Stolen Treasures (4 page)

As they walked towards the Sea Watch
building, Antonia suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth.

“No!” she gasped.

“What?” said Cai.

His eyes followed the direction she was looking in.

“Emily!” groaned Antonia. “She’s not locked the badger pen properly.”

The door stood open with the padlock swinging from the bolt. Antonia ran over but she was too late. The pen was empty. Emily came out of the Sea Watch building, carrying an old football. She waved at Antonia and Cai.

“I went to get Stripes something to play with and look what I found,” she called triumphantly.

What was Emily thinking? Stripes wasn’t a
puppy. Suddenly Antonia was angry with herself for trusting the new girl. Emily reached the badger pen and her mouth opened in horror.

“Oh no!” she gasped.

R
ealising anger wasn’t going to help anyone, Antonia pulled herself together.

“Stripes can’t have gone far,” she said calmly.

“Emily, you look over there. Cai, take the top of the garden and I’ll look behind these bushes.”

Antonia crawled on her hands and knees to search. Some of the bushes were so thick she
didn’t think Stripes would manage to squeeze under them but she checked anyway, lying flat on her stomach for a better look. All sorts of worrying situations flashed through her mind, like Stripes escaping on to the road or falling into the sea. Antonia was beginning to work herself into a state when Emily shouted, “I’ve found her.”

Antonia raced up the garden, reaching Emily at the same time as Cai.

“She’s under there.”

Emily pointed at a blue flowering shrub from which Stripes’s stumpy tail was visible.

“Thank goodness.”

Relief flooded through Antonia as she reached for the cub. At first Stripes didn’t want to come out and Antonia found herself
engaged in a gentle tug of war.

“Look at her nose,” she giggled with relief, as finally she pulled the badger cub out.

Stripes’s nose was covered in dirt. Cai laughed but Emily’s face crumpled and she burst into tears.

“What’s wrong?” said Cai.

“I don’t want to leave Sea Watch,” sobbed Emily, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I really like helping here.”

“Why are you leaving? You’ve only just started.”

“When Claudia hears about Stripes she’ll throw me out.”

“Aunty Claudia wouldn’t do that,” said Cai, astonished.

“She’s not like that,” added Antonia
forcefully. “She never tells anyone off for genuinely making a mistake.”

“Are you sure?” sniffed Emily.

“Very,” said Antonia firmly. “Anyway, it was my fault too. I should have made sure you knew how to lock the padlock. Come and help me put Stripes back and I’ll show you how it’s done.”

“Thanks, Antonia.” Emily looked so grateful that Antonia felt guilty about not liking her. But how could she be friends with Emily when her parents owned such a horrible shop? Antonia forced herself to be extra nice as she showed Emily how to fasten the padlock and let her practise locking it. As they headed back to the Sea Watch shed Claudia came out to meet them.

“Good news,” she said, running a hand through her wavy hair. “Jackie from the badger sanctuary just rang. They’re definitely releasing two badgers back into the wild on Sunday, so there’ll be room for Stripes.”

Emily’s face fell.

“Does she have to go back? She’s only just got here. Can’t we keep her until she’s ready to go back into the wild too?”

Claudia shook her head.

“This was only temporary. It’s better for Stripes to return to the sanctuary. Badgers are very sociable animals and need the company of other badgers.”

Claudia reached forward and gave the padlock on the pen door a hard tug.

“Just checking,” she said. “It’s a bit stiff—
doesn’t always lock properly.”

Emily blushed but Claudia didn’t seem to notice.

“That’s it, then. All done for today. Thanks for your help, everyone. I’m going up to the house to make dinner. Are you staying for tea tonight, Antonia?”

Antonia shook her head.

“I can’t, thanks. I’ve got swimming club.”

“It’s squad-only tonight.” Emily rounded on Antonia in surprise. “Are you on the team?”

“Yes. I’ve just been given a place.”

“Wow! You must be an excellent swimmer. They don’t usually take you until you’re in Year Six. I’ve transferred from my old club. Tonight’s my first time but I already know
some of the team from doing competitions.”

Antonia stared at Emily in disbelief. Was there no escape from her?

“I didn’t know you swam,” she said lamely.

