Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels Read Free

wall map of Port Toulouse and the surrounding areas. Serena stood facing the map, as if entranced by the blue waters against the green land. She traced her finger along the Atlantic Ocean, up our town’s canal and across the boat lock that separated the ocean from nearby Talisman Lake, where she’d grown up as a mermaid with her parents, Finalin and Medora, and the rest of the Freshies imprisoned there by the Mermish Council.
    Serena’s finger stopped at the bridge for a second, then followed the lake northward through the islands to Dundee where Gran’s cottage was. Finally, she traced a path past the cottage to the northernmost part of Talisman Lake a few miles further, where (I hadn’t noticed before) the water spilled back into the Atlantic Ocean through a northern passage.
    The last time I’d seen Serena, she was a mer-girl in Talisman Lake. In fact, I was the one who’d brought her back there after a trial run on land. Serena’s father, Finalin, had not been very happy with me—after all, he’d sacrificed himself to free her from their lake prison in the first place.
    But now Serena was back on dry land and registering for high school? My high school?
    â€œThe school records might take a while because all of the family’s worldly possessions were burned in the lava flow, but we’ll do what we can,” Gran said to Ms. Wilma as she finished scribbling information on Serena’s school registration form.
    What the heck? Lava flow?
    â€œSerena and her mother are staying with Jade and her dad,” Gran continued, “so I’ll put that address.”
    â€œOh, that’s wonderful,” Ms. Wilma said, spinning her chair to look at me. “Jade, it must be nice to have your cousin and aunt stay with you.”
    â€œUh. Yeah,” I managed to utter but I wasn’t sure I wanted to encourage this latest turn of events.
    â€œPoor thing has been through so much.” Gran glanced at Serena and actually pulled a tissue from her handbag to dab the corner of her eye. “We just think a bit of routine and structure would do wonders for her, you know?”
    Wow, Gran should really audition for the Port Toulouse Theater Company because she was good . She snuck a sideways glance at me and winked. Cori, Luke, and Trey waved and pointed at Serena through the office window from the hallway, wondering what was happening. It would help if I knew what was happening.
    â€œOf course!” Ms. Wilma exclaimed. “Heaven knows your son’s family has had enough tragedy to last a lifetime,” she said, alluding to the fact that everyone in Port Toulouse thought my mom had drowned in Talisman Lake the summer before. And now my “aunt” (who was actually Mom with a makeover) and “cousin” Serena’s village had been destroyed by a volcanic lava flow? Too bad we hadn’t stocked up on life and accident insurance.
    â€œThank you for understanding,” Gran replied, adding a very enthusiastic nose-blow for effect.
    â€œGetting Serena into a new school as soon as possible is probably the best thing for her.” Ms. Wilma patted Gran’s hand and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’ll do what I can to push this through with Principal Reamer for now. Just try to get the rest of the information to me as soon as you can.”
    Ms. Wilma filed the registration form in a folder and put it in Principal Reamer’s inbox.
    â€œAs soon as humanly possible,” Gran assured her, replacing her pen in her handbag and snapping it shut. “Hey, am I going to see you at bingo on Thursday night? It’s winner-take-all, and the jackpot’s a big one.”
    â€œWouldn’t miss it. Save me a seat,” Ms. Wilma replied, wheeling away toward the coffeemaker on the other side of the office, mug in hand.
    Gran went over to Serena and put a hand on her shoulder. Serena jumped, as if being awoken from a trance, then