into the shrubs and stood like a statue. The seconds ticked by. Antonia willed Cai to move away from the window, but to her horror he suddenly turned to the garden and looked straight at her. Antonia felt her heart fall to her feet. She couldsee Cai clearly, but could he see her in the shadows?
Then a second figure came up behind Cai. It was Claudia, stepping forward and swiftly drawing the curtains. Antonia was grateful that Claudia still kept in touch with the dolphins. She must have guessed that Antonia would use her beach to answer their call. But had Cai seen her or not?
Antonia’s stomach churned with worry as she scurried alongside the house and out into the street. What would she say if he’d seen her? She would have to make up an excuse. She hated the thought of fibbing to Cai, but knew she might have to. Becoming a Silver Dolphin was the most wonderful thing that had happened to her. She couldn’t break herpromise to the dolphins. Touching her charm for comfort, Antonia forced her tired legs to carry her back to the swimming pool.
When she was almost there she pulled Dad’s mobile phone out of her bag and called up ‘home’ in the address book. She was about to press the Send button when she noticed a blue people carrier parked outside the swimming-pool doors. Antonia’s heart raced. Nothing was going right for her. The car belonged to her dad. He must have come early to watch her swim.
Stuffing the mobile phone back in her bag Antonia broke into a run. Her throat went dry as she imagined Dad seeking out one of the coaches to ask why his daughter wasn’t in the swimming pool. Both Mum and Dad had strictrules about her going out. At this time in the evening she was only allowed to take part in organised activities.
Out of breath, Antonia arrived at the swimming-pool entrance. She made herself stand outside until she’d stopped panting then, wiping sweaty palms down her leggings, she went in. The reception hall was empty except for the lady she’d seen earlier at the desk. Luckily she was tapping away at a computer and didn’t notice Antonia heading towards the spectators’ door. Feeling sick with fear Antonia pushed the door open at exactly the same time as someone came through it from the other side.
“Oh!” gasped Antonia, her face flushing a guilty shade of red as she faced her dad.
“There you are.” Dad sounded relieved. “Why aren’t you in the pool with everyone else?”
Antonia linked her arm through Dad’s and steered him outside.
“I was allowed to get out early as it’s my first time.”
“Was it fun?” asked Dad, unlocking the car door.
Antonia hugged her swimming bag close to her chest. Fun didn’t even begin to describe the adventures she’d had this evening. Giving her dad a huge smile she said, “I’ve had an amazing time.”
Chapter Twelve
A t school everyone was very excited. The damaged
Romana
had been repaired and the boat was due to sail that afternoon. Mr Cordier decided that the whole school should
go
down to the promenade to wave her off. Only Sophie wasn’t happy about the news.
“It can’t leave yet. I haven’t finished my picture,” she wailed.
“Take your sketch pad with you and you can do some more drawing before the ship sails,” Antonia suggested, knowing that Sophie always brought her sketch pad to school.
“I suppose I could, but it won’t be the same,” said Sophie glumly. “I can’t concentrate with too many people around.”
Antonia laughed. “Once you get started you’ll soon forget everyone. You
go
into your own little world when you’re drawing.”
Antonia was right. In fact, Sophie became dreamy and distracted as soon as she decided that she’d take her sketch pad on their outing to the beach. In English she did all her work in her maths book by mistake. Miss Brown wasso cross she made Sophie stay in at playtime to copy the work out in her English book. Antonia was dismayed. She’d managed to avoid being alone with
Then a second figure came up behind Cai. It was Claudia, stepping forward and swiftly drawing the curtains. Antonia was grateful that Claudia still kept in touch with the dolphins. She must have guessed that Antonia would use her beach to answer their call. But had Cai seen her or not?
Antonia’s stomach churned with worry as she scurried alongside the house and out into the street. What would she say if he’d seen her? She would have to make up an excuse. She hated the thought of fibbing to Cai, but knew she might have to. Becoming a Silver Dolphin was the most wonderful thing that had happened to her. She couldn’t break herpromise to the dolphins. Touching her charm for comfort, Antonia forced her tired legs to carry her back to the swimming pool.
When she was almost there she pulled Dad’s mobile phone out of her bag and called up ‘home’ in the address book. She was about to press the Send button when she noticed a blue people carrier parked outside the swimming-pool doors. Antonia’s heart raced. Nothing was going right for her. The car belonged to her dad. He must have come early to watch her swim.
Stuffing the mobile phone back in her bag Antonia broke into a run. Her throat went dry as she imagined Dad seeking out one of the coaches to ask why his daughter wasn’t in the swimming pool. Both Mum and Dad had strictrules about her going out. At this time in the evening she was only allowed to take part in organised activities.
Out of breath, Antonia arrived at the swimming-pool entrance. She made herself stand outside until she’d stopped panting then, wiping sweaty palms down her leggings, she went in. The reception hall was empty except for the lady she’d seen earlier at the desk. Luckily she was tapping away at a computer and didn’t notice Antonia heading towards the spectators’ door. Feeling sick with fear Antonia pushed the door open at exactly the same time as someone came through it from the other side.
“Oh!” gasped Antonia, her face flushing a guilty shade of red as she faced her dad.
“There you are.” Dad sounded relieved. “Why aren’t you in the pool with everyone else?”
Antonia linked her arm through Dad’s and steered him outside.
“I was allowed to get out early as it’s my first time.”
“Was it fun?” asked Dad, unlocking the car door.
Antonia hugged her swimming bag close to her chest. Fun didn’t even begin to describe the adventures she’d had this evening. Giving her dad a huge smile she said, “I’ve had an amazing time.”
Chapter Twelve
A t school everyone was very excited. The damaged
Romana
had been repaired and the boat was due to sail that afternoon. Mr Cordier decided that the whole school should
go
down to the promenade to wave her off. Only Sophie wasn’t happy about the news.
“It can’t leave yet. I haven’t finished my picture,” she wailed.
“Take your sketch pad with you and you can do some more drawing before the ship sails,” Antonia suggested, knowing that Sophie always brought her sketch pad to school.
“I suppose I could, but it won’t be the same,” said Sophie glumly. “I can’t concentrate with too many people around.”
Antonia laughed. “Once you get started you’ll soon forget everyone. You
go
into your own little world when you’re drawing.”
Antonia was right. In fact, Sophie became dreamy and distracted as soon as she decided that she’d take her sketch pad on their outing to the beach. In English she did all her work in her maths book by mistake. Miss Brown wasso cross she made Sophie stay in at playtime to copy the work out in her English book. Antonia was dismayed. She’d managed to avoid being alone with
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