Summer Waters - Stolen Treasures

“Bye, Bubbles,” she said, rubbing her nose against his. “Bye, Dream. Thanks for coming. It’s even more fun when you’re here.”

Dream flushed. “I enjoyed it too,” she said shyly.

Antonia and Cai watched the dolphins swim away, laughing as Bubbles suddenly leapt up and, balancing on his tail on the surface of the sea, turned a full circle.

“The twister,” said Antonia wistfully. “I wish I could do it.”

“You can do everything else,” said Cai.

“Not everything,” Antonia protested.

When Bubbles and Dream were out of sight Antonia and Cai collected their bag of rubbish and swam it ashore. As they waded through the breakers on Sandy Bay beach, the water poured from them, leaving their clothes as dry as if they’d been sitting in the sunshine. The only clue that they’d been in the sea was their damp hair. It was a short walk from the beach to Sea Watch, but the rubbish seemed to grow heavier with every step and Antonia was glad when they arrived. They sorted the recyclable things into a separate dustbin before going inside the Sea Watch building, a large wooden shed at the end of Claudia’s garden.

Eleanor Jacobs and Karen Holmes, two girls from school, were getting dressed in large plastic aprons and gloves. Next to them was a tall, skinny girl with short curly hair, glasses and freckles on her nose.

“This is Emily Jones,” said Eleanor, pointing at the new girl. “She started in Year Six at Sandy Bay Primary today.”

“Hi,” said Emily, stepping forward and accidentally treading on Antonia’s foot. “Whoops, sorry.” Emily grinned, showing her metal braces. “We’ve been asked to clean out the guillemot cages. It’s the first time I’ve seen guillemots. They’re so sweet. I’m going to bring my camera tomorrow and take some photos.”

“Hi,” said Antonia, wriggling her squashed toes.

“Poor you, having to come to a new school for the last week and a half of term,” said Cai sympathetically.

“Why have you?” asked Antonia curiously. “It doesn’t seem worth it for one and a half weeks. You’ll have to leave again at the end of term to go to secondary school.”

“Mum and Dad have bought a shop to sell souvenirs to the tourists, so they’re going to be really busy over the summer holidays. We don’t know anyone in Sandy Bay. I came to school to make some new friends, so I won’t be bored while Mum and Dad are working.” Emily smiled hopefully at Antonia as if she wanted to be friends.

“Emily’s parents have named the shop after her,” said Karen. “It’s called Emily’s Treasure Chest .”

“Cool,” said Cai.

“It’s going to be great,” Emily enthused. “Mum and Dad have got all sorts of ideas for original souvenirs. Mum’s going to make them herself. She’s been taking art and craft courses at night school and she’s really good at it.”

Antonia gazed round the room and saw Claudia at her desk. She was on the phone but waved Antonia over.

“Come on,” she said to Cai. “Claudia wants us.”

They walked over, hovering a short distance away until Claudia put the phone down.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, her sea-green eyes crinkling as she smiled. “That was the Sandy Bay Badger Sanctuary. Someone’s brought in an injured badger cub but the sanctuary is completely full, so they rang to ask if Sea Watch could nurse it for a few days until they have a free pen. A lady called Jackie is driving the cub over this evening. Could you two prepare the run in the garden we used when we had the seal? There’s straw in the garden shed.”

“A badger cub,” said Antonia, excitedly.

The next hour flew past, as Antonia and Cai prepared for the cub. Antonia desperately wanted to wait for it to arrive, but when she rang home Mum said tea was nearly ready so she wasn’t allowed to stay.

“But…” argued Antonia.

“No buts,” said Mum firmly.

Disappointed, Antonia set off along the seafront, the quickest route back. The shops stayed open later at this time of year to catch the tourist trade. Antonia wove her way through the crowded pavement until a sign in a shop window caught her eye.

“ Opening tomorrow, Emily’s Treasure Chest—original souvenirs that won’t leave you broke ,”she read.

Curiously, Antonia stared at the small display in the window. The gifts were certainly original. Who’d think of buying a toilet-roll holder as a souvenir! It was pretty though. Antonia stepped forward for a better look, then gasped. Was that…no, it couldn’t be. She had to be mistaken. Antonia pressed her nose against the window, staring at the shop display in disbelief.

After tea, Antonia played in the garden with her little sister, Jessica. They made a camp with blankets, pegs, sun loungers and an old washing line. Jessica had just gone indoors to get her dolls when Sophie arrived.

“Hi,” said Antonia. “How are the cat pictures coming along?”

“Great,” said Sophie. “I found a huge old tabby asleep under a tub of geraniums. The plants made him look like he was wearing a flowery hat. It was so funny. I made loads of sketches. I wanted to start painting the picture tomorrow but now I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re not going to be here! That’s what I came round to tell you. Mum and Dad are pulling me out of school to go on holiday. It’s a last-minute thing. Dad realised if we don’t go now we won’t get one. Once the school holidays start he’ll be too busy running art classes for the tourists.”

Sophie’s dad was an artist and he also taught people how to paint.

“Oh,” said Antonia. She smiled wanly and tried to sound pleased for Sophie, but she was going to miss her friend. “Well, have a good time. Where are you going?”

“Jersey,” said Sophie. “Don’t look like that! It’s only for a week. I’ll be back before the end of term and I’ll bring you a souvenir.”

Antonia shuddered, remembering the souvenirs in Emily’s Treasure Chest .

“You don’t have to buy me anything,” she protested. “Just send me a postcard. And I’m pleased for you. Really I am. I hope you have a brilliant time.”

“Thanks.” Sophie hugged Antonia. “I wish you could come with us. I asked Mum if you could but she didn’t think your mum would let you have the time off school.”

“She wouldn’t,” agreed Antonia.

“Sophie!” cried Jessica, staggering across the lawn, her arms full of dolls. “Have you come to play with us?”

“Sorry, Jess, not today. I’ve got to go and pack,” said Sophie hurriedly. “See you soon, Antonia, and remember not to call for me tomorrow.”

That night, Antonia lay in bed thinking about Emily’s Treasure Chest . The more she thought about it, the more uncertain she became. Could she have been mistaken about the souvenirs? Maybe they weren’t what she’d thought they were. Antonia tossed in her bed, wishing her racing brain would switch off and let her get some rest. It was gone midnight before she got to sleep and she woke early with her brain still whirring.

“This can’t go on,” she thought, groggily pulling on her yellow checked school dress.

Determined to find out for sure, Antonia left for school earlier than usual, to go and have another look in the window of Emily’s Treasure Chest . She hoped that she’d been wrong about the souvenirs on sale. However, standing outside the shop’s window, Antonia’s hopes were dashed.

Emily’s parents had been busy. The window display was finished and the shelves were crammed with souvenirs. There was the toilet-roll holder with starfish ends, light pulls made from seahorses, small dishes made from scallop shells and a strange-looking object fashioned from a sea urchin. A sign hanging from one of the shelves left Antonia in no doubt as to where the gifts came from: