Page 22 - The Mermaid Call

The Mermaid Girls
“One Selkie jewellery box; one Mermaid doll and two Nixie keyrings!”
I listed what I’d sold extra-brightly when Mimi arrived back at lunchtime. Even if we
both knew it was poor takings for a Saturday. Because she really looked like she needed cheering up.
“Better than a slap in the face with a mermaid tail then!” Mimi made one of our usual jokes, but with a smile that seemed too heavy for her mouth. There was a cat’s cradle of lines on her forehead now. As if there was more to worry about than just Mum.
“Were things bad at the bank?” I trailed her as she began rearranging the soft mermaid dolls on the counter. “Maybe you should stop putting money in my future savings account.”
Mimi reached towards me and cupped my cheek. “Never!” She made a frazzled dance of her head. “No, it was the Mermaid Committee meeting – some difficult decisions about this year’s Festival.”
The MPs’ evil plan of sabotage shot into my mind. “It’s the anti-Mermaid campaign isn’t it! Eleni wants to be part of it, Mimi.” It was always a relief to off-load my problems onto Mimi – we told each other everything.
Except, she didn’t ask about Eleni or pick-up on the hurt tone of my voice.
“It’s not any campaign.” A sigh took her eyes to the window – “The Committee is worried what secrets the Mermaid Girls might reveal from the grave” – resting anxiously on the glass bottle there. Waiting to be smashed at the Festival to get to the thick leather envelope inside.
“But it’ll only be more made-up stories about mermaids, to keep the tourists coming,” I said encouragingly. I didn’t like Mimi looking weighed-down and creased, it made my insides do the same.
“What would I do without you?” It got me another face-cup. Then her hand dropped, into an arm-rub, like she was making a bruise better. “We’ll put your mum’s cancelled visit