Coral brushed off her uneasy feeling. Before she could even think about investigating, a throng of sea creatures propelled her into the living room.
Coral swam through the doorway. There were no other fish in here, apart from Fabulous, who was leading the way, spinning in circles with excitement. It was the same familiar lounge, except now there were barnacles on the bookshelves, long reeds swaying around the sofa, and seagrass covering the carpet. Her favourite photograph of her parents still hung on the wall. It had been taken on holiday. Coral stood in between them, holding their hands. Now algae had spread over the frame.
The other fish crowded in behind her and as soon as Fabulous was happy she had a good audience, she announced grandly, ‘Coral, may I introduce you to…’
Fabulous paused dramatically.
‘RAMONE!’
The crowd erupted with wild cheers and fin-slapping. Coral looked about her, but still couldn’t see anything.
Then in the corner of the room, something began to turn around. Coral gasped when she realised what it was.
‘HEEEEEEYYYY CORRRRRAAAAALLLL!’ boomed a deep lilting voice.
An enormous sea turtle started swimming across her living room towards her. Around his neck hung a mass of shell necklaces and he wore a giant oyster shell on his head, pulled to the side like a rapper’s cap.
‘CORAAAAL!’ said Ramone, coming to a stop in front of her. He looked searchingly into her eyes and Coral looked back into his. They were kind, wise, and extremely twinkly. The turtle burst into deep hearty laughter, clapping her a little too hard on the back with his fin.
‘It is SOOOOOOOO good to see you, girl! Ain’t it, crew?’
The room exploded again with more crazy applause. Coral looked around her at the wondrous fish crammed into her living room and grinned. She couldn’t help it.
‘It really is amazing to meet you all,’ said Coral, and she meant it. ‘Although I’m not sure why my house has become a sea house?’
For a second, Coral thought Ramone looked troubled, but then he was laughing again.
‘You weren’t expecting us, hey, Coral, girl?’
He turned and boomed out to the crowd. ‘We want to give you a proper Sea House welcome. Don’t we, crew? Coral, do you like a bashment?’
‘I’m sorry, a what?’
Fabulous giggled next to her. ‘A bashment. It means a party. He may be nearly a hundred years old, but Ramone likes nothing better than a party!’
Coral couldn’t believe that this super cool turtle was nearly a hundred years old!
‘I love parties – I mean bashments!’ Coral said, smiling.
‘Then let’s fling some tunes!’
The fish broke out into whooping once more. Coral was sure this party would be unlike any she’d ever been to before.