The Magic Charm

by Summer Waters

  “I’ll leave you now,” he said. “The beach is packed and there are lots of swimmers in the water.”

  He dived under the water and surfaced a centimetre from her then gently rubbed his nose against hers.

  “See you soon, Silver Dolphin.”

  “Yes,” Antonia grinned. “Yes, you will.”

  She watched until Bubbles was out of sight before heading back to the beach. This time there would be no swimming under the water. She was carrying too much rubbish for that. Antonia hoped that she wouldn’t draw too much attention to herself by arriving on the beach looking like a floating dustbin!

  Chapter Five

  “There she is. I told you it was a simple mix-up. Hello, Antonia.” Antonia, who was cramming the broken fishing net into a litter bin, spun round, flushing guiltily. Sophie and her dad stood watching her.

  “Sorry we’re late. Sophie insisted she’d arranged to meet you at ours. We waited half an hour before I persuaded her she’d got it wrong. I hope you weren’t worried.”

  “It wasn’t Sophie’s fault.” Antonia tried to apologise, but Mr Hastings waved it away.

  “Of course it was Sophie’s fault. She goes around with her head in the clouds. It’s her artistic nature. Now how about I get you girls an ice cream while you find us a good spot on the beach?”

  Sophie’s dad didn’t wait for an answer and strode off back up the lane towards the tiny wooden beach shop.

  Sophie looked confused.

  “You did say you’d come to mine, didn’t you?” she said.

  “I know. I’m really sorry.”

  “What happened?”

  Antonia couldn’t tell Sophie the truth, but she had to come up with a good excuse. Her friend was understandably upset.

  “I’ve become a Sea Watch volunteer,” she fibbed. “I was litter-picking on the beach and I forgot the time.”

  Sophie’s voice came out in a high-pitched squeak. “You actually forgot me, your best friend, to do litter-picking?”

  “Sophie, I didn’t think…”

  “Oh, just forget it,” Sophie sniffed. “At least you’re here now.”

  “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” promised Antonia.

  She started to say more, but just then Mr Hastings came back grinning sheepishly.

  “I forgot to ask what flavour,” he said. “That makes me as bad as you, Sophie–two airheads together.”

  “And I forgot to give you this,” said Antonia, pulling the money Mum had given her out of her bag.

  “That’s all right. It’s my treat,” said Mr Hastings.

  The afternoon did not get any better. Sophie was being really quiet and anything Antonia did or said just seemed to irritate her. They were lying on their towels, drying in the sun after a dip in the sea, when suddenly Sophie sat up.

  “Can I try your necklace on now?” she asked.

  Antonia’s heart skipped a beat and her hand flew up to cover the dolphin charm.

  “Why now?” she asked, her words coming out in a rush.

  “Why not? Unless you don’t want me to.”

  “No, I mean, yes, of course you can.” Antonia sat up. Her heart was beating very fast. The necklace felt like a part of her and she didn’t want Sophie to try it on, but her friend was already reaching forward to take it.

  “Careful,” said Antonia. “Here, let me.”

  Her hand shook slightly as she undid the clasp and reluctantly handed the necklace to Sophie. What if Spirit called to her now? Would Sophie have a sudden urge to dive into the sea to answer him?

  “A silver dolphin,” Sophie mused. She turned the necklace over. “It’s probably just sterling silver, isn’t it? Dad bought some once to model with.”

  Antonia was surprised. Couldn’t Sophie feel how soft the dolphin charm was? It couldn’t be made from metal. To her it felt like a real dolphin. She watched anxiously as Sophie fixed the necklace around her neck.

  “It’s quite pretty, I suppose. We’re going to a barbecue tonight. Can I wear it there?”

  “No!” said Antonia, more forcefully than she meant to.

  Surprise flickered across Sophie’s face.

  “Why not? I let you borrow my hair slide last week.”

  “We swapped hair slides. You wore mine and I wore yours.”

  “But we always lend each other stuff. Why won’t you lend me your necklace? Don’t you trust me?” said Sophie in a hurt voice.

  Antonia was suddenly very anxious to get her necklace back.

