Mermaid School No.3: Ready, Steady, Swim

Mermaid School No.3: Ready, Steady, Swim — page 5 — Miss Haddock was old and nearsighted and didn’t approve of tattoos She had been the fishball champion of Mermaid Lagoon in her youth but that wasn’t saying much Fishball was the most boring sport Marnie had ever played It had lots of rules and hardly any swimming around This merman looked like he would eat Miss Haddock for lunch Ms Mullet looked even smaller than usual next to the giant visitor Good morning class she said I’m sorry to say that Miss Haddock had an accident last night and won’t be with us today Dora Agua gasped Is Miss Haddock all right Ms Mullet Miss Haddock mistook a reef shark for her pet catfish Ms Mullet said She is expected to make a full recovery but she will be in hospital for a while Most of the mermaids were fond of Miss Haddock because she never made them swim around too fast and sometimes brought her catfish Cecil to lessons Others were less concerned I hope Miss Haddock retires after this said Gilly Seaflower Her lessons are really boring That’s a terrible thing to say Gilly snapped Orla Finnegan How would YOU like to be eaten by a shark 2

Mermaid School No.3: Ready, Steady, Swim — page 6 — If she was EATEN she’d be dead Gilly pointed out as she tied back her long blonde curls with a seaweed hairband I bet she was only nibbled She’s a silly old trout and I won’t miss her Marnie frowned Gilly could be really mean sometimes teach us This guy looks like he might something said actually though Lupita Barracuda thoughtfully Lupita was a member of the local speed-swimming club and was always team captain in Miss Haddock’s lessons She also had the most flexible tail Marnie had ever seen and could do ten backflips in a row Marnie could understand her interest in the new teacher Marnie on the other hand was worried She wasn’t very sporty Ms Mullet clacked her deep-red pincers to get everyone’s attention This is Mr Marlin she said He comes from Lord Foam’s Atoll Academy with excellent references I am happy to leave you in his capable fins She swam away in her usual sideways fashion 3

Mermaid School No.3: Ready, Steady, Swim — page 7 — Mr Marlin frowned at the class Hmm he said Good morning Mr Marlin said the class cautiously tattooed There was a pair of pretty on the new PE teacher’s arms He flexed his muscles making the ladies bounce around Miss Haddock would definitely not approve of those Marnie thought ladies TEN LAPS OF THE SPORTS CAVE Mr Marlin suddenly screamed making Marnie jump GET THOSE FLABBY FINS MOVIIIIIIING 4

Mermaid School No.3: Ready, Steady, Swim — page 8 — Half the class shot forward in a blur of brightly-colored tails The rest followed more slowly Marnie stayed beside Orla and Pearl in the middle of the pack Lupita’s gleaming black tail was streaking ahead of everyone else Gilly wasn’t far behind MY GRANDMOTHER CAN SWIM FASTER THAN YOU Mr Marlin shrieked AND SHE’S A HUNDRED AND THREE Pearl was smaller than the rest of the class and now her little tail was struggling to keep up Marnie and Orla slowed down to keep her company NO SLACKING AT THE BACK screeched Mr Marlin Soon Marnie had a pain in her side Pearl’s glasses were misting up with the effort Orla’s pale face was almost as purple as her tail Lupita overtook them on the next lap shooting them a grin over her shoulder Move your tails sea snails whooped Gilly following close behind Lupita Round and round they went Marnie lost count of the number of times they swam past the old fishball nets She just wanted it to end Finally it did Lupita won of course Marnie and her friends collapsed to the floor of the Sports Cave groaning 5

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