Sophie, but they didn’t say much to each other. Antonia was surprised that Becky didn’t meet up with them, until they arrived at school and found that Lauren was back. At once she was glad, hoping this would mean things could get back to normal between herself and Sophie. But it didn’t. Becky and Lauren included Sophie in a three and the girls stood in a tight huddle in the playground, whispering together. When the bell rang for the start of school, Lauren, who was much bigger than Antonia, barged into her in the cloakroom.

  “Let’s have a look at your precious necklace then,” she sneered.

  “I’m not wearing it,” Antonia replied.

  “Oooh! Why’s that then? Did it break?”

  Ignoring the question, Antonia took her lunchbox and pencil case out of her bag before hanging it on her peg.

  “Excuse me,” she said to Lauren, as she made for the classroom.

  “Excuse me,” mimicked Lauren. “Aw, poor little Toni’s lost her necklace!”

  Sophie said nothing, but Becky and Lauren both roared with laughter.

  “Ignore them,” said Cai, following Antonia into the classroom. “They’re just jealous.”

  It was sensible advice, but it didn’t make the day any easier. Becky and Lauren kept making nasty comments and laughing meanly. Antonia couldn’t understand why Sophie was still hanging around with them. She didn’t say anything and she looked about as unhappy as Antonia felt. By home time Antonia had had enough. She was first out of the classroom, determined to walk home alone. Cai ran after her.

  “Aren’t you coming to Sea Watch?” he asked.

  “I can’t tonight,” Antonia lied.

  “Too bad,” said Cai. “Claudia thinks that Splash is almost fit enough to go back to the sea. It might be your last chance to see him.”

  “Sorry,” said Antonia regretfully. She desperately wanted to go to Sea Watch with Cai, but couldn’t face seeing Claudia. What if she noticed Antonia wasn’t wearing her necklace? Would she also know that Antonia hadn’t answered the dolphin call?

  “You’ll come with me tomorrow?” Cai persisted.

  “Yes,” said Antonia, unsure whether she would or not. “I’ll see you then.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Antonia didn’t go to Sea Watch the following day, or the next, and the silver dolphin necklace stayed hidden in her drawer. Antonia felt guilty about not wearing it, but she’d finally admitted to herself that she was scared to go back into the water. She wished she could tell her mum and dad about the fright she’d had. Her parents often made her feel better when she was worried or scared. But how could she tell them about the jellyfish incident when she’d broken the golden rule of not swimming without an adult, way past the orange marker buoy?

  Jessica noticed Antonia wasn’t wearing her necklace. “Did you lose it?” she asked.

  “No, Jess. I just don’t feel like wearing it.”

  “Can I wear it then?” asked Jess. “I love dolphins. They’re my favourite animal.”

  “Not right now,” said Antonia, feeling guilty at the look of disappointment on Jessica’s face. Why did things have to be so complicated? Antonia was beginning to wish she’d never won the Sea Watch competition. But then she wouldn’t have become a Silver Dolphin and that would be awful. Or would it? Quickly Antonia pushed the thought away. She did still want to be a Silver Dolphin. She just needed a break from it right now.

  Cai suspected she was avoiding Sea Watch and asked her about it at school.

  “It’s not me, is it?” he said, pulling a sad face.

  “Of course not,” said Antonia. “I’ve been too busy to go this week, that’s all.”

  “How can you be too b
usy for Sea Watch? You love it there. I’ve seen the way you handle the animals. You’re like Aunty Claudia with them.”

  “You’re great with them too,” said Antonia.

  “Aunty Claudia’s amazed at how quickly I’ve settled in. She thought I might find it difficult coming from the city. But I just love being by the sea and helping out with Sea Watch.”

  Finally, on Thursday, the morning after Antonia had missed Splash being returned to the sea, Cai arrived at school with a message for her.

  “Aunty Claudia wants to see you,” he said. “She asked if you could go along to Sea Watch after school today.”

  Antonia suddenly felt hot and her stomach flipped upside down. Claudia had been strongly in her thoughts over the last few days. Sometimes she imagined she could hear Claudia’s voice encouraging her to wear the necklace. Antonia had thought this was just guilt at letting Spirit down, but now she wondered if there was more to it. Had Claudia been trying to communicate with her in some way? But that was impossible, wasn’t it? As Cai finished delivering his message, Antonia suddenly felt all her worries bubble to the surface.