“Oh yes,” Emily nodded her head vigorously. “I’ve won a few medals. Dad said I can learn to scuba dive next year. Then I can go out with him and Mum. They love the water. We all do. See you tonight, then.”

Emily waved as she loped up the garden in her awkward gangly stride, chattering to Claudia.

“There’s not going to be enough time to go to the harbour after all,” Cai said. “We used it up looking for Stripes.”

Antonia sighed in frustration. “‘We’ll have to go tomorrow, straight after school.”

“Good idea. See you then,” said Cai.

Antonia rushed home, ate an early tea, helped Mum clear up the dishes, then went to her room to pack her bag ready for swimming. Jessica followed and sat on the bed watching her.

“I want to be in the squad too. Do you think I’ll be good enough soon?”

“If you practise,” said Antonia, rummaging in the drawer for her swimming goggles. She found them inside her swimming hat and put both in her bag with her towel, swimming costume, shampoo and hairbrush, then zipped it up.

“Will you play with me now?” asked Jessica.

“I’m going swimming,” said Antonia.

“That’s not for another half an hour. Please, Antonia. Come and see my dolls. I’ve made a camp for them in my bedroom.”

“Just a quick look,” said Antonia reluctantly, but luckily she was saved by Dad, who wanted to leave earlier than usual so he could drop off a quote to a customer.

“This customer’s just bought an old fishing boat to go diving from,” said Dad as he drove the car off the main road and into a lane. “It needs quite a bit of work on the engine.”

Antonia’s pulse raced.

“A fishing boat?” she asked. Could this be the boat that was causing the damage out at sea? “What’s it called?”

“I’ve no idea. You’ll see it in a minute.”

Rounding a corner, the lane opened out into a yard with outbuildings on the long side and a house in the corner. Antonia’s heart sank when she spotted an old fishing boat parked on a trailer. It was nothing like the boat she was after. By the look of it, this boat wasn’t even seaworthy.

“Wait here,” said Dad, parking the car and reaching for a long white envelope on the dashboard. “I won’t be a sec.”

Absentmindedly, Antonia twiddled her dolphin charm as she watched Dad knock on the front door. As much as she loved swimming, she wished she didn’t have to go tonight. Then she could have gone to the harbour before tea with Cai and they might have been closer to solving the mystery of the
boat owners, before they caused any more damage.

“Spirit, I will sort this out,” Antonia vowed, lightly running her finger along her dolphin’s soft back.

The charm juddered slightly and Antonia sat bolt upright. Was Spirit about to call? She concentrated on the dolphin but it was still now and her sixth sense told her she wasn’t needed.

“Back again,” said Dad, sliding into the car. “Swimming club next.”

“Cool,” said Antonia, forcing a smile.

The swimming pool was busy and Dad had to park at the end of the road. As they drove past the entrance, Antonia saw Emily walking in with a lady who was obviously her mother.
She was tall and thin just like Emily and walked with the same gangly stride. A memory stirred in Antonia’s head but refused to surface. Emily was cradling her swimming bag in her arms as if it was something precious. Antonia was secretly glad Dad hadn’t found a parking space outside the pool or she would have had to walk in with her.

“Here’s my mobile. Ring me on the landline if you finish early,” said Dad. Antonia nodded.

“See you in a couple of hours then.” Dad left Antonia at the swimming-pool entrance and ran back to the car.

Antonia changed quickly and was putting her swimming bag in a locker when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She swung round and saw Emily, her curly hair escaping from
her swimming hat and a silly grin on her face.

“This is for you,” she said, thrusting a gift box at Antonia. “It’s to say thank you, for helping me to find Stripes and for not telling on me.”

“Oh!” Antonia exclaimed. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”

“I did,” Emily insisted. “I was stupid and careless and I’m really sorry.”

A small crowd of Year Six girls gathered round the lockers.

“Open the box,” they urged.

Reluctantly, Antonia prised off the lid.

“Don’t jog her,” said Emily, putting out her hands to keep everyone back. “It’s fragile. Do you like it, Antonia? Mum made it
especially for you. It’s a ‘stardish’. Get it?
Stardish
, clever, huh?”

Antonia stared at the smoky-blue glass dish nestling in tissue paper. Pushing it aside with a finger she nearly dropped the box in shock. The base of the dish was resting in the curled arms of a dead starfish.

“No!” exclaimed Antonia thrusting the box back at Emily. “I can’t take this.”

