Mermaids in the Backyard Read Online Free PDF Page A

sea, her coppery hair streaming behind her. With a flip of her tail, she disappeared into the depths.
    “Where’d she go?” Lindy asked.
    Sealily shrugged. “I don’t know. Here, watch this—I’ve been teaching Finny a new trick.”
    For the next few minutes, she tried toget Finneus to do a flip by swirling her hand around in the water. Finneus watched her but stayed right where he was. When Sealily tried to turn him over to show him what she meant, he spit water into her face and darted away.
    Lindy laughed. “I guess Finny doesn’t want to do tricks.”
    Finally Coral returned, breathless and excited. “I found it!” she cried. Clutched in her hand was a pair of tiny white blobs.
    “What’s that?” Lindy asked.
    “Thetis told me that in long-ago days, Drylanders used a special type of sea sponge to breathe underwater,” Coral explained. “That’s one reason Sealily and I first came to this spot. Thetis says it’s one of the only places these sponges are found.”
    “It is?” Sealily cried. “You didn’t tell me that, Coral!”
    Coral looked sheepish. “I wasn’t sure it was true.”
    Sealily giggled. “Right. Thetis doesn’t know everything she thinks she knows.” She spun in the water to face Lindy, her eyes sparkling. “You have to see if it works, Lindy Drylander!”
    Coral held out the sponges. “If you plug your nose with them, you should be able to breathe just like a mermaid,” she told Lindy. “Then we can show you our world!”
    Swimming around under the sea had been fun in Lindy’s dream. The thought of doing it for real was pretty scary, though. The idea of sticking those slimy little things in her nose wasn’t much better.
    “I wish I could,” she said. “But I’m not a very good swimmer.”
    “We’ll help you,” Sealily urged. “Please,will you try it, Lindy Drylander?”

    Just then another big wave rushed in. Finneus squeaked as it grabbed him. Sealily reached out and caught him before the wave could carry him all the way to shore. Lindy had to hold out both arms in order to keep her balance.
    “Sorry,” she said, suddenly nervous even that far out. Her father had told her not to go in above her knees. The water was up to the bottom of her shorts. “I really can’t.”
    “But—” Sealily began.
    Coral shushed her. “It’s okay, Lindy,” she said. “Here—take the sponges. Maybe you’ll want to try later.”
    “Um, okay.” The sea sponges felt squishy and slimy in her hand. Lindy quickly stuck them in her pocket. “Thanks.”
    “If you want to visit us, swim straightout to the east,” Sealily began eagerly. “Then after you cross the big current …”
    Lindy didn’t bother listening to the rest of her directions. If she was too chicken to go with the mermaids now, no way would she have the guts to try it on her own! But she didn’t want to hurt their feelings by saying so.
    Finally Coral tugged on her sister’s arm. “We should go. We can’t let any other Drylanders see us.”
    “Are you sure you can’t stay longer?” Lindy said.
    “It’s not safe for us,” Coral said. “Maybe we’ll come back another time.”
    She sounded doubtful, though. Lindy’s heart sank as she realized she might never see the mermaids again. It didn’t seem fair. She’d just met them!
    “See you later, Lindy Drylander! Comevisit us soon!” Sealily waved, then dove into an oncoming wave.
    Finneus let out a chirp and chased after Sealily. Coral smiled shyly. “Good-bye, Lindy.”
    “Good-bye, Coral.”
    Lindy watched, shading her eyes against the sun glinting off the water, until they were gone.

Lindy sat on the beach for a while after the mermaids left, hoping they might come back. But they didn’t, and finally her grumbling stomach reminded her that it was lunchtime.
    Heading into the bug house, Lindy changed into dry shorts. She left on her swimsuit and the Cubs T-shirt, even though the shirt was damp. She was extra careful not to get any mustard on it