“Your grandfather is the famous C. Siren, right?”

Shelly nodded. “Yes, it’s kind of embarrassing.”

“I think it would be cool to have a human expert in the family,” Kiki said.

“I’m more interested in how you got this skeleton,” Shelly said. “I bet Echo would never crawl inside this in a hundred years. Sharks and killer whales give her the creeps.”

“Wanda hates it too. She says it gives her nightmares,” Kiki told Shelly.

Shelly laughed. “I bet it was funny to see her face when she got a look at this.” She gently patted one of the big rib bones.

“Are you scared of killer whales and sharks?” Kiki asked.

Shelly shrugged. “I’d be crazy not to be. They’re pretty dangerous. But skeletons can’t hurt you.”

“That’s true,” Kiki said. “But what about whales? Are you scared of whales? They’re enormous!” Kiki held her breath as she waited for Shelly’s answer. Maybe she’d be able to tell Shelly how she really felt.

“Of course not. Why would I be?” Shelly said. “Whales are amazing. My grandfather taught me to speak the humpback dialect. I’m going to try to talk to one tomorrow.”

“Really?” Kiki said. “I can speak humpback too!” Languages had always come easily to Kiki. Her father was an expert linguist who had taught her more than fifty undersea languages.

“Awesome. Tomorrow, let’s talk to the humpbacks together,” Shelly said as she got off the bed and floated to the front curtain. “Unless… unless you’re afraid of whales. Are you?”

Kiki stared at Shelly. If Kiki told her the truth, Shelly might make fun of her and tell all the other third graders. How would Kiki ever go to class again?

“No way,” Kiki answered. “I can’t wait until tomorrow. I’ll be there early!”

AFTER SHELLY LEFT, KIKI STAYED ON HER skeleton bed, safe and secure in the soft feathers. She had never felt smaller or more afraid. What will I do about the class trip? she thought. Those whales are so gigantic! They could swallow someone my size in one gulp. I wish my parents were here to help me.

Kiki put her hand under her pillow. She felt around for a few seconds, then took out a small coral-colored shell purse. She opened it up. Inside was an orange starfish, tiny and delicate. Kiki held it up to her cheek. Her mother had given it to her before Kiki set off for Trident Academy, as a reminder of home and as a good-luck charm.

Kiki hoped its luck would help her tomorrow. She would need it more than ever.

Lucky Charm

THE NEXT MORNING, MRS. KARP’S third-grade class arrived at Trident Academy earlier than usual. Everyone was excited about seeing the whales, and there was a nervous buzz in the swirling waters.

“Quiet down, quiet down, and listen closely,” Mrs. Karp told her students as they gathered outside the school. “I am handing each of you an ID tag to clip to your tail. This is your identification for the Shark Patrol.” She handed out gold coins that had been folded to snap onto the students’ tail fins. The coins were marked with the Trident Academy symbol.