  “Why does Claudia want to see me?” she shouted. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

  “Whoah!” Cai raised his hands. “Don’t have a go at me. I’m just the messenger. And who said you’d done anything wrong?”

  Antonia stared at Cai guiltily. He’d been a good friend to her over the last ten days. So why was she taking her troubles out on him?

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to shout. Things haven’t been easy for me.”

  “I know,” said Cai simply. “Go and talk to someone about it: your parents or Aunty Claudia. And if you can’t tell them, then you can always talk to me.”

  Antonia smiled. She wished she could share her secret with Cai. It would be a relief to tell somebody. But what would he say if she told him the truth about being a Silver Dolphin? He wouldn’t laugh at her, but he’d probably think she was mad.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  Morning lessons dragged endlessly on. Antonia sat doodling dolphins on her exercise book distractedly and got into trouble several times for not listening.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with you today,” scolded Miss Brown. “I’d rather have the old Antonia back than this new distracted one. You’re away with the fairies.”

  “Or dolphins,” sniggered Becky, pointing at Antonia’s exercise book.

  “Oi, dolphin brain,” whispered Lauren. “What’s it like having the brains of a fish?”

  “Dolphins are mammals not fish and they’re very intelligent–unlike you,” Antonia retorted.

  “Lauren, Antonia, that’s enough,” snapped Miss Brown. “One more word from either of you and you’ll both stay back at lunchtime.”

  Lauren shot Antonia a poisonous glare.

  “I’ll get you for that,” she mouthed. “I’ll show you who the smart one is.”

  By lunchtime Antonia still hadn’t decided whether or not to go and see Claudia after school. She was a little in awe of her and though Cai assured her that she wasn’t in any trouble, he didn’t know all the facts. Antonia ate her packed lunch quickly then went outside. She found a quiet spot on the field and began picking daisies out of the freshly cut grass.

  Should she go to Sea Watch or not? How much did Claudia know about her being a Silver Dolphin? Would she help or would she be cross with her for not wearing the necklace? Suddenly a shadow fell over her. Antonia looked up to see who was blocking the light. It was Lauren and Becky. Neither of them looked too friendly so Antonia just continued piling daisies into a mound.

  “Well,” said Lauren, squatting down and sticking her face right in front of Antonia’s, “you going to say hello or something?”

  Antonia lowered her gaze so she didn’t have to look at Lauren’s small mean eyes.

  “Hello,” she said, pushing a long strand of blonde hair away from her face, “or something.”

  “Hear that, Becks?” sneered Lauren. “Miss Fish-for-Brains thinks she’s a comedian now. Well, we can show you something funny, Miss. This is for calling me thick.”

  Lauren snatched up a handful of grass then pounced. Taken by surprise Antonia fell backwards faster than a skittle. Lauren began throwing grass cuttings in her hair and face.

  “Stop it,” said Antonia, struggling to get up. But it was no use. Becky had joined in now and it was two against one.

  “Look at her squirm,” jeered Lauren. “What’s the matter, Antonia? Don’t you find it funny?”

  Antonia began to gag. There was grass everywhere; in her hair, in her eyes and up her nose. She couldn’t breath and she couldn’t swallow. She rolled on to her side, tears streaming from her eyes as Becky and Lauren continued to throw grass all over her.

  “STOP IT!”

  Antonia was dimly aware that someone was yelling at the two girls. Footsteps pounded closer and at last Lauren, then Becky, got pulled away. Gratefully, coughing and spluttering, Antonia sat up.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sophie stood with hands on hips, her blue eyes blazing with anger.

  “Leave her alone. If you EVER lay one finger on her again then I shall go straight to Mr Cordier.”

  “Ooh,” said Lauren. “What’s with you? We were only having a bit of fun.”

  “Fun?” shrieked Sophie. “And would you find it funny if you were the one on the ground?”

  Lauren sneered. She opened her mouth to respond, but Becky got in first.

