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their way to school, linking arms with Sophie so that Antonia was forced to trail behind alone. Thank goodness for Cai and Sea Watch to look forward to after school.
    Frustratingly though, she still hadn’t managedto talk to Claudia. On Tuesday, when she went to Sea Watch there were so many volunteers there, all from Sandy Bay Primary, she hardly even saw her.
    “You two know what you’re doing,” Claudia told Antonia and Cai when they arrived. “Please can you see to Splash first?”
    The seal barked a welcome, greedily nudging Antonia’s hand for fish. It was great fun playing with him. Antonia and Cai took him for a walk in the garden and he wriggled after them like a fat puppy. Afterwards they cleaned out his pen, fetched him fresh water, then took it in turns to feed him. Splash barked excitedly, trying to stick his whiskery face into the fish bucket.
    Once again it was time to go home for tea all too soon. As Antonia left Sea Watch she tried not to feel disappointed that Claudia was still busy. Shehad so many questions to ask, Antonia was scared she’d forget them if she didn’t speak to her soon.
    “You never play with me any more,” Jessica complained as Antonia came into the kitchen just in time for tea.
    Antonia knew how it felt to be left out, so after she’d eaten she let Jessica drag her off to her bedroom to play with dolls.
    “My doll’s house people want to learn to swim,” said Jess.
    Antonia made them a swimming pool in an old ice-cream tub, and swimming floats by cutting pieces from her bath sponge. Jessica was so thrilled she kept the game going for ages. By bedtime Antonia was exhausted. She piled her clothes in a heap and crawled into bed.
    “I hope I don’t get a call tonight,” she thought, sleepily closing her fingers over her dolphin charm.But she knew no matter how tired she was if Spirit called then she would go to him.
    On Wednesday, the last lesson before lunch was PE. Antonia changed quickly, tucking her silver dolphin charm inside her T-shirt so that Miss Brown wouldn’t see it. There was no way Antonia was taking her necklace off. Apart from when Sophie tried it on at the beach, the necklace hadn’t left Antonia’s neck since she’d discovered she was a Silver Dolphin.
    “Everyone ready?” said Miss Brown. “Good; walk down to the hall in pairs, please.”
    Antonia slunk to the back of the line. She was getting used to being the odd one out and wasn’t going to ask Sophie to be her partner and give Becky the satisfaction of saying, “Sorry, Antonia, but Sophie’s going with me.”
    The PE lesson was on jumping.
I wish I was doing this with Bubbles
, thought Antonia. She was far more graceful in the sea than on land and it was more fun leaping above the waves with her dolphin friend than charging around in the school hall.
    “Antonia,” Miss Brown’s voice broke her concentration and Antonia landed awkwardly.
    “I thought I asked you to remove all jewellery.”
    Antonia’s hand flew to the dolphin charm that had worked itself out of her T-shirt. Blushing, she tucked it back inside.
    “That’s not what I meant. Take it off, please.”
    “But I can’t…”
    “I beg to differ,” said Miss Brown coldly. “Remove that necklace right now.”
    “No, I mean, I have to…” Panic froze Antonia’s brain and she was unable to string her wordstogether properly. She couldn’t take the necklace off. She’d promised Spirit she would always answer his call. How would she hear that call if she wasn’t wearing her necklace?
    “Now, Antonia, or I will confiscate it for the rest of the day.”
    The class fell silent. Antonia could feel all eyes on her as Miss Brown held out her hand for the necklace. She knew she didn’t have any option but to give it to her teacher. Miss Brown always carried out her threats and Antonia couldn’t risk losing the necklace for a whole day. Hot tears scalded her eyes and she swallowed, forcing them back. There was no way she was going