Flower Girl Dreams

Splash-a-riffic
ISN’T THAT THE MOST FIN-TASTIC purse ever?” Pearl Swamp squealed. She pointed to the cover of a MerStyle magazine with her gold tail fin.

Her best friend, Wanda Slug, moved closer to see the adorable scotch bonnet shell purse. “Ooh, I’m going to ask for one of those for my birthday!” Wanda exclaimed. “I wonder if it comes in pink?”



“Hey, watch out!” Pearl snapped as another third-grade student bumped into her, causing her to drop the magazine.

“Sorry, but I can’t be late to class again,” Rocky Ridge said. “Or Mrs. Karp will make me shark bait!”

Pearl shook her head and watched Rocky zoom across the huge entrance hall of their school, Trident Academy. He zipped between some chatting sixth graders and a group of fourth graders tossing a puffer-fish ball. It was still a few minutes before school started, and it was unusual for Rocky to hurry to class.

“That Rocky is so rude sometimes,” Wanda said, scooping up the magazine and handing it to Pearl. “But he’s kind of cute, too.”

Pearl giggled. As she turned back to MerStyle, she overheard something that made her tail spin. She swirled around to listen to a group of mergirls from her class.

“I can’t believe the wedding is in less than one week!” Kiki Coral squealed.

“Who’s getting married?” Pearl whispered to Wanda.

Wanda shrugged. “I don’t know, but weddings are wave-tastic! I was a flower girl in my cousin Detrella’s wedding, and it was a splash.”

Pearl sighed. She had always wanted to be a flower girl, ever since she’d attended her own cousin’s wedding when she was a small fry. But so far, no one had asked her.

“Let’s check with Kiki,” Wanda told Pearl. “Maybe the bride is someone we know!”

Wanda swam up to Kiki and said, “We heard you talking about a wedding. Who in the great wide ocean is getting married?”

Pearl couldn’t believe Kiki’s answer!