The Creature from Club Lagoona Read Online Free Page B

explained. “They’re called the Sharks! But remember, no matter how good—or bad—you are, Club Lagoona will make you a better swimmer. So on your last day we have another Sink or Swim relay. We like to see how much everyone has improved. Cool, huh?”
    â€œYeah.” I gulped. “Cool.”
    Barry jogged off. I gazed into the pool. Okay. Imight be wrong about the monster. But one thing I knew for sure.
    Where water was concerned, I was no jock. I was definitely a rock!
    And I was about to sink at the Sink or Swim!

5

    M y eyes popped open the next morning. A pair of eyes stared back at me.
    Fish eyes.
    I sat straight up in bed. I glanced around the room.
    Of course. My first full day at Club Lagoona.
    I sighed when I saw the fish-shaped light fixture that hung from the ceiling in my room.
    I gazed at the fish painted on the walls. The bedspread covered with seashells. The fishing net hanging from the ceiling. Even my pillow was shaped like a clam.
    I shook my head. “There’s definitely something fishy about this room,” I joked. I cracked myself up.
    â€œSo you’re finally awake,” Polly called from the bathroom we shared. “Mom and Dad will be here anyminute. We’re heading over to the Atlantis pool together.”
    I flopped back down on the bed. The Atlantis pool. The Sink or Swim trial with Barry. It was this morning!
    I had to find a way out of this. And it was going to take some pretty fast thinking!
    Polly bounced into my room. She wore a black and bright purple bathing suit. “Mom unpacked your stuff,” she informed me. “Your new bathing suit is in the top drawer. And hurry up!” She yanked the covers off me.
    â€œOkay. Okay,” I grumbled. I stumbled over to the dresser and yanked open the top drawer.
    Oh, man.
    I reached in and pulled out the most hideous bathing suit I had ever seen.
    I twirled the trunks between my fingers. Green volcanoes spewed bright orange lava. In between the volcanoes were nauseating purple and red flowers.
    Well, at least I would never have to wear the awful thing. Since there was no way I was getting into the pool! I buried the suit under a pile of T-shirts.
    No bathing suit, no Sink or Swim.
    Dad knocked and popped his head into the room. “You kids ready?” he asked. He stepped inside. Mom followed behind him.
    â€œIt’s time to get wet! ” they cheered together.
    I cringed. I had to get out of this. I couldn’t let them discover my secret.
    â€œI—uh—I can’t find my bathing suit,” I stammered.
    â€œNo problem, Tad,” Mom reassured me. “We just stopped at the Wet Set Boutique, and I couldn’t resist these.”
    She handed me a pair of swimming trunks. These were even worse than the volcano suit I had shoved into the back of the dresser.
    Hmmmmm. Time for Plan B. If I could think of a Plan B.
    â€œMy stomach hurts!” I blurted out. “Must have been something I ate.”
    Polly snorted. “You haven’t eaten yet,” Polly reminded me.
    â€œYou’re just hungry,” Mom reasoned.
    â€œSo quit fooling around, and let’s go!” Dad said.
    I had no choice. It was Sink or Swim time.
    And I knew which one I was going to do.
    On our way to the Atlantis pool, I spied that weird guy with the bucket that I had seen yesterday. The guy who warned me that Club Lagoona was dangerous. As I passed him, he paused and picked up a piece of litter.
    â€œWatch out for the deep end,” he muttered. Then he scurried away.
    What am I supposed to be watching for? I wondered.If this guy was playing some kind of game, it wasn’t funny!
    But I couldn’t think about him. I had bigger problems on my mind. In a few minutes, the fact that I couldn’t swim would be out in the open. My mom, my dad, and my obnoxious sister were going to witness my humiliating plunge to the bottom of the pool.
    But then something great