60. Ursula Comes Back

Attina and Melody liked working at the dockside taking carts filled with things backwards and forwards. But one day, they were very tired. The dockside was very busy. King Triton said that someone was going to help them. "I'm glad. About time." suggested Melody. "I feel so tired, I can barely move an inch." Attina added. They waited for someone to come. It came as a nasty surprise when she did. "Hello." said Ursula. The two mermaids hadn't been with Ursula for years. "Why are you here?" Attina asked. "Your silly trident, er... King Triton sent me. I hope you're happy that I'm here. I will push some awfully tiresome carts." "Push them where?" squeaked Melody. "Where? From here and there." grumbled Ursula. "And then, from there to here. It's very easy." Ursula, trying to prove her point, pushed some of the carts. "Ow! Ooh!" cried the carts. "Rrr!" Ursula growled. Melody and Attina were shocked. They didn't like Ursula one bit. King Triton was eating his bun and drinking his tea, when his telephone rang. "Trouble in the dockside? I will take care of it." Ursula was soon working hard. Things were on the key, and boats and people had been delayed. Everyone grumbled about King Triton's kingdom. Melody and Attina were complaining in bed. "What is this about?" yelled King Triton. "We're going on strike, your Majesty." Melody explained. "Oh, yes." agreed Attina. "I beg your pardon, your Majesty, but we don't want to work with Ursula. And you said you sent her away." "I must give Ursula another chance." King Triton replied. "I want to help, by bringing her here again. Now you have to help me. She was the only one available." Melody and Attina were soon back at work. Next day, things got even worse. Ursula's worker hadn't put on her stoppers properly. Ursula moved. She biffed, right into Melody! "Get up, Melody!" Ursula said. "It's time for you to work." She didn't apologize to Melody. Ursula buffed carts so much, that bricks fell everywhere! "What will King Triton say?" Melody thought. "He won't expect this." Attina agreed. "So who will tell? Two tall-tale tellers like you?" Melody and Attina didn't like being called, "tall-tale tellers," and didn't say a word. Ursula, thinking she knew best, was still showing off. Next day, she was pushing carts of stone. She pushed them into the water. The bumpers weren't good enough. The carts were sunken. King Triton had heard what had happened. The carts were lifted out of the water, but the stone was gone. King Triton spoke to Ursula. "The dockside manager told me everything. Things were fine until you came. I will never let you come back. Now, Attina and Melody, do you mind working alone?" "No, your Majesty. We'd love to!" the mermaids said. Eeking happily, they went to work, while Ursula just went away. by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch