Flora Silk-Finn has lived on a boat her whole life-yet her mum seems oddly anxious to keep her away from the water.When her mum finally allows her to have swimming lessons,Flora makes a shocking discovery -she has a tail!
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For my Dad -may your dream's in heaven be full of life and adventures <3
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Chapter One
Can you keep a secret?
I know everyone has secrets but mine is different , strange kind of weird.Sometimes I have nightmares where I'm locked up in zoo or a scientist's laboratory.
It all started in year 7 when swimming lessons began. It was the first Wednesday afternoon at my new school and I was so looking forward to it.Mum hates swimming and always used to change the subject when I asked why I couldn't learn."But we live on a boat!" Id say to her "Were surrounded by gallons of water!"
"Your not getting me in there just look at all the pollution.'she would reply with a shudder "It's like when all the day cruises have been in to load and unload.Now stop arguing and help me hang out the washing.Mum even kept me out of swimming lessons all through primary school too.Said it was unhealthy."All those body's mixing in the same water.Not for us thank you very much."
And that would be that end of discussion.I finally got her to agree withe for swimming lessons in secondary
"Alright alright," she sighs "but don't start trying to get me in there with you"
I'v never been in the sea i'v never even had a bath I'm not dirty or anything i have a shower every morning it's just that we don't have enough room for one on our boat so i'v never been totally immersed in water.Till the first wednesday afternoon of year 7.
Mum bought me a new bag especially for my costume and towel.On the front of the bag it had a picture of a woman doing butterfly stroke and on the back there were three bright orange stripes with a purple flower in the middle of each stripe.I looked at the picture on the front of the bag and dreamt of winning Olympic races, with a speedo costume and black goggles just like hers.
Only it didn't happen at all Like that. When we got to the entrance of the changing rooms a man with a black shirt a White shorts told the girls to in one room and the boys to go in another.I changed quickly and quietly in the corner hoping no one had seen my boney and scruffy legs,My legs are like sticks and they are usually covered in cuts and scratches from coming of and on queen of the sea.That's our boat it's rather a grand title for a boat with Mouldy ropes,Chipped paint and beds the size of a ruler!We usually just call her queen.Grace north smiled at me has she folded her clothes then put them in her locker in colours. What's up with that I thought to myself.
"I like your cozzy" she said as she scrunched her hair into a small tight blue swimming cap.In return i said " And I like your swimming cap"we both smiled at each other but Mandy must of seen us talking because in a flash she shouted "You coming Grace" in her snarly voice grace walked away to Mandy as they walked past me Mandy whispers something into Grace's ear Grace didn't look up as they carried on so I made my way to the pool too.
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