Secret Friends by Summer Waters Page A

Cai all morning, but it would be more difficult with no Sophie to hang around with in the playground. She needn’t have worried. Cai didn’t seem to want to be alone with her either and ran off to play football with the boys. Miserably, Antonia sat on the edge of the field watching everyone having fun around her. She hated avoiding Cai, but what if he had seen her the night before and asked about it? However she explained herself Cai would know she was keeping secrets from him. Lunchtime was a little better. Cai, Toby, Sophie and Antonia sat together on the field to eat their sandwiches.
    “It’ll be good to see the back of the
Princess Romana
,” said Cai. “I used to see dolphins swimming in the bay, but they haven’t been around since that boat’s been stuck here.”
    Antonia choked on a mouthful of sandwich.
    “Steady,” said Cai, thumping her on the back. “Are you all right? You’ve gone a funny colour.”
    “I’m fine,” spluttered Antonia.
    She took a long swig from her drink bottle, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She would have to learn to control herself and not start acting funnily if Cai mentioned dolphins again.
    “The beaches are opening again tomorrow,” said Toby. “The coastguard told Mum that the oil has almost gone and that most of the stuffwashed up has been cleared away. The funniest thing they found was a whole crate of false teeth. Some of the teeth had dead fish stuck between them like they were having a snack.”
    “I bet you made that up!” said Cai when the laughter died down.
    “Would I lie to you?” Toby grinned.
    “Yes, you would,” said Cai, looking at Antonia. She felt her face colouring up. Cai started unwrapping a slice of cake.
    “Mmm,” he said appreciatively. “It’s not like I don’t miss my parents or anything, but Aunty Claudia is a much better cook. Did you ask about staying to tea tonight, Antonia? We’re having homemade pasta.”
    “Yes, I can come,” said Antonia, pleasedthat he still wanted her to
go
.
    Biting into her apple Antonia decided she was worrying about nothing. Cai was still being friendly so he couldn’t have seen her last night.
    After lunch Miss Brown made the class line up in pairs to
go
down to the promenade. It was crowded with onlookers so the police allowed the children of Sandy Bay Primary to
go
down on to the sand. The
Princess Romana
was flying several flags, including the Union Jack, alongside its own green, white and red striped Italian one.
    “Doesn’t it look pretty?” said Sophie, pulling out her sketch pad. “I can’t wait to paint this.”
    The crew lined the deck and when the boatbegan to sail they released a hundred green, white and red balloons into the air. Antonia cheered almost as loudly as the whole school put together. The beach was almost cleared and the oil spill had nearly dispersed so it wouldn’t be long before Spirit and his family could return to the bay. Suddenly, Antonia was so excited she did a little dance in the sand.
    “Antonia!” cried Sophie, brushing sand from her sketch pad. “Watch out!”
    “Sorry,” said Antonia, standing still again. “Wow, Sophie, that’s brilliant.”
    “It’s not bad,” said Sophie, rapidly sketching. “I could have done with longer, though.”After school Antonia walked to Sea Watch with Cai, Eleanor and Karen. As they entered the Sea Watch building Claudia drew Antonia to one side.
    “I need a word with you,” she whispered.
    Panic gripped Antonia, making her grey-green eyes widen in alarm.
    “You’re not in any trouble.” Claudia squeezed Antonia’s hand. “It’s good news. I’ll talk to you later.”
    Antonia and Cai offered to clean out the guillemot cages. They were in the back room, nine birds in three cages. The survivors were a tough, cheeky bunch and Antonia was growing fond of them. Donning large rubber gloves Antonia and Cai rolled up soiled newspaper and replaced it with clean stuff. They refreshedwater dishes and