CHAPTER TEN

THE SEA, THE SEA

Mervyn was quiet when the boys got home. Jonny felt sorry for him. Having to worry that his legs were going to turn into a fishtail every time he went out, causing mass panic and major embarrassment, must be hard. But in among all this, Jonny also felt a tiny bit worried for himself too. What if Mervyn went full merboy again? And again? Jonny wasn’t sure he could think up enough clever excuses for why he was lying on top of his brother. The pavement-dancing competition was genius, but what if he couldn’t come up with something as good next time?

These were difficult thoughts, and Jonny wasn’t a fan of difficult thoughts. He preferred thoughts about doughnuts, pugs that wore Superman costumes, or being able to do magic. So, to chase the difficult thoughts away, Jonny suggested a trip to the seaside. Perhaps being near the sea would perk Mervyn up a bit?

His mum agreed to take them. Mervyn looked pleased, Jonny felt excited and Widget the dog … Well, he had no idea where he was going, but he hopped enthusiastically into the back seat of the car and sat between the two boys.

The clouds had blown away by the time they arrived at the seaside, and the boys ran happily on to the sand, with Widget barking and leaping between them. Jonny and Mervyn built a castle with a deep moat, and then went to look for shells to decorate it.

‘The sea is so beautiful, isn’t it?’ said Mervyn, staring at it like he was in a dream.

‘S’pose so,’ said Jonny. ‘Nice and big and wet.’

Mervyn started making those strange squeaking sounds Jonny had heard him make in the bath. Like a dolphin crossed with a piglet.

Jonny threw a pebble into the sea and Widget bounded in after it. Then, suddenly, there was another huge splash. Mervyn had plunged in too.

‘It’s all right,’ Jonny called. ‘Widget can swim!’

But Mervyn wasn’t rescuing the dog. Mervyn was off!

Jonny stared out to sea. Finally, he saw a head surface a long way out and a tiny arm waving. Then, nothing.

‘He’s gone!’ said Jonny, half upset, half outraged. How could he swim off like that?

Then he noticed Mervyn’s corduroy trousers on the sand. He picked them up. There was a note sticking out of one pocket.

Dear Jonny,

If you are reading this, it’s because I have decided to rip off my trousers, jump into the waves and go away to sea. Sorry. I will miss you. You were a great brother. You were kind. You tried to protect me from the spray this morning and even went into a pond to rescue me (which was a tiny bit stupid but kind of mer- vellous!). So, thanks loads. I won’t forget you. If I can help you in the future, ­just call my name! (By the way, I may not hear you because the sea is very big, but feel free to try …)

Mervyn

Jonny tucked the note into his pocket and walked back to his mum.

‘Where’s your friend?’ she asked.

‘He had to go home,’ said Jonny.

‘Shame,’ she said. ‘He seemed nice.’

He was nice, thought Jonny, feeling a bit sad. But he understood. The call of the sea was too strong for Mervyn. He had to live there. It wasn’t fair for a merboy to live on land. It wasn’t natural. It would be like asking Jonny to live up a tree or underground or in Hemel Hempstead. All wrong!

Then Jonny remembered Sibling Swap and suddenly glowed with excitement. Mervyn may have gone, but there were lots more brothers where he came from. Well, not exactly where he came from. Jonny didn’t want another merboy, but what were the chances of that happening? Zero! No, for sure, the next brother would be happiest on land and – Jonny could feel it – absolutely perfect.