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went beyond my usual swellings! It was a swelling of emotion, a connection to life I’d never felt before. I noticed themagnificence of the clouds as they rolled in from the ocean, the chirping of seagulls, the smell of the sea air. I felt a joy that went way beyond a hundred-thousand score on a Surf Slam 3000 video game, a DVD copy of Star Wars , or a year’s subscription to Wipeout .
    But most of all, I felt a connection to her, even though I didn’t know her name, and had never heard her voice. Was I obsessed or possessed? If Chainsaw caught wind of my innermost thoughts and feelings, he’d punch me out for sure. I wanted to give her flowers, buy her candy, serenade her underneath a balcony, write her poetry, carve her initials in a tree. It isn’t every day that someone breathes life into you. And her breath seemed purer than any I’d ever known.
    Eight-fifteen. I mashed my sweaty palms against my jeans. Eight thirty-two. I unraveled a stick of Wrigley’s. Eight forty-five. I kicked an empty Coke can. Nine o’clock. I leaned pessimistically against the goalpost.
    The bell rang, beckoning me to arrive on time for U.S. history. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and looked at the desolate field. Maybe my personal lifeguard was a late sleeper. Maybe my ad should have read 3:30 P.M . Maybe I was just a complete idiot.
    I waited until nine-fifteen, then I waited until nine-thirty. Gym class began running its way around the track. I sauntered up to the fifty-yard line and, dejected, made my way inside the building, late for first bell.

Lilly
    I woke up on the shore, lying on my back facing the burning sun. I had to squint, the sun was so bright. I could tell by its position it was just after nine-thirty. Why wasn’t I in the water? Why wasn’t I in bed? Where was Bubbles? I felt parched to the bone, extremely thirsty. My palms were wet with water that seemed to come from my own hands. My hair was sticky with sand. I could smell the fishy sea air, and hear the sound of seagulls. I panicked. I couldn’t breathe. I must get back to the ocean! I felt like I was moving in slow motion, as if I were in a dream—this must just be a dream.
    And then I remembered Madame Pearl. I sat up and got the shock of my life, for dangling from thebottom of my hips were legs! My fin was gone. Gone! What had I done?
    â€œMadame Pearl!” I screamed in an Earthee voice. “Madame!”
    I wigged out—wildly wiggling two skinny legs and ten tiny toes! I’d sold my crystal sea horse collection for these legs, but the reality was terrifying. I was cold, naked, and alone. Why hadn’t Madame Pearl told me I’d need Earthee clothes? Suddenly the sun seemed to pulsate, the sky started to spin back and forth and day turned to night.
    â€œThis isn’t a nude beach!” a woman’s voice called.
    â€œMadame Pearl?” I whispered, opening my eyes and gasping in crisp air.
    â€œPut your clothes on!” yelled a wrinkled Earthlady wearing a bright purple hat.
    Flustered and confused, I spied a yellow beach towel lying a few inches from me. I grabbed it, and wrapped it around my body. Not satisfied, Earthlady pointed to a pile of clothes lying next to a backpack.
    â€œGet dressed, young lady!”
    â€œBut this isn’t—” I began.
    â€œYou’re lucky I found you and not the police!”
    The police? I had no choice. I couldn’t spend my first day on Earth in jail. I picked up a pink top and a pair of matching shorts. I had seen Earthees before, of course, and I knew how they dressed, butEarthlady’s critical stare made me so nervous I couldn’t think straight. The next thing I knew I was putting my arms through the shorts. Flustered, I untangled myself and tried to put them on where they belonged. But in my panic, I shoved both legs into one leg hole. I stumbled, fumbled, and tumbled around on the sand.
    Finally I stuck my new two legs