Forever and Ever. Amber Aitken

nudged Coral. Coral nodded. She’d seen him too.

      There, on the other side of the Touch Tank, was a tall man with black hair and friendly eyes. He gazed into the water intently and then turned to the teenage boys around him. He was clearly a teacher on a field trip and the boys seemed to be having a great time.

      Turning back to the Touch Tank, he pointed out some of the sea creatures swimming or lolling about in the cool, clear water. The teenagers seemed especially drawn to the stingrays with their elegant wings that rippled like grey velvety cloaks in the water. Coral and Nicks moved into position, right beside the field trip group, and watched closely. The stingrays were captivating, with winning little smiles.

      Potential Mr Perfect looked from the teenage boys to the stingrays. And then he slowly slipped his right arm into the cool water. Bending forward as far as he could, his hand reached towards the stingrays. The teenage boys fell silent and, like Coral and Nicks, all leaned forward–ever so slightly–watching, waiting. Potential Mr Perfect’s hand was heading for one of the largest stingrays in the tank. The stingray remained still and patient. And then it twitched.

      Potential Mr Perfect leaped back and howled with fright. He clutched his heart and howled a few more times, but in a rather high-pitched, girly sort of way, like he was having a heart attack. Some of the passers-by clearly thought he might be and moved closer with looks of concern on their faces. But the teenage boys knew exactly what had happened and they howled with laughter. They laughed so hard they bent at the waist and thumped their knees or the backs of their friends. They laughed so hard they cried. And while all this went on, poor old Potential Mr Perfect still clutched his chest and breathed like he was going to have a baby.

      “Come on, Coral,” grumbled Nicks. “He’s not our man.”

       6 pen pals

      The girls regrouped at Coral Hut the following day, but Coral was not her usual bold, brave and breezy self. Today she felt a little low. After all, they still weren’t any closer to rooting out Mr Perfect.

      “Cheer up–we have never failed before,” said Nicks as she tried to jolly her friend along. Today it was her turn to be the positive one.

      “I guess,” mumbled Coral as she gave Romeo a cuddle. “But we don’t have much time. We haven’t even found Mr Perfect yet. And then we’ve still got to get your mum to fall in love with him.”

      “Hey-ho!” hollered an unexpected voice.

      Both girls and pup glanced up to see Meredith and Malcolm heading up the beach towards Coral Hut. Meredith carried a small silver bucket.

      Romeo jumped to his feet and raced quick-as-a-blur down the hut steps and over to their new neighbours as if they were old friends. He then pranced about and walked backwards on his hind legs and did fancy figures of eight. Meredith giggled and clapped like she was most impressed.

      Coral and Nicks watched the show and wondered what had got into Romeo. He didn’t usually perform tricks–well, not without the promise of a very visible treat anyway. They were even more surprised when Romeo leaped into Meredith’s arms. She nearly dropped her silver bucket, but quickly managed to balance small, hairy dog and bucket quite well.