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Authors: Summer Waters
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rushed through her head. She felt dizzy and full of white-hot anger.
Antonia marched across to the smiling Emily, intent on telling her exactly what she thought of her parents.
Chapter Fourteen
“H ello,” called Emily, tripping and spilling her shells. “Oh bother, I’ve been ages collecting those.” She dropped on to her hands and knees to pick them up.
Antonia faltered. It was difficult to say what she wanted when she didn’t have Emily’s full attention.
“You’re up early,” she commented, wishing Emily would hurry up.
“Yeah. Mum and Dad went out on the boat, scuba diving. I can’t wait to learn. Then I can go and have fun with them.”
“Fun!” exclaimed Antonia. She pushed her damp hair out of her eyes and glared at the top of Emily’s bent head. “Do you know exactly what your parents were scuba diving for?”
Emily stood up and stared at Antonia in surprise.
“Are you all right? You sound angry.”
“I am because…” Antonia stopped, just in time. She had to be careful what she said and not give too much away about Silver Dolphins. “I heard a rumour that your parents were taking live animals from the sea, thenkilling them to sell in their shop.”
Emily flushed bright red and her glasses slid down her nose. She pushed them back.
“I don’t listen to rumours. I don’t know where Mum and Dad’s stock comes from, either. But I’ve been thinking about Sea Watch and all the good stuff that happens there. I couldn’t get what Claudia said about ruining the sea and people not coming to visit any more out of my head.”
Emily paused, her eyes scanning the horizon. “I like it here. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a dolphin this morning. It was quite a long way out, but it was so exciting. I’m going to come down early again tomorrow and bring binoculars.
“Anyway, I thought it would be good if
Emily’s Treasure Chest
concentrated on environmentally-friendly souvenirs. So I’ve been collecting stuff to show Mum and Dad. Dropped feathers, empty shells and even bits of driftwood.”
Emily thrust the bucket at Antonia. “Look, what do you think?”
Unconsciously, Antonia touched her silver dolphin charm. It felt soft and alive. The anger slowly drained away. Claudia had been right to give Emily a chance. It wasn’t fair to blame her for her parents’ crimes.
“It’s a brilliant idea,” said Antonia. “We’ll help you, Cai and me. We’re often on the beach, so if we find anything pretty we’ll keep it for you.”
“Thanks. Well, I’d better get going. Mumand Dad said they’d cook me breakfast when they get back. Bacon rolls with fried eggs and mushrooms. See you Monday.”
Antonia lay on her back, staring up at the cloudless sky, enjoying the swell of the sea beneath her. Inside, she was still bubbling with excitement. Monday was her least favourite day of the week, but this one had been totally brilliant. It had started when Emily waylaid her and Cai in the playground before school.
“Promise you won’t tell anyone,” Emily whispered, pulling them into a tight huddle.
“Mum and Dad had a visit from the coastguard on Saturday. It was soooo embarrassing. Those rumours were right,Antonia. They’d been catching sea life and letting it die, to make their souvenirs. And they’d damaged a coral bed in a special protected area! They were given a warning, but if it happens again the coastguard said he’d tell the police and they’d be prosecuted.
“Mum and Dad were really shocked. I think they knew they’d been doing wrong, but they didn’t realise it was that serious. Neither of them meant to hurt anything. Mum said she didn’t know that starfish and sea urchins could suffer like other animals. How dumb is that!
“They’re coming with me to Sea Watch this afternoon to meet Claudia. Dad’s bringing his cheque book. He’s going to make a donation to Sea Watch, by way of an apology.”
At the end of school, Mr and Mrs Jones met Emily and they all walked
Antonia marched across to the smiling Emily, intent on telling her exactly what she thought of her parents.
Chapter Fourteen
“H ello,” called Emily, tripping and spilling her shells. “Oh bother, I’ve been ages collecting those.” She dropped on to her hands and knees to pick them up.
Antonia faltered. It was difficult to say what she wanted when she didn’t have Emily’s full attention.
“You’re up early,” she commented, wishing Emily would hurry up.
“Yeah. Mum and Dad went out on the boat, scuba diving. I can’t wait to learn. Then I can go and have fun with them.”
“Fun!” exclaimed Antonia. She pushed her damp hair out of her eyes and glared at the top of Emily’s bent head. “Do you know exactly what your parents were scuba diving for?”
Emily stood up and stared at Antonia in surprise.
“Are you all right? You sound angry.”
“I am because…” Antonia stopped, just in time. She had to be careful what she said and not give too much away about Silver Dolphins. “I heard a rumour that your parents were taking live animals from the sea, thenkilling them to sell in their shop.”
Emily flushed bright red and her glasses slid down her nose. She pushed them back.
“I don’t listen to rumours. I don’t know where Mum and Dad’s stock comes from, either. But I’ve been thinking about Sea Watch and all the good stuff that happens there. I couldn’t get what Claudia said about ruining the sea and people not coming to visit any more out of my head.”
Emily paused, her eyes scanning the horizon. “I like it here. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a dolphin this morning. It was quite a long way out, but it was so exciting. I’m going to come down early again tomorrow and bring binoculars.
“Anyway, I thought it would be good if
Emily’s Treasure Chest
concentrated on environmentally-friendly souvenirs. So I’ve been collecting stuff to show Mum and Dad. Dropped feathers, empty shells and even bits of driftwood.”
Emily thrust the bucket at Antonia. “Look, what do you think?”
Unconsciously, Antonia touched her silver dolphin charm. It felt soft and alive. The anger slowly drained away. Claudia had been right to give Emily a chance. It wasn’t fair to blame her for her parents’ crimes.
“It’s a brilliant idea,” said Antonia. “We’ll help you, Cai and me. We’re often on the beach, so if we find anything pretty we’ll keep it for you.”
“Thanks. Well, I’d better get going. Mumand Dad said they’d cook me breakfast when they get back. Bacon rolls with fried eggs and mushrooms. See you Monday.”
Antonia lay on her back, staring up at the cloudless sky, enjoying the swell of the sea beneath her. Inside, she was still bubbling with excitement. Monday was her least favourite day of the week, but this one had been totally brilliant. It had started when Emily waylaid her and Cai in the playground before school.
“Promise you won’t tell anyone,” Emily whispered, pulling them into a tight huddle.
“Mum and Dad had a visit from the coastguard on Saturday. It was soooo embarrassing. Those rumours were right,Antonia. They’d been catching sea life and letting it die, to make their souvenirs. And they’d damaged a coral bed in a special protected area! They were given a warning, but if it happens again the coastguard said he’d tell the police and they’d be prosecuted.
“Mum and Dad were really shocked. I think they knew they’d been doing wrong, but they didn’t realise it was that serious. Neither of them meant to hurt anything. Mum said she didn’t know that starfish and sea urchins could suffer like other animals. How dumb is that!
“They’re coming with me to Sea Watch this afternoon to meet Claudia. Dad’s bringing his cheque book. He’s going to make a donation to Sea Watch, by way of an apology.”
At the end of school, Mr and Mrs Jones met Emily and they all walked
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