“O
f course you can.” Emily handed the box back but Antonia clenched her hands and refused to take it. “Please, Antonia. You deserve it.”

“No, I don’t. I didn’t do anything. I don’t want it,” she said, stepping back and bumping into the lockers.

“It’s not that expensive, honest,” Emily appealed to her in front of the watching girls. “Mum makes them. She’s really clever with her hands.”

“It’s beautiful,” said a girl called Rose. “Where’s your mum’s shop? It’s my sister’s birthday soon. She’d love something like that.”

While Emily gave Rose directions, Antonia slipped unnoticed through the crowd and into the swimming pool. By the time Emily followed her, Antonia was safely in the pool, swimming lengths to warm up. Emily waved and mouthed something but Antonia pretended not to see her. Four swimming coaches taught the squad and, luckily for Antonia, she was put in a different group from
Emily. At the end of the training session, Antonia’s coach let her group out of the water first. Antonia hared over to the changing room and changed without showering or drying her hair. Luck was still on her side. She saw in the spectators’ gallery that Dad had come early to watch her swim, so she didn’t have to hang around and risk bumping into Emily again.

“Where’s the fire?” joked Dad, as Antonia hurried him to the car.

“I’m tired,” said Antonia, slumping down into the passenger seat.

She was annoyed with herself. Why hadn’t she been more truthful? She’d had the perfect opportunity to tell Emily what she thought of her parents’ shop, but she’d chickened out
and let her think she didn’t deserve a gift.

I couldn’t tell her with everyone listening in
, Antonia reasoned in her head, but deep down she knew that it wasn’t a good excuse. Emily’s parents were in the wrong and by keeping quiet so was she. Antonia felt miserable, knowing she’d let everyone down, especially her dolphins. What would Spirit think of her now?

I’ll tell Emily tomorrow
, Antonia promised herself.
I’ll get her on her own so I don’t embarrass her
.

She spent ages in front of the mirror rehearsing what she would say. It wasn’t easy, particularly because she’d promised Claudia she’d give Emily a chance. But surely Claudia didn’t mean keeping quiet over
something as important as this? Antonia wished Claudia understood that Emily was as bad as her parents.

Antonia half-expected Emily to waylay her in the playground before school and try to give her the ‘stardish’ again, but there was no sign of any of Year Six.

“They’re rehearsing for their leavers’ play,” said Cai, when Antonia asked where everyone was hiding. “They had to come to school early because it’s the first time they’ve practised with costumes.”

Feeling frustrated, Antonia kicked at a football heading towards her. The ball spun across the playground to Toby who, with a fancy bit of footwork, scored a goal.

“Way to go!” he cried, rushing across the
playground to high-five Antonia. “Want to be on our team?”

“No, thanks,” said Antonia, grinning in spite of herself.

At lunchtime, Antonia was sitting on the field eating her packed lunch with Cai and Toby, when Emily broke away from a group of Year Sixes and came and sat next to them.

“Sorry about last night,” she said, staring straight at Antonia as she pulled a cheese-and-pickle sandwich out of her lunchbox. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Dad says I’m as subtle as an elephant in a tutu.”

Antonia tried to swallow a mouthful of cake but it stuck in her throat and she ended up choking.

“Steady,” said Cai, banging her on the
back as she coughed and spluttered. “Here, drink this.”

He handed her his water bottle and Antonia drank from it gratefully.

“Better?”

“I’m sorry!” Emily face was bright red. “Now I’ve embarrassed you again. Look, if you change your mind about the stardish, then it’s yours.”

Antonia’s eyes were smarting with tears from her choking fit. She pulled a tissue from the pocket of her dress and wiped them before blowing her nose. Her heart was thumping and her hands trembled slightly. Fragments of the speech she’d rehearsed for Emily reached her lips, only to fizzle out. She closed her eyes for a second, determined to
tell Emily what she thought of her parents’ shop but as she was about to begin, she remembered her promise to Claudia. Would it really be breaking that promise to say something to Emily? Maybe if she said something about conservation in general, Emily would take the hint?

“Do you like Sea Watch? Are you going to keep going?” asked Antonia.

“I love it—everyone’s so friendly,” said Emily. “I can’t wait for the summer holidays when I can spend all day there.”