Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Helene Boudreau Read Free Book Online Page A

moon? Some believe full moons can have profound psychological—”
    â€œDad!”
    â€œNine days.” Dad clicked off his phone and put it in his belt holder. “The next supermoon is nine days away.”
    â€œNine days!” I cried. This couldn’t be happening. I’d just started dating and had finally made it to high school. Weren’t those the kind of things I should be worried about instead of being forced to fight in a marine war? “Why would the Mermish Council want Webbed Ones in the ocean again, anyway? So far, the Council has done everything it can to keep them a secret.”
    â€œThey’re obviously getting desperate,” Dad said.
    Dad put his arm around Mom’s shoulder and laid his cheek against her hair. Just when I’d gotten our family back together, now the Mermish Council wanted to tear it apart again? No way!
    â€œThis is all ridiculous,” I said with a shake of my head. “I still don’t see how the moon can be used to control someone.”
    â€œInteresting fact…” Dad pushed his glasses back up his nose and blinked quickly. “There’s actual scientific evidence that lunar phases have a physiological effect on human biological functions at the cellular level.”
    â€œThanks, Dad,” I muttered. “That really clears things up.”
    â€œMaybe I can help.” Bridget pulled a few metal thumbtacks off her bulletin board and grabbed a large cooking pot I’d toppled over. “Come to the kitchen and I’ll show you.”
    We all filed into the kitchen as Bridget put an inch of water into the pot at the big sink. She dropped a bunch of tacks into the pot and pulled the heavy-duty magnet that held the food purchase orders off the kitchen fridge. We gathered around the sink to watch.
    â€œThe moon acts like a big magnet over the water.” She held the magnet a short distance away from the water. The tacks jiggled in response. “The closer the moon is to the earth, like during a supermoon, the stronger the magnetic pull.” She hovered the magnet closer to the water and waved it over the thumbtacks. They followed the magnet’s path.
    â€œEven if we don’t see the forces of the tide and moon, they still control us,” she continued. “The Mermish Council has somehow found a way to harness this power and use it to its advantage.”
    Everyone talked among themselves as they discussed what this all meant. Finally, Eddie piped up.
    â€œSo basically, we have nine days to figure out how to deal with this. We just wanted you to be aware of what’s going on so we can try to prepare the best we can.”
    â€œSo what do we do in the meantime?” Coach Laurena asked. “I’ve got all the school teams to manage plus the fall aquatic program for the community center.” She grasped Daniel’s hand.
    â€œSchool Counshell?” Serena asked. “Hockshee? Chessh Club—”
    â€œChess Club?” Mom and Dad looked at me and back to Serena.
    â€œYeah, Serena’s been bitten by the school spirit bug,” I said.
    â€œI think the best thing to do is go about your business for now,” Eddie said. “Dalrymple and I will do more research on the subject. But if anything happens out of the ordinary in the meantime, report it back to us.”
    Everyone shifted in their spots, not quite knowing what to do next.
    â€œAnd I’ll try to get more information from my source,” Bridget said. “In the meantime, how about if Daniel and I fry up some clams for everyone to let all this information sink in?”
    â€œI’m on it.” Daniel opened the fridge door and started pulling things out. Everyone nodded in agreement and headed back out into the diner. I held back.
    â€œHey, Bridget?” I asked once everyone else had gone. “Who exactly is this source you keep talking about?”
    â€œMy son.” Bridget put the