Read Online Twin Tales by Jacqueline Wilson - Free Book Online Page B

was jiggled up and down. Dad threw himself to the floor, his hands over his mouth, and whimpered. Then the drill suddenly stopped and they heard footsteps outside.
    Someone burst into the waiting- room, a huge terrifying white figure in cap and gown. He was holding huge steel pointed instruments in either hand and was chuckling manically behind his white mask.

    Dad took one look at him and shrieked.
    But Connie smiled. ‘What’s up, Dad? You’re not scared of the dentist, are you? This is ridiculous. You’re not a baby. You’ve got to conquer this stupid fear or you’ll end up completely loopy! There’s nothing at all to be scared of.’
    â€˜Of course there’s nothing to be scared of, Connie,’ said the dentist – and he shrank back to his usual jolly self. His terrifying steel instruments vanished, happy music played in the prettily decorated waiting-room, and the young receptionist waved at Connie.
    â€˜Hi there, Connie. Are you here for your six-monthly examination?’ She looked at Dad, who was standing up sheepishly. ‘Goodness! You’ve brought your dad with you today. It’s a
very
long time since we’ve seen you. Would you like an appointment too?’
    â€˜I suppose so,’ Dad said. ‘I tell you what. I’ll have my teeth examined if Connie stands beside me and holds my hand tight!’

8. Mermaid Magic
    â€˜Connie, your hair’s getting to look like a little floor mop!’ said Mum, ruffling Connie’s unruly hair. ‘I must wash it for you tonight.’
    â€˜Oh no, Mum!’ said Connie, shaking her head vigorously.
    Mum looked really worried. ‘Oh, Connie – this being fussed about water is getting right out of hand. You’ve
got
to have your hair washed, darling.’
    â€˜I’m not
scared
, Mum,’ said Connie. ‘I just don’t want to lose my little plait with the blue glass beads.’
    â€˜Oh, the one Nurse Meade did for you. Yes, it does look cute. Well, I’ll have a go at plaiting your hair after I’ve washed it, though I don’t know how Nurse Meade twiddles those little beads into place.’
    â€˜They twiddle in a very special way, Mum,’ said Connie. ‘Let me keep my hair like this a bit longer, please!’
    Mum got as far as fetching the shampoo – but then Charles spat out his dummy and started crying hard. By the time both twins were fast asleep Mum flopped into her armchair and watched the television, too tired to start shampooing. Connie skipped off to bed that night with her plait still in place, the blue beads gently jingling.
    She fingered her plait fondly as she cuddled down to sleep – and when she started dreaming she chinked the two blue beads together so that they sparked bright blue in the dark of Connie’s bedroom.
    The blue seeped into Connie’s dreams. She found herself floundering in a vast pool of water. It was dragging her down, right underneath, and she was choking and struggling – but then someone caught hold of her round her waist and lifted her up and out of the water, her head bursting free into sudden sunlight. She wasn’t in a pool at all, she was at a strange new seaside, with the blue waves sparkling in the sunlight.
    Connie rose up out of the waves, through the waves,
on to
the waves, skimming along their surface as if she were riding a surfboard. The hands were still around her waist, holding her gently but firmly, steering her along, swooping her up on the crest of each wave, foam dancing about her ankles.
    It was someone who looked surprisingly familiar, black beaded plaits flying in the breeze, all the glass beads as sparkling blue as the sea itself. This someone wasn’t wearing a blue uniform. She wasn’t wearing any sort of dress at all, and from her waist downwards she was all shimmering tail, flickering gracefully as they leapt in and out of the water.

    â€˜You’re a