When she opened her eyes again, Coral was still lying there on the floor of the hallway. Slowly, she pushed herself up. There was no sign of the magical underwater sea world now. Her house looked as it always had, just a plain, ordinary house. It was silent. She turned around to look at the kitchen. There was no sign of Stealth and his cronies. The doors were wide open.
Had her sea house adventure just been a dream? It seemed almost impossible to believe all that could have happened. Yet Coral knew in her heart it was real, and she would never forget her sea friends. Standing in the empty hallway, Coral felt different. She was stronger now, and ready to begin living again.
She heard a rustling outside the front door and heard a key turn in the lock. It was Aunt Trish, her dad’s sister, who had moved into her house with Uncle Jeff to look after her.
Aunt Trish bustled in and stopped abruptly when she saw Coral.
‘Oh my darling girl! You’re up! Oh, that’s wonderful! Just wonderful!’ She rushed up and gave Coral the most enormous hug, squeezing her just a little too tightly.
Since her parents died, it hadn’t been easy for her uncle and aunt to look after her. She knew Aunt Trish had been very worried. Her aunt peered searchingly into Coral’s face.
‘I’m all right, thanks, Aunt Trish. Really.’
She cupped Coral’s face in her hands. ‘That’s my girl,’ she whispered, kissing her firmly on the cheek.
‘Now. I just popped out to get a few bits from the shop. I wanted to get you some of your favourite snacks. We’ve got pizza, strawberries, chocolate milkshake, baked beans and popcorn! Oh dear, that all sounds like a very strange mix. Now, did anyone call? Anything happen? Any news? Probably not, nothing very exciting ever happens around here, does it?’ She winked.
‘Ummm…’ Coral didn’t quite know what to say.
‘Anyway, lovely girl, the big news of the shopping trip is not the pizza or the popcorn.’ She took a deep breath.
‘I’ve bought you a little present. I didn’t mean to. It was the strangest thing, I had to get it, I don’t know why, I … I just couldn’t stop myself, it was…’ Aunt Trish trailed off looking slightly confused, then snapped back. ‘Anyway, you know I love to treat you, but you see there was this… Oh no you don’t! Don’t you go making me tell you and spoil the surprise now!’
Coral took a deep breath and smiled. Aunt Trish loved to talk and it was usually quite a while before she got to the point. Aunt Trish would never replace her mum, but Coral loved her and knew she was lucky to have her.
Aunt Trish was still talking. ‘Yes, yes, the strangest thing. As I said, wasn’t even thinking of presents, but I was on my way out of Bilco’s after stocking up. Uncle Jeff and I had parked a little way down the street – in fact, where is he now? Hurry UP, Jeff!’ she shouted to Coral’s very patient uncle.
‘So we were walking down the street, and out of the corner of my eye I saw these little sparkles! Bright blue sparkles! Never seen anything like it in my life! Anyway, the little flashes were coming from the window of … oh! No, nearly gave it away again, didn’t I? Come ON, Jeff! Where was I? Oh, yes. I don’t know why, but I just had to go in, right there and then, and get it.’
‘Coming through!’ called Uncle Jeff.
Aunt Trish jumped behind Coral and clapped her hands over her eyes, so she couldn’t see Uncle Jeff struggling through the front door and down the hallway carrying something that sounded large and heavy.
Aunt Trish leaned forward and whispered in Coral’s ear, ‘I hope you like it, darling, I thought it could be a little friend for you.’ She sniffed. ‘By the way, why does your hair smell…?’ She sniffed again. ‘Salty?’
Coral smiled.
‘Ready!’ said Uncle Jeff. ‘Come on in, Coral, love!’
Coral shuffled into the living room, past the orange and lime sofa. Aunt Trish tottered behind her on her high heels, hands still clamped firmly over Coral’s eyes. Aunt Trish manoeuvred her round for the big reveal.
‘Left a bit. No, no, right a bit, a bit more, sweetie. There! Here we go! Are you ready? One, two, three…
TAHHH-DAAAAAHHHH!’
Coral opened her eyes, and stared. She blinked. And blinked again, not quite believing what she was seeing. Her eyes began to fill with tears. But this time, they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of happiness and love and hope.
For there, in the corner of the living room, was a fish tank. And in it, hovering, looking directly at her, was the tiniest, prettiest, most sparkly little fish, twinkling its beautiful bright blue spots, sending flashes around the room.
Aunt Trish and Uncle Jeff were staring at Coral, looking slightly concerned.
‘Coral? Coral, are you all right, love? Do you … do you like it?’ Uncle Jeff asked nervously.
‘Fabulous,’ breathed Coral.
‘Oh yes!’ gushed Aunt Trish. ‘Yes it is, isn’t it? Just so…’
‘No,’ said Coral quietly, ‘that’s her name.’
Coral walked over to the tank. She knelt down and placed her hand up to the glass.
‘Isn’t it, Fabulous?’
The little fish did a triple somersault and blew a huge stream of bubbles, straight at Coral!