“I knew that,” Rocky said with a grin. “That means she’s wearing puke around her neck.” Several merboys and mergirls in the class giggled at the joke.

The small mergirl nodded, and Shelly took a closer look at her. She had long black hair that reached all the way to her tail; wide, dark eyes; and the palest of skin. Her mertail was a brilliant purple, unlike any Shelly’d ever seen. Shelly’s own tail was blue, and Echo’s was pink. The mergirl with the purple tail didn’t look even a little bit afraid of Pearl. Anyone who could stand up to Pearl was awesome. Shelly knew she was going to like this mergirl.

“Watch this!” Rocky said. He spit into the water around Pearl. At that moment a tall, thin teacher with green hair and a white tail swam into the room. “Young merboy,” she asked, “what are you doing?”

Rocky grinned. “I’m … I’m … I’m seeing if I can turn her into a giant glob of spit.”

Shelly hid a giggle. She was pretty sure she liked Rocky, too. Maybe Trident Academy wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Mrs. Karp

GOOD MORNING, STUDENTS. Welcome to Trident Academy. My name is Mrs. Karp,” said their teacher. “I will be teaching you reading, storytelling, and science. I trust your parents have started your education and we’ll be able to move along quickly.”

Shelly squirmed in her sponge seat. Her parents had died when she was just a small fry, and she lived with her grandfather in an apartment above the People Museum. She hoped he’d taught her all she needed to know, since Trident Academy expected their students to have been home-schooled for two years.

All merkids were taught at home until third grade. Sometimes her grandfather was a little forgetful, and some days he hadn’t remembered about Shelly’s lessons. And Shelly hadn’t reminded him. She’d much rather explore underwater caves or play with sea turtles than sit still for lessons.

“Mr. Bottom will teach you math, life-saving, and astronomy,” Mrs. Karp continued.

Rocky snickered at the name Mr. Bottom, but Mrs. Karp silenced him with a glare. “Trident Academy is lucky to have other special teachers that you’ll meet later this week. Today we will get to know each other better and start your first project.”

Pearl gasped and raised her hand. “What do we have to do?”

Mrs. Karp smiled at the classroom of twenty mergirls and merboys. “I’m glad you are eager to get right to your studies. Your first assignment at Trident Academy will be a report on krill and shrimp.”

Shelly groaned quietly. There were so many exciting things to learn about, like the dolphins and whales she wanted to swim with. Why did they have to learn about silly little shrimp?

“As you know, many sea creatures, including us, would not live long without krill to eat. Why, even humans are known to eat krill, especially those who live near Kiki’s far-off waters.” Mrs. Karp nodded toward the mergirl who had stood up to Pearl.