  “It’s not that,” she protested. “I’ve promised to lend it to Jessica because she wanted to come to the beach, but she had to go shopping with Mum and Dad instead.”

  “Oh, well another time then,” said Sophie, handing back the necklace to Antonia.

  “Another time,” Antonia agreed, gratefully fastening it around her neck.

  Sophie was very cool to Antonia for the rest of their time on the beach. Antonia was filled with a mixture of emotions. She wanted to make it up with her friend, but it was clear that Sophie was not going to be happy unless Antonia let her borrow the necklace soon. It was a relief when Mr Hastings said it was time to go.

  The following day was Sunday and Antonia wished that Spirit would call, to justify her refusal to lend the necklace to Sophie. But to her disappointment the dolphin charm lay still. She wasn’t needed. Antonia mooched about in the garden hoping for a glimpse of the dolphins, but the only thing she saw were speed boats and an aeroplane trailing a banner about the local aquarium.

  On Monday morning Antonia was determined to be extra nice to Sophie at school. But Sophie was in a funny mood and hardly spoke on the way there. Antonia perched on Sophie’s desk chattering away, asking her questions about the rest of the weekend, but all she got back were one-word answers. When Miss Brown finally arrived Antonia thankfully slid off the desk and went back to her own place. Miss Brown didn’t let the girls sit together in class as she said they talked too much.

  We always used to be chatting, thought Antonia sadly. She wondered if things would have been different if she’d lent Sophie her necklace.

  Miss Brown had a new boy with her. He had dark curly hair and smiling eyes.

  “This is Cai Pacific,” she announced. “He’s only here for six months so I hope you’ll make him feel welcome. Cai is staying with his great-aunt, Claudia Neal; the lady from the Sea Watch charity.”

  Antonia looked at Cai with interest. It surprised her to learn that Claudia had family. Somehow it made her seem more ordinary.

  “Cai has lots of cousins who live in the West Indies,” Miss Brown continued. “So if anyone wants an email friend then ask Cai.”

  He didn’t seem to have any problems fitting in with the class. By lunchtime he was joking and laughing with everyone as if he’d known them for ages. The first lesson after lunch was DT. Miss Brown told 5B to work in pairs on their task to build a model Greek temple. Antonia assumed that she would pair with Sophie. But her friend had already agreed to work with Becky, as Lauren was away. Antonia was hurt. She and Sophie always worked together so how could she suddenly decide to pair with Becky, leaving Antonia on her own?

  “Who’ll make a three with Antonia?” Miss Brown asked the class.

  Antonia forced herself to smile, determined not to show how embarrassed she was. Then Cai shouted out, “She can work with Toby and me.”

  Antonia’s face flamed scarlet as she joined the boys. This was awful. She should be inviting the new boy to join her group, not the other way round. But she didn’t stay embarrassed for long. Cai was easy to talk to and fun. His real home was in the city, but his parents had gone to Australia for six months to work so he’d been given a choice of going to boarding school or staying with Claudia.

  “I hardly know my great-aunt, but I’d much rather stay with her than go to a boarding school,” said Cai cheerfully. “Aunty Claudia runs Sea Watch from her house. It’s so cool. I spent my first weekend here caring for an injured seal.”

  “Th
at sounds fun. I might join,” said Toby.

  “Why don’t you join Sea Watch too?” Cai urged Antonia. “You’d love it.”

  “I’m going to.”

  Antonia really wanted to be a member of Sea Watch and she also needed to speak to Claudia privately. Antonia felt sure that Claudia could answer some of the questions buzzing in her head.

  “Why not join today?” said Cai. “Come home with me and I’ll introduce you to Aunty Claudia.”

  Antonia glanced over at Sophie. They usually walked home together. How would Sophie feel about her going to Sea Watch after school with Cai? She was about to turn Cai’s offer down when Sophie looked up. The two girls stared at each other, but before Antonia could smile Becky nudged Sophie and whispered something. Sophie snorted with laughter then Becky hissed, “Geek.”

  Antonia’s face burned with angry humiliation. What was Sophie playing at? Couldn’t she see how spiteful she was being? At once she turned to Cai.

  “Thanks, Cai. That’d be great.”

  Cai grinned.

