In the morning the fisherman was in a better mood than usual because of the news of Melchior’s return. He normally ignored the children and just went out early without saying a word. He patted Amelia’s head and asked her what she was going to do for the day. She replied that she would be selling her shells. He was amused and asked her about it. She told them she just put them on the sand and he shook his head and went to the back of the shed and pulled out a crate. He told her she could use it like a table. Then he gave her a patterned cloth used for picnics and told her that she was a good girl. Many people, he said, started off with businesses on the beach, and worked hard until they were older and opened up a shop in town. Amelia felt pleased. She had changed: she had wanted to be found by rich family and have everything bought for her, but now she enjoyed making money for herself.
Prince woke up and they talked about her diving for shells. He said that she didn’t need him to watch her stuff as she could keep her money here.
‘What about my shoes?’ asked Amelia
Prince considered. It would be bad if Amelia’s shoes were taken. They agreed that they couldn’t really blame thieves; they were just children. It wasn’t good having no shoes.
‘Do you think Melchior will buy shoes for all the children?’ Amelia asked the fisherman.
‘I have seen him do many wonderful things. When I was a child he took all the children including me to a house in the country with a farm with cows and chickens and a school. He was very kind to me that’s why I look after his shed. Everyone said that he was dead as there has been no sign of him for years, but I believe he is alive. I don’t know the number of the farm anymore; I haven’t been there for twenty years. Maybe if we don’t see him I could take you there so you could have a good life like me. Look at how strong I am! Years of good meat and milk and fruit. On the beach the children don’t drink milk. I must start to buy milk for you. I am not a good man. I don’t remember what children need.’
‘Don’t worry we can survive for ourselves,’ said Prince
‘We are grateful that we can sleep here,’ said Amelia. She didn’t want the fisherman to look sad. He had to go out on his boat so Amelia and Prince got ready to leave.
‘Come let me buy you breakfast,’ said the fisherman and he took them up the beach to the shack next to the bread shack where Amelia normally went. It had fruit croissant and sweet bread. He bought them both a croissant.
‘You must think I am mean not buying you food,’ said the fisherman. ‘It’s just that when I first came to the beach I used to give away all my money to the kids but once some followed me and robbed me. Another time one boy I always petted robbed a tourist and then told the police he saw me do it and I had to go to jail. I didn’t want him to go to jail, but it was very terrible. Ever since then I just kept myself to myself.’
The children told him that they were sorry that had happened. He told them goodbye and went off to his boat. Prince said that he would watch Amelia’s shoes so they walked to the rocks carrying the crate and cloth. Amelia took off her clothes to her vest and pants and dived in the cold water. She swam down to the bottom and picked up a big shell, but the snail was still inside it. It was slimy as she touched it and she threw it away in disgust. She continued trying and looked all around at the bay. It was beautiful and balmy this time of the morning. There were whispery clouds around the castle. Amelia still wanted to go there to find out if that was her destiny. She didn’t think that she would be an ordinary girl; she thought she was meant for something special. As she swam she imagined being a posh person at the castle. She would leave her door open for all the beach children to come and ask her for whatever they want. She found five nice shells and rested them on the rocks, but she would need more than that so she continued on until she had twenty. She put them inside her vest and they scratched her. If Torro tried to take her she would scratch him with a shell until he let go. On the beach she sometimes saw razor clam shells that were long and sharp. One boy kept one just in case a dog tried to bite him. The other boy said that was cruel to the dog, but he said it wasn’t fair; he didn’t have big teeth. Stupid Torro, she thought, why was he so mean? She looked around to see if he was on the beach but there was no sign of his red bandana.
‘You took long,’ said Prince as she flopped down tired on the beach.
‘Sorry’
‘I’m going to make a start. I want a patty for my lunch. Chicken. That fisherman may be alright but what does he think I live on air?’
‘You can always take from the money.’
‘For you to cry in my face and say I ate your dress money? No thanks. I am a boy that can look after himself. I will meet you here at three okay?’
‘Okay thanks.’
Amelia put on her dress. She didn’t have a comb; her hair must look a state. Maybe she could find Peto or Raindrop to borrow one. She needed to look right. She looked around. There was no sign of Raindrop but she saw Peto talking to a woman. She went over to him. He was talking to an expensively dressed looking town woman.
‘Hey Peto; can I get a loan of your comb?’
‘Sure Amelia this is my friend Rosa Anne. Her friends have all gone out on a boat but she is afraid of the water so she is waiting here. She likes children and says she wants to help to stop her from being bored. Why don’t you let her come with you? Amelia sells shells,’ he said to the woman.
‘Hello darling! Aren’t you pretty!’ said Rosa Anne. Are you all by yourself? I can’t stand it. I literally can’t stand it to think of you little loves all by yourself in the world. Do you want me to come with you? I work in a bank in the city. I know all about money.’
