The Creature from Club Lagoona Read Online Free PDF Page B

already. And I’m going back for more!”
    Yup. I should have known. She was talking about the famous Creature Water Slide. The one I’d seen the kids on the day we arrived.
    â€œYou have to try it, Tad! It’s the best water slide in the whole world!” she exclaimed.
    â€œYeah,” I agreed weakly. “Can’t wait.”
    * * *
    The whole family had dinner in Club Lagoona’s Fishbowl Restaurant. Okay. I admit it. It was pretty incredible.
    The floor of the restaurant was covered with fine white sand. Plants and trees grew everywhere. The walls were glass. Behind the glass swam all kinds of fish. It was as if we were eating in a giant fishbowl—only we were the fish!
    I thought of my pet hermit crab back home in his terrarium. Now I knew how he felt!
    It gave me the creeps. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was having dinner underwater. And I could swear some of those fish glared at me!
    While we ate our meal, sharks swam by. We werestared at by giant sea turtles, manta rays, and tiny puffer fish.
    â€œLook!” Polly cried, dropping her spoon. “It wants a kiss!”
    A giant grouper pressed its mouth against the glass right behind us.
    â€œGo on, Polly!” Mom urged. “Give him a kiss!”
    Polly jumped out of her seat and darted over to the glass. She pressed her lips against the grouper’s. The grouper backed up and quickly swam away.
    â€œSmart fish,” I commented.
    Everyone laughed—even Polly. Mom and Dad were in really good moods. They were obviously enjoying Club Lagoona as much as Polly.
    â€œHow did your lesson go today, Polly?” Dad asked. Ice cubes shaped like sea horses floated around inside his bright green drink. He took a sip.
    â€œIt was great!” Polly answered. “I made lots of new friends. Mostly we practiced the backstroke. My teacher said I was a natural.”
    â€œHow about you, Tad?” Mom asked. “Did you make some new friends?”
    I nodded and sipped my Tropical Lagoona Shake. “Yeah, I met two guys.”
    â€œBet you were the best in your class, eh, Tad?” Dad smiled broadly at me.
    I tried to think of what to say. Maybe it was time to tell them about my fear of the water.
    But they were so happy, I hated to spoil it. And I had to admit, I was starting to like the water. A little.
    â€œActually, there are three of us in my class who are about the same,” I explained.
    I’ll tell them later, I decided. And maybe if I keep going to the swimming lessons, I’ll improve. Who knows? I reasoned, maybe by the final Sink or Swim relay, I’ll have nothing to confess.
    * * *
    After dinner we all split up. Mom and Dad went to Adult Recreation and Polly met some of her new friends.
    I wasn’t sure what to do. I found myself wandering back toward the Atlantis pool. Something seemed to pull me there.
    The pool was deserted. A lone lifeguard sat atop a high chair, reading by the dim lights. He must be there to stop people from swimming after hours, I figured.
    I glanced down toward the deep end. A strange figure headed my way. As he got closer, I realized it was the little guy with the bucket.
    I began to feel nervous. I wasn’t exactly sure why.
    Should I go before he spots me—and gives me another weird warning? I wondered. Or should I stay and see what he’s up to? Maybe ask him about the green thing in the pool.
    Before I could decide, he was right beside me. But he didn’t look at me. Instead, he gazed into hisbucket. “You know more than you realize,” he whispered.
    â€œHuh?” I asked. “What do you mean? What do I know?”
    He continued past me.
    I turned and watched him. Was he talking about the monster in the pool? And if he knew about it, why wasn’t he doing anything?
    I ran after him. I had to know more.
    I saw him dash around a corner.
    â€œWait!” I called. “I have to talk to you—”
    I