  “Wicked,” he said. “I can’t wait to show you the seal. We’ve called him Splash.”

  Chapter Six

  At the end of school, Antonia nipped along to the office to ask her mum if she could go straight to Sea Watch.

  “As long as you’re home by five thirty,” said Mum. “Don’t forget you’ve got swimming club tonight so we’re having an early tea.”

  “Thanks, Mum,” said Antonia, scooting backwards out of the office and accidentally bumping into Becky, who was walking down the corridor with Sophie.

  “Ouch! Watch where you’re going, clumsy,” said Becky, deliberately throwing her bag in the air so the contents spilt across the corridor. “Now look what you made me do. Well, don’t just stand there, geek. Pick it up.”

  “Get lost,” said Antonia.

  “Is everything all right, girls?” Mrs Lee popped her head over the office counter to see what all the noise was about.

  “Sort of.” Becky’s mouth turned down. “Antonia bumped into me and made me drop my bag.”

  “Antonia, you really must be more careful,” Mrs Lee scolded her. “Say sorry and help Becky pick her things up.”

  Antonia glared at Becky. “It wasn’t my fault you dropped your bag.”

  “It was, wasn’t it, Sophie?” said Becky.

  Sophie went pink and said nothing.

  “Antonia,” said Mrs Lee, a note of warning in her voice.

  “I’m sorry,” snapped Antonia.

  Furiously she picked up Becky’s things. She didn’t know what had got into Sophie, keeping quiet like that, but if that was the way she wanted to play it, fine. She’d not bother to stick up for her the next time she needed help. Antonia left school feeling angry, but she didn’t stay cross for long. Cai was good company; chattering nonstop about Splash and how greedy the seal was for fish. He was so funny, Antonia was laughing out loud by the time they arrived at Sea Watch.

  The charity was run from a big wooden shed in Claudia’s large garden that sloped down to the beach. The shed stood right at the bottom with a low fence separating it from the sand. Sea Watch also owned a rescue boat, which was pulled up on the beach. When they arrived Claudia was checking on a seagull with a broken wing. She was pleased that Cai had enjoyed his first day at school and she seemed even more pleased to see Antonia.

  “I remember you. You’re the girl whose poster won the competition.”

  Antonia’s heart raced. There were so many questions she wanted to ask Claudia, but not in front of Cai. She hoped she would get a chance to speak privately with her. Claudia put the seagull back in its cage and moved on to a chough, a type of seabird. She spoke gently and the bird didn’t struggle when she lifted it up.

  “It’s as if animals know she’s helping them to get better,” Cai whispered.

  Antonia thought so too. There was something special about the way the chough watched Claudia and the soft noises it made to her. It sounded as if Claudia and the chough were talking to each other.

  Antonia helped Cai to feed Splash and fell totally in love with the seal. His liquid brown eyes reminded her of a friendly Labrador. He was funny too, nudging her hand with his whiskery nose if she wasn’t quick enough to feed him another fish.

  “Claudia says he can go back to the sea soon,” sighed Cai. “It’s where he belongs, but I’m going to miss him.”

  There were so many jobs to do–feeding animals, cleaning out their enclosures and tidying up–that the time flew.

  “I’ve got to go soon,” said Antonia reluctantly. “I’ve got swimming tonight and I said I’d be home early.”

  Cai said he was heading back too. “I’m going up to the house for something to eat. I’m starving.”

  He said goodbye to Claudia, but Antonia hung back meaning to have a private word with her. She was wondering how to start when two girls arrived wanting to join Sea Watch. Antonia recognised them as Eleanor Jacobs and Karen Holmes who were in Year Six. Claudia gave the girls a warm welcome and offered them a guided tour. Antonia didn’t have time to wait for her to finish and tried not to feel disappointed as she walked home. There would be plenty more opportunities to talk to Claudia now she was an official Sea Watch volunteer. Helping out at Sea Watch had been brilliant fun. Antonia thought she might quickly call in on Sophie on the way home, but then she changed her mind. What if Becky had gone round to play? Sighing heavily Antonia began the climb up Sandy Bay Road. She was halfway up when her skin began to tingle. Seconds later the dolphin charm began vibrating against her chest.