Amelia looked at Rosa Anne. She had on a lovely blue dress and flip flops. She had gold earrings. Amelia wasn’t sure about her hard eyes and how hard she was straining to smile and didn’t say anything.
‘That’s a great idea. Two girls together. I want to help Amelia but I am busy selling water. It is too much work for you so go with Amelia. Look Amelia, Rosa Anne gave me the new chewing gum, take one.’
Amelia took one. She had seen it on a billboard.
‘I expect you need it if you don’t clean your teeth do you have a toothbrush?’
Amelia shook her head feeling ashamed. She quickly combed her hair. She didn’t really want to be with anyone, but at the same time she felt a bit nervous of the adult tourists sometimes, and worried about the café owner and the police.
‘Okay I have to go,’ she said handing the comb back to Peto
‘Let’s go then sweetie,’ said Rosa Anne and pushed some sunglasses off her forehead. Amelia smiled at her a little unsurely and they walked up to the café. Amelia tried to make conversation about Rosa Anne’s friends on the boat but she didn’t reply just smiled. When they got to her usual spot Amelia put down the crate. She had put the shells inside the cloth and tied it with a knot. She undid the knot and arranged the shells.
‘I normally shout “buy my shells” to the tourists. It’s how I get my business. That’s hat boy and that is the boy that sells friendship bracelets. We all help each other. Okay so I am going to start.’
Amelia started to shout. Rosa Anne laughed but got very serious once the tourist started to come. Unlike with Amelia, the tourists spoke much more to Rosa Anne; asking her questions about the country and places they should go and visit. Amelia listened. She would have to learn this. She got good prices for the shells; thirty to fifty coins each. Rosa Anne put the money inside the crate saying that then she could give change. Amelia told her that she wanted to buy a dress and spent a long time describing the best ones she had seen on tourists. Rosa Anne said that she would take her into town tomorrow, if she could spare a day’s work, and buy one for her. Amelia could not believe her luck she hugged Rosa Anne in thanks. They sold about fifteen shells helped by Rosa Anne charming the tourists. Amelia took twenty coins and went over to Hat Boy to see if he had anymore t-shirts. She wanted to get one for Jasper and Peto, and see
if he had anything for Pinky and Pearl. She asked Rosa Anne to look after the stall for a few moments. Hat Boy gave her a friendly pinch and looked to see what he had in his knapsack. He told her she shouldn’t be looking after boys, they should be looking after her, but she said that they were her friends and she didn’t mind. He had a little swimsuit that would fit Pinky and gave her two t-shirts and a big blue shirt. He put it in a plastic bag for her. Amelia was really happy. She wanted her friends to look nice. When she looked around, Rosa Anne was not there so she hurried back to the crate that had five shells left. She stood up and looked over to the café; maybe Rosa Anne had gone to get a drink. She had probably gone to the toilet. Amelia didn’t shout but waited for the tourists to come to her. She sold a shell for twenty and the lady gave her a note. She dipped into the crate for change and realised all the money was gone. Why had Rosa Anne Taken it? Had she gone to buy bread? When she had no change the tourist said she would come back. Unhappiness showed on Amelia’s face as two hours past and there was still no Rosa Anne. Amelia sold three more shells but for little money, just ten coins each. The bracelet boy noticed as she started to cry.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘That lady said she was helping me but she took all my money.’
‘Who was she?’
‘I met her with a friend. Her friends have gone off on a boat and she said that she wanted to help.’
‘Look there she is,’ said the bracelet boy. Amelia looked and saw Rosa Anne at a bar drinking.
‘I’m going to talk to her wait a minute.’
Amelia walked over to the bar
‘Where is the money please? Do you have my money?’
Rosa Anne ignored Amelia and hid behind her sunglasses. Amelia asked her again and again until she was shouting. The waiter came over.
‘Oh boy get rid of this beach urchin for me will you. You know what they are like when they want money,’ said Rosa Anne to the waiter.
‘Go away girl!’ shouted the waiter and pushed Amelia away
‘But she stole from me!’ she wailed
‘Go away and stop bothering here,’ said the waiter. Amelia ran off crying back to the bracelet boy, and furiously cried into his chest.
‘She stole my money. She is a rotten, rotten lady.’
‘Don’t worry. It’s best not to deal with adults. They trick you worse than the beach kids,’ he said trying to console her. She cried and cried. Some tourists came over and the Bracelet boy sold the last shells to them and gave Amelia two paper money. Amelia had a little at least and she shoved it into the back of her shorts. She was so upset that she didn’t even thank the bracelet boy. She picked up the crate and the cloth and carried it to meet Prince not knowing whether or not to tell him about Rosa Anne; she felt too ashamed.