Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

31. Hocus Pocus

I met up with the girls at school. Just sometime after sitting on the ground chatting, Lewis arrived holding what appeared to be an old book, the kind found in antique shops.

"I have found the best thing ever," he informed us, "It is going to rewrite mermaid history as you know it. Actually no. It is mermaid history."

"What are you on about, Lewis?" Rikki asked him.

"This," he showed us the book and threw it in front of us.

I glanced at the cover which gave off a strange vibe that told me that we shouldn't look into it.

"A fairytale book," Emma commented on noting the cover.

"A mermaid mythology book, published in 1908. Limited print. I found it on the net," Lewis corrected her, "It's priceless and it is totally legit."

"Doesn't look legit to me," I shook my head frowning at the book.

"It's a kids' book," Rikki pointed out.

"No, it's a mermaid manual," Lewis argued and opened the book slightly.

"Right, with, um, pop-up illustrations and a color-in section."

"Of course, it looks like a kids' book, but that's just a front. How else could they get the stuff about mermaids published?"

"Lewis. You got ripped off."

Something about the book didn't sit well with me as Rikki, Emma, and I got on our feet and headed for our classes. I glanced back a bit and saw Cleo looking into the book with curiosity. 

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Later, after school, Emma worked her shift at the cafe while Rikki and I hung out at the counter and sipped the smoothies that we had ordered.

"Maybe Lewis is right," Cleo told us as she and Lewis arrived and approached us, "What if the book is for real?" She held the book in her hands, "We could have the power to grant wishes. There's a recipe and everything."

"Wish giving? Come on," Rikki remarked not believing a word.

I thought that was for genies only. I thought.

"All Cleo wants to do is give it a try," Lewis clarified, "Where's the harm in that?"

"A lot of things can go wrong," I pointed out figuring that trying to meddle with forces beyond what we were capable of had consequences. Second, some of the horror movies I had seen and heard about had plots where the characters attempted something similar had met their untimely fates. 

"Lewis, what have you said to poison her mind?" Rikki frowned.

"He hasn't said anything," Cleo corrected her, "I just think this could be really useful. Come on guys. For me."

I could tell she had a valid reason for wanting to try out the wish-granting recipe. If I was given the power to cause miracles to come true, I would use it to help people who were in need. Emma, Rikki, and I turned to each other. 

"OK," Emma nodded.

"Whatever," Rikki answered.

"We'll give it one shot," I agreed, but knowing that if it went wrong, we'd drop everything.

"Excellent," Cleo smiled.

"Ok, now there are a few hard-to-get ingredients," Lewis explained as he opened the book to a certain page and read from it, "Deep sea algae, fungus, three different types of reef scum. You guys will need help."

"Let's leave that to Cleo, shall we?" Rikki asked sarcastically with a grossed-out expression.

"Emma. Emergency staff meeting," Wilfred approached Emma.