  “Spirit,” clicked Antonia, saying his name in dolphin language.

  The dolphin charm vibrated more strongly and then began to whistle.

  “Silver Dolphin. Come quickly.”

  Antonia raced back down the road towards Sandy Bay beach. A handful of people were still soaking up the sun, but most had packed up and gone home for tea. Antonia ran along the sand to the rocks where she discarded her bag and pulled off her shoes and socks. As if urging her to hurry the dolphin charm vibrated faster and the whistling became more shrill. Carefully Antonia clambered over the rocks until she was out of sight of the beach, then stepping across the rock pools she splashed into the sea. The moment the water reached her waist she thrust herself forward and swam. Her legs melded together as they kicked tail-like through the water. Her school dress flattened against her body so that she was perfectly streamlined. It was exhilarating, slicing through the water as if she was a real dolphin. Antonia couldn’t help herself–in spite of the urgency she leapt out of the water, arching her body like Bubbles. It felt amazing, as if she was flying. Antonia continued to leap out of the sea as she raced towards the open water.

  The waves were rougher out here. Antonia stopped leaping and concentrated on finding Spirit. She knew she was nearing the dolphins. She could sense them; her skin tingled with the vibrations in the water as Spirit and his family swam closer.

  Chapter Seven

  Seconds later Antonia saw them: Spirit first, followed by Star, with Dream and Bubbles vying to be third. “Well done,” clicked Spirit, swimming alongside Antonia. “You came quickly.”

  “You did very well,” agreed Star, stroking her hair with a fin.

  Antonia flushed with pleasure.

  “How can I help?” she asked.

  “There’s a bird in distress, over there on the rocks.” Spirit swung round so his nose was pointing at a jagged cluster of rocks sticking out of the water.

  Wasting no time Antonia struck out towards them. The sea was even rougher here, slapping the rocks with angry fingers. Carefully Antonia swam towards a flattish rock with knobbly sides. She could feel the dolphins watching her as she reached out and clambered up the slippery barnacle-encrusted rock edge until she was able to pull herself on to its surface. She saw the bird immediately. A young seagull, its feathers still grey, staggering around on clumsy feet. A length of twine hung from its mouth and there was blood on its feathers.

&nb
sp; “Peep!” it shrilled.

  “Steady,” whispered Antonia. “I’m here to help you.”

  She held out her hand. The seagull fixed her with beady eyes, but didn’t move away. Slowly Antonia stepped closer until she could see the bird’s pounding chest.

  “Here, let me look.”

  Antonia stretched out her hand for the twine and followed it up to the seagull’s beak. Gently she prised its beak open, gasping in horror at what she saw. A fish hook was lodged inside the bird’s mouth in a tangle of twine and blood.

  “Oh, you poor thing,” Antonia spoke softly and the young bird cocked its head to one side as if it were listening to her.

  “I’m going to get this out for you. It might hurt a little, but you’ll feel much better once it’s gone.”

  Slowly Antonia untangled the fishing line until she could see where it joined the hook. The bird’s mouth was a mess and she used the hem of her school dress to dab away the blood. Then with gentle fingers she took hold of the shaft of the fish hook and, pushing it down, she unhooked it from the seagull’s mouth. All the while the bird trembled, but didn’t try to fly away.

  Antonia wound the twine around the hook and put it in the pocket of her dress.

  “Peep,” said the bird. It opened and closed its beak then ruffling its feathers it flew up into the air.

  “Peep,” it called down to her.

  “You’re welcome,” said Antonia.

  She climbed back down the rock and splashed into the sea.

  “Thank you,” said Spirit. “It would have died if you hadn’t rescued it.”

  Antonia felt elated. She loved being a Silver Dolphin. She didn’t know why she’d been chosen for the role, but she was extremely glad she had.

  “Can we play now?” asked Bubbles. “Please, Dad?”

  Spirit opened his mouth in a smile.

  “Yes, go and enjoy yourself.”

  “Bubbly!” clicked Bubbles. “Let’s play Sprat. You’re it.”

  He darted away before Antonia had a chance to catch him.

  “Will you play too?” Antonia shyly asked Dream.