Kira's Secret Read Online Free

only mumble back shyly. She was relieved when he disappeared for several months, though the wharf seemed oddly quiet without Babbling Bill and his chatter.
    His back was turned to her as Kira stepped onto the wharf. She heard the soft squeaks of his fiddle warming up for a tune. He hadn’t spotted her yet, she thought, so she decided to stop and wait. She was nervous, clutching her hands together like she did at church on Sundays, trying not to annoy her parents with her fidgeting.
    After the first few strains on the fiddle, his foot tapping on the wharf, Babbling Bill broke into song.
    â€œAhhh, the Mary Margaret Delaney Went out to sea one day
A lovely day, a large day
With nary a cloud in the sky, nay,
Nary a cloud in the sky.
    â€œAhhh, four young lads were aboard To fish the seas that day
That lovely day, that large day
With nary a cloud in the sky, nay,
Nary a cloud in the sky.
    â€œAhhh, there were no fish to be found Though long they searched that day
A lovely day, a large day
Nary a fish to be found, nay
No fish to be found anywhere.
    â€œAhhh, but the boys were hunted and found By the razor legs of the deep
On that fateful day, that awful day
They were found by monsters, yeah
Hunting for souls to keep.”
    Â 
    He stopped and whipped his hairy grey head around, squinting straight at Kira. She gasped, terrified.
    â€œAha!” he shouted. “D’ya like me song, lass?” He pointed his fiddle bow at her.
    Kira barely nodded her head and tried to smile. She was struck dumb, could not speak a word if her life depended on it. All alone on the wharf with a crazy old man. She wondered if she should turn and run.
    â€œI wrote it meself,” he said. “True story, every word. You’re Cillian’s girl, aren’t ya?”
    Kira nodded again, and wondered why her feet wouldn’t move. She remembered a story of the medusa with snakes for hair, who would turn you to stone if you ever looked at her face. Bill’s hair was wiry and wild and snakelike, she thought, shivering.
    Kira felt vibrations on the wharf and then she heard the footsteps. Before she could turn to see who was coming, Bill spoke. “Ho there, young Cody!” he greeted the boy who now stood beside Kira.
    â€œHey, Cody,” she said, glad to see him.
    â€œHo, Bill, hey, Kira,” Cody said, holding up his palm as Bill slapped it in greeting with his own.
    â€œAh, yes, young Kira. Nice to see you again, lass.” Babbling Bill gave her a wide grin, and she could see his yellow teeth were all there but for one near the middle.
    â€œUm, hello, Bill,” she said, feeling silly and shy.
    â€œPull up a crate or a trap and set a spell if ya like.” Bill pointed to several empty crates at one side of the wharf.
    Cody and Kira each grabbed a crate and sat in front of Bill.
    â€œDo you have a name for the tune?” Cody asked.
    â€œNothin’s come to me yet, lad. I had a lot of time to think on it, while I lay in that bed. But they kept me groggy with pills and such. Still a wee bit fuzzy. It’ll come when it’s ready to. The Muse takes her time to strike. Mm hmm.”
    Bill picked up his bow and began to play a lively tune. Cody tapped his feet in time to the music, but Kira felt awkward, like she had barged in on a party. The tune was a popular sea shanty often played at kitchen parties and the Fishing Fleet Festival. Cody grinned and began to drum with his hands, slapping his knees. Kira found herself staring at Bill’s fake foot which remained still, hidden inside the black-and-yellow fishermen’s boots he always wore.
    When Bill finished, Cody and Kira clapped. Bill bowed his head and smiled. “Now, children,” he said as he laid the fiddle and bow on the ground, “would ye like to hear a story?”
    Kira sat up straighter. This was her chance. Without thinking, she blurted, “Are selkies for real?”
    Cody snickered.
    â€œAh, son, don’t