Free Teenage Mermaid by Ellen Schreiber Page B

childhood!”
    We looked at each other.
    â€œFive more minutes?” I asked.
    â€œNot a second longer, I promise!” Spencer said enthusiastically.
    He quickly led me into the creaky house. The floors were bumpy, curvy, and shook from side to side.
    I grabbed onto the rails with all my might, my stuffed swan dangled from my shaking fingers. Spencer crossed to the other side and laughed at me. I remained motionless, unsure how to proceed. He extended his hand, and led me safely across the shaky boards. I gave him my swan for safekeeping, and he stuck it securely in his back pocket.
    In the next room we stood in front of life-size mirrors. But I didn’t look like myself. And neither did he.Something was terribly wrong! We were stretched, tall and skinny. My length had doubled and my waist decreased to the size of a twig. I felt no pain, but the sight frightened me and I screamed.
    Spencer laughed again. He was really enjoying himself at my expense. He must have thought I was a complete idiot. I began giggling to cover my embarrassment. In the next mirror my head and body were short and fat. No longer frightened by these weird reflections, I forced another scream, just to make him think my first scream had been faked as well.
    The walls of the next room were painted with flowers. I had read a book about Earth flowers and was trying to identify them when the room went black. Ghosts appeared, flying over our heads. A hairless man, covered with blood, extended his arm toward me, only the hand was missing!
    â€œSpencer!” I reached out for him, but he wasn’t there. I hurried away from the ghosts and found myself in another hall of reflections. This time I looked normal, but I was everywhere. A thousand frightened Lillys staring helplessly back at me.
    But where was he?
    â€œHello!” I called again. I couldn’t see where I’d come from, or the way to the exit. I felt trapped. I began to panic. “Spencer?”
    There was no answer.
    â€œSpencer! I’m over here!”
    All I saw was myself, growing redder and redder with fright.
    â€œWhere are you?” I shouted.
    â€œCandy?” I finally heard him call.
    Suddenly I saw a thousand Spencers. I reached for his outstretched hand, but instead I touched glass.
    â€œI’m over here!” I screamed, totally frightened. I felt a sharp pang in my veins. The moon was rising, and I feared I’d be left for the rest of my life to stare at not two legs, but two thousand.
    â€œFind me!” My hands shook uncontrollably. Water mysteriously dripped from my palms, streaking the reflections as I continued to search for Spencer’s hand.
    I finally felt something grab me and I screamed.
    â€œIt’s okay, Candy. You should have told me you were claustrophobic,” Spencer said, stroking my arm.
    I hugged him with all my might, not letting him go. He stroked my hair. My heart pounded. I’m sure he could feel it pulse out of my chest and beat against his own. I almost didn’t want to calm down—it felt so good, being so close to him.
    â€œNow you’ve saved me, too!” I exclaimed, as we exited the fun house, my pink swan now swinging from my fingers. “We’re even.”
    â€œIt’s hardly the same thing,” he said. “Anyway,you’ve been through a lot today. A new town, a new school.”
    â€œI had the best day—ever!”
    â€œSeriously? Me, too. Well, the second best, if you’re counting yesterday morning,” he added sweetly.
    I felt another sharp pang. “I gotta go!” I said urgently, clutching my stomach.
    â€œAre you okay?” he asked, concerned.
    â€œIt’s just a cramp.”
    â€œLet me walk you home,” he offered, taking my arm and leading me toward the beach.
    â€œYou can’t—”
    â€œIt’s no trouble.”
    â€œIt’s a lot of trouble! More than you know.”
    â€œI can call a cab.”
    â€œI