“Why not?” Pearl said. “After all, you are a real princess.”

Shelly looked at Pearl. She had shiny blond hair and a glistening white necklace of pearls. Pearl looked like she would make a good princess, but that’s not the way it had happened. Shelly took another look at the crown and shrugged. “Okay, I’ll give it a try.”

Pearl giggled and placed the tiara on Shelly’s head. It felt tight and cold. Shelly didn’t feel any different inside, but she couldn’t help noticing the looks of surprise on Echo’s and Kiki’s faces.

“MerStyle” Princess

I’VE STUDIED A LOT ABOUT PRINCESSES in MerStyle magazines,” Pearl told Shelly at lunchtime. “Sit with me and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

Shelly shook her head, being careful not to knock off the crown. “I always sit with Echo and Kiki.”

Pearl pulled Shelly to her table. “Don’t worry. They won’t miss you for just one day. Let me be your mermaid-in-waiting. I’ll help you with all your royal decisions.” Immediately Shelly was surrounded by mergirls from all different grades. She couldn’t even see Kiki and Echo. Where were they?

“Shelly,” Wanda said with a giggle. “Can I have your autograph?”

“Wanda,” Shelly said, “we’re in the same class together. Why do you want my autograph?”

“Because,” Wanda said, “I’ve never met a real princess before.”

Shelly sighed, and for the next few minutes she signed at least twenty pieces of seaweed with her name: Shelly Siren, princess of the Western Oceans. It was strange when she wrote it for the first time, but it got easier with each one.

Shelly wondered if Kiki and Echo wanted her autograph too, but when she got a glimpse of them, they were sitting at their usual table with their backs to her.

Finally Pearl held up her hand. “No more autographs today. Our princess needs to eat.”

“Thanks,” Shelly told Pearl. “My hand was getting so tired. I’ll probably have trouble doing my homework after Shell Wars practice.”

Pearl frowned. “Trouble, my tail. You are a princess. You don’t have to do homework. And forget Shell Wars, it’s too rough a sport.”

“What?” Shelly said, trying not to slurp her sea grapes. She loved playing Shell Wars and was lucky to have made the school team.

Pearl shook her head. “No, Shell Wars is not appropriate at all. You have a lot to learn about being royalty. But don’t worry. I’ll help you. What if I come over to your shell after school?”