53. Melody Gets A Scarf

It was a very snowy day in Atlantica. Wind was blowing hard. Ariel and Melody were complaining. What I need is a new pair of warm tail fins. Ariel grumbled. ''My foodmaster knows. He is late. He isn't.'' said Melody. It's the weather that woke us up. Wind was blowing around Ariel. Then, it blew around Melody. Let's find a different topic, suggested Melody. Yeah! agreed Ariel. Like how stupid we're gonna look when we turn into two blocks of ice. No, maybe we can feel better if we talk about good things, like sun, and water... And foodmasters. Ariel said. How about scarfs? Melody asked. A scarf! thought Ariel. ''Why didn't I think of that? That's exactly what you need. A nice, warm scarf.'' Ariel was just making fun of her, but Melody was still thinking of scarfs, until the foodmaster arrived. King Triton was drinking coffee for breakfast. He wanted to take people on a tour of the kingdom. He got a shiny new crown. I will put it in my chest. he told his queen. I will change in it before the pictures get taken. Then, he went to get his load. Melody was battling the snow. Her foodbox was burning, and she had lots of energy, but her mind was still on scarfs. She saw lots of people wearing scarfs. I feel cold, I feel cold. she grumbled. I need a scarf, I need a scarf. Oh, trash! Marina told her. Mermaids don't need scarfs. Mermaids with regular tails do. You only got a short one. Before Marina could reply, Melody swam off. Marina grunted. She wanted to pull the special load. Now, the pictures were going to be taken. All the people were happy. King Triton waited for his shiny crown. It was in a chest with lots of other stuff. Melody was full of pranks. Her worker puts on the stoppers when they get to the junction. Melody wanted to give the wagons a little surprise, by swimming up quietly. But the men did not hear. Melody banged into the chest, and everything flew up into the air. Oh, no! said Melody. Sticky jam had covered Melody. A small crown hung on her side. A bigger crown was on her head. Everybody was mad. King Triton looked at the small crown. Mine. he complained. Melody, look! ''Yes, your Majesty. Sorry, your Majesty. My shiny crown, too. Yes your Majesty. I'm ever so sorry. Now, we have to pay these people. My shiny crown is destroyed. This will now teach you a lesson.'' Melody started to cry. She went back to the yard. She saw Flounder. ''Hey, Melody. So, you've got a crown! But that's for a king, not a young mermaid.'' And he swam off to tell Marina. Soon, Ariel and Melody were having a rest. Melody's worker took away the crown, and he cleaned Melody. My foodmaster promised not to be late. Ariel said. Marina came. She liked to take the people around. ''My worker said the weather will get warmer. Now, Melody, you won't need a scarf. Of course, not.'' Melody said. ''Mermaids don't need scarfs. They need nice, warm tail fins. Eveyone knows.'' by Julian Ayele Cumberbatch