The Magic Charm Read Free Page A

the necklace might not work if she told people about it.
    “Clever girl,” said Mum proudly. “What did Sophie say? I bet she was pleased for you.”
    “I think so,” said Antonia, remembering Sophie’s comments and feeling slightly uncomfortable.
    “No doubt she was surprised. It was a poster competition for the Sea Watch charity, wasn’t it? It must be the first art competition she hasn’t won.”
    “Yes, it was…I’m going to volunteer for Sea Watch as well,” Antonia added. Mum was right. Sophie must have acted strangely because she’d been surprised. “Can I go to the beach with Sophie tomorrow afternoon? She said her dad will take us.”
    “Of course you can,” said Mum. “Dad and I are going into town tomorrow afternoon so it’ll save dragging you around with us. Now what would you like to eat?”
    That evening Antonia found it hard to stop fidgeting. Her fingers kept straying to the dolphin necklace. What if the dolphins called her now? How would she get out of the house without Mum and Dad finding out? They’d never agree to her going down to the beach on her own. By bedtime Antonia was so jumpy she didn’t think she could possibly sleep. Looking out of her bedroom window before drawing the curtains on the summer night Antonia saw the dolphins swimming in the bay. Bubbles, easily identifiable as the littlest, kept leaping out of the water. Antonia grinned, sure he was putting on a showjust for her. The sight of the dolphins,
her
dolphins, reassured her. She didn’t think Spirit would call her in the night, but if he did then she would find a way to answer his call. Antonia stopped worrying, climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep, to dream of dolphins.
    Early the next morning Antonia’s dad took her to Sandy Bay beach for her surfing lesson. Jessica insisted on going too.
    “When can I learn to surf?” she asked as she watched Antonia pull on her wetsuit.
    “When you can swim as well as Antonia,” said Dad, ruffling Jessica’s hair.
    “You’ll love learning to surf, it’s great,” said Antonia enthusiastically.
    Jessica frowned.
    “But that won’t be for ages. Antonia’s brilliantat swimming. She swims like a dolphin.”
    Antonia jumped. What did Jessica mean?
    “Naomi’s sister says you’re an ace swimmer,” said Jessica wistfully.
    Antonia laughed with relief. Naomi was Jessica’s best friend and her sister was in Antonia’s class.
    “You’ll soon be able to swim like me if you keep practising,” she said as she fastened her wetsuit and picked up her board.
    “Enjoy your lesson. See you later,” said Dad.
    “See you,” said Antonia.
    Under her wetsuit Antonia could feel the dolphin necklace pressing against her skin. What would her teacher say if the dolphins called her during her surfing lesson and she had to take off? The thought made her stomach flip. She wished she would get a call soon. All this waiting andwondering was making her head spin.
    The surf was good. Antonia soon lost herself in the thrill of riding the waves. After her lesson she let Jessica sit on her board while she towed her along in the shallows. Jessica’s eyes shone with excitement.
    “I’m going to learn how to swim better quickly,” she said.
    “You do that,” Antonia agreed. She loved surfing and wanted everyone else to love it too.
    There were tuna sandwiches for lunch with cherry tomatoes, crisps and a glass of iced lemon. Antonia ate in the garden with Jessica.
    “Can I come to the beach with you?” asked Jessica, through a mouthful of sandwich.
    “Not today,” said Antonia.
    “Please? I don’t want to go to the shops with Mum and Dad.”
    “Sorry, Jess,” said Antonia. “But I’m going with Sophie and her dad.”
    “You’re mean,” said Jessica.
    “No I’m not. You don’t take me with you when you go round to Naomi’s house.”
    “That’s different,” said Jessica. “Naomi’s too small for you.”
    “And my friends are too big for you,” chuckled Antonia.