We go through an arch and enter a huge coral room. King Neptune is there, with soft green seaweed swaying around his throne. He raises his golden trident and beckons to me to sit at the table. Food is brought to me, and bowls of sea-fruit. It is sweet and delicious.

King Neptune smiles at me. "Welcome" he says, "You must stay with us and become a son of the sea. I always have room for new sons and daughters."

"Thank you," I say. The words come clearly, as if I have always been able to speak like that.

But then I think of my home in the world above. I have a great Mum. She's the best Mum anyone could have. She never criticizes me, or tells me to hurry up. She knows how hard it is for me to walk quickly. She waits for me to say things.

And Dad is the best Dad ever. He gives up whole days to be with me. He takes me for trips to the country and lets me look at everything. He gets me books and reads the names of things to me. That's how I know so many names.

King Neptune knows what I am thinking.

"You are not happy with us?" he says, "You wish to return to the world above?"

"Yes" I say, "I'd love to stay, but I have to go back to Mum and Dad. They love me. They will be very sad if I live down here"

"I understand." says King Neptune.

He orders the mer-people to take me back to the beach. They hold my hands and swim ahead of me, pulling me along. They are smiling but I know they are sad to see me going. I can see the sadness in their eyes, even though their faces are happy.

Soon the water is foggy with sand and bubbles of air. I can hear the crashing of surf against the rocks.

"This is as far as we can go" say the mer-people. The wave to me and swim away.

"I am sorry I cannot stay with you!" I call

They are gone now. I swim to the beach and look up at the cliff in front of me. It is

almost straight up, but that doesn't worry me. I begin to climb.

But now I am feeling weaker. I try to climb faster but my hands are losing their grip. The seagulls turn and wheel around my head.