  “Come on, Lauren, we don’t have to listen to this,” she said. “Let’s leave these losers together.”

  She whispered something else and Lauren laughed. Heads bent and still giggling the two girls sauntered away.

  “Are you all right?” asked Sophie, brushing grass cuttings from Antonia’s back.

  “Yes, thanks to you,” said Antonia. “I thought I was going to choke.”

  Sophie kept brushing grass, unable to meet Antonia’s eye.

  “I’m sorry,” she said eventually. “This was my fault. If I hadn’t been so mean to you none of this would have happened. I guess I was jealous of you winning that poster competition. I thought I’d win and I was disappointed when I didn’t.”

  “Your picture was miles better than mine,” said Antonia.

  “But it wasn’t,” said Sophie, “that was the point. The competition wasn’t about art, it was about caring for the environment. You’re much better at that sort of stuff than I am. You’re a natural when it comes to wildlife.”

  “It was my fault too,” said Antonia. “I didn’t turn up when we were supposed to go to the beach together. I would have been so mad if you’d done that to me.”

  Sophie took a deep breath. “Friends?” she asked.

  “Friends,” said Antonia.

  That afternoon was so much better. Antonia really did feel as if someone had taken a weight off her shoulders. In the art lesson Miss Brown let the class sit where they liked. Antonia sat with Sophie and was so busy chatting she didn’t notice her ponytail trailing in the paint palette, giving her hair green streaks.

  “Antonia Lee!” sighed Miss Brown, coming to stand beside her. “Your hair is now green. You’d better go and wash it out before you turn mine grey.”

  “Sorry, Miss,” said Antonia, trying not to laugh.

  She scooted down the corridor, narrowly avoiding a collision with Mr Cordier. Antonia slowed down. If Mum heard about it she’d be in double trouble!

  Cai looked disappointed when at the end of the day Antonia made an excuse not to go to Sea Watch with him.

  “What shall I tell Aunty Claudia?” he asked.

  “Tell her you gave me the message and I said I couldn’t come tonight,” said Antonia.

  She picked up her bag and walked to the door where Sophie was waiting.

  “Antonia…”

  Antonia spun round and looked at Cai expectantly.

  “Er, I…don’t leave it too late,” he said, and shouldering his own bag he wa
lked quickly past them out of the door.

  “What was all that about?” asked Sophie curiously.

  “Nothing,” said Antonia briskly. “He just wanted me to go to Sea Watch with him.”

  “I don’t mind if you want to,” said Sophie. “We don’t have to always do the same things.”

  “No, it’s fine,” said Antonia. “I really don’t want to go to Sea Watch right now.”

  Later that evening, as Antonia got ready for bed, she badly regretted her decision to not go and see Claudia. All it would have taken was a bit of courage. Sophie had shown lots of courage today. First by standing up to Becky and Lauren and then by apologising to Antonia and admitting that she’d been jealous of her.

  That was different, Antonia told herself.

  She shook her head and tried to ignore her thoughts. Antonia walked across her bedroom and stared out of the attic window overlooking the bay. The evening sun sparkled on the water so that it seemed saturated with tiny jewels. Seagulls mewed overhead and a salty breeze stole into her room. Movement caught Antonia’s eye and she saw four shapes leaping across the water. She screwed up her eyes to reduce the dazzle from the setting sun. Dolphins. Two large and two small came flying across the bay. Antonia caught her breath. They looked so beautiful skimming across the tops of the waves. Beautiful yet vulnerable. As one, the dolphins dived under the water. Antonia remained at the window, her eyes searching for them to resurface, but the dolphins had gone. A sob caught in Antonia’s throat. She was a failure. She had been chosen to help not just the dolphins, but all creatures living in the sea. But she’d let everyone down.

  Do something about it, urged a voice in her head.

  Antonia jumped. Had that thought been her own or not? She closed her eyes waiting to hear more, but, like the dolphins, there was nothing else there. Suddenly she made up her mind. Sophie had been brave and now it was her turn. She strode over to her chest of drawers and burying her hand inside the jumble of socks she pulled out the silver dolphin necklace. The chain felt cold and hard in her hand. Antonia fingered the tiny silver charm. That felt cold too. Cold and lifeless.