‘It’s show time!’ said Fabulous, blowing a huge stream of bubbles and turning a backwards somersault.

More fish crowded into the room, over chairs, under coffee tables, squeezed onto bookshelves, hovering around the footstool, all leaving a space in front of the sofa for a watery stage area.

‘Coral, Ramone, friends!’ Fabulous was playing host. ‘It is time for our Sea Spectacular. Put your fins, your tails, your tentacles together fooooooooooooooooooor … Otto and The Crevettes!’

A red octopus, who had cleverly camouflaged himself against the far wall, shot dramatically into the centre of the room. Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny bright pink shrimps broke out of the crowd. These were Otto’s backing singers, the Crevettes.

The Caribbean beat was provided by a band of fish with black and white stripes on their heads and bodies, black and white spots on their fins. They looked as if they’d put on their best stage outfits. Each one was drumming its fins, thumping out a rhythm on pieces of furniture.

Otto launched into his song, half rapping, half singing, his tentacles rippling to the beat.

The Sea House Song

It’s Coral, our Coral,

We know that she’s the one.

Oh Coral, yeah Coral,

Shines bright as the sun.

She may not have gills,

She may not have fins,

But she’s one of us,

We know she’ll help us win.

In the Sea House, the Sea House,

It’s where your best friends live.

In the Sea House, the Sea House,

All our love to give.

The Crevettes echoed the words, filling the room with sweet harmonies. Otto was busting some impressive dance moves. Ramone was popping his head and pumping his fins to the rhythm, his shell necklaces jangling together as he moved. The song was going down a storm.

‘Let’s hear it for Otto and The Crevettes!’ exclaimed Fabulous, flipping wildly. ‘And next up, I hope you’re ready to party, because this is one eel who loves to dance! Let’s hear it for Marvin “Hot Moves” MacKenzie!’

A pale grey eel covered in luminous orange spots snapped up in front of the sofa.

‘Gimme a… He curled himself around, leaving a space between his head and tail.

‘C!’ shouted the fish loudly.

‘Gimme an… Marvin pulled his tail end up to touch the top of his head.

‘O!’ chanted the crowd.

‘Gimme a…’ Marvin straightened his tail, and curved his head.

‘R!’

‘Gimme an…’ He contorted his body again.

‘A!’ yelled the audience, getting wilder as they worked out what he was spelling.

He straightened up to form his final letter.

‘Gimme a…’

‘L!’

‘And what have you got?!’

‘CORRRRALLLL!’ everyone bellowed.

Coral blushed deeply.

Marvin launched into an extraordinary breakdance routine, spinning and sliding, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

‘What’s an eel’s favourite dance?’ Marvin asked, as he moonwalked backwards across the carpet.

‘THE CONGA!’ everyone yelled back.

‘Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s conga!’ Marvin bowed low. ‘Coral?’

Coral floated towards him.

‘Hold on!’ shouted Marvin. ‘Everyone in a line, here we go!’

The drumfish struck up a beat once more, and the conga began.

Coral hadn’t had so much fun for a very long time. She was behind Marvin, Fabulous had pushed in behind her, next was Ramone, and thousands of other fish were all jumping into line.

Off they went, all shimmying and wiggling to the conga music.

Marvin led them out of the living room, along the hall, up the stairs, along the landing, around Coral’s bedroom, then back down along the same route. The gigantic line was so long, one half of it was heading down the stairs as the other half was still heading up. Coral put out her hand and the fish gave it a friendly fin-slap as they passed.

As she bounced along behind Marvin, back through the hallway, Coral glanced towards the kitchen door. It was still tight shut and there was that same strange, unearthly light glowing around it. Coral once again felt a chill. Something was wrong, she knew it.

*

In the living room, the party was back in full swing. A troupe of starfish was elegantly forming one shape after another, like a kaleidoscope, to gasps of wonder. But Coral couldn’t stop thinking about that ominous green glow from the kitchen. She had to find out what was in there. Even though Ramone and Fabulous hadn’t said anything, somehow she sensed they wouldn’t be happy about her going near the kitchen.

She glanced around. The creatures were all mesmerised by the starfishes.

‘Ramone, I’m … I’m…’

Coral didn’t want to be stopped. Something was drawing her to the kitchen and the green light. So she didn’t finish the sentence.

The turtle didn’t question her. He was swaying, watching the starfishes’ display. ‘Mmmmmmm … so beauuuutiful…’ he murmured.

Coral swam to the back wall of the living room and edged along it, smiling and nodding innocently to any fish who glanced her way.

The hallway was empty. Everyone was in the living room watching the show. She looked at the kitchen door. The green glow seemed to be fading in and out, as if it were sending a signal, as if it were calling to her. She stared at the light.

‘Coral…’ She was sure she heard her name whispered through the water. ‘Coral…’

She felt as if she were being pulled towards the kitchen. She couldn’t stop herself swimming closer and closer.

‘Coral…’ Someone whispered her name through the water again. The door began to open. ‘Coral. Come to us. Closer, Coral…’

She was at the threshold now, the door opening wider and wider. Even though something deep inside her told her she shouldn’t, Coral swam into the kitchen.

The door shut behind her.