The ADVENTURES of

BELLA

the MERMAID
By Grandma Coops
 BELLA
the MERMAID
By Grandma Coops
I wrote Bella The Mermaid whilst I was receiving treatment for Cancer.
CONTENTS
I found that during the Chemotherapy sessions I was bored doing
nothing for 6 hours. Bella the Mermaid
I initially started writing books for my grandchildren. Page 1
Mermaid Cove
It became popular with my friends and their grandchildren,so I
thought it a great idea to sell Bella the Mermaid for the benefit of the
Page 10
Charity ‘Action Against Cancer’ / www.aacancer.org Mermaids Go to the Beach
Page 16
Professor Justin Stebbings is the founder of 'Action Against Cancer’.
and is my Oncologist who has saved my life. Mr Walrus
Page 25
The Laboratories are located in The Imperial College London where the
research team are based.
Bella Has a Friend to Stay
Page 32
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Bella Visits Jess
Page 40
Grandma Coops Bella Returns to the Beach
Page 46
In aid of Action against Cancer www.aacancer.org
 BELLA THE MERMAID

Kingfish and Queenfish lived deep in the sea in a place called Sea
Park. The little fish, Crabs, Lobsters, Stingrays and dolphins are very
excited because Kingfish and Queenfish are showing everyone the
little baby mermaid that they had found in the Coral Reef.
Kingfish said to everyone “We are going to call her Bella as she is so
pretty.”

As Bella grew she loved swishing her tail and she could do fast turns
in and out of the rocks. She made great friends with the dolphins
and they swam and jumped over the waves together which was
great fun.

One day Bella was playing with the dolphins and they were all sitting
on the sand at the bottom of the sea. Mr Larry Lobster came up to
them and said ”Hi guys, I have found a big box and I need your help
to open it. I think it has some treasure in it.”

Bella tugged at the top of the box, ”Oh gosh it is really stuck. We will
need some help. Mr Crabby Crab can you help us, you could crush

1
 the lock with your big claws? Mr Crabby Crab said “of course I will
help.”
Crabby put his big claws on the lock on the box and they all cheered
him on as he pulled and puffed going even redder than he was
already. “Wow this is hard but I think that it is lifting,“ he said.
“Yes, yes I’ve nearly done it.”

The top popped open, but what a surprise - Ollie the Octopus was
inside. Ollie said “I was playing hide and seek and I hid in this box
but the lid closed and I was stuck in here.”

Bella could see something sparkling under him. “Are you ticklish Ollie?”
said Bella. Ollie giggled “Oh yes, I am very ticklish.”
Bella wanted him out of the box so she tickled Ollie under all his
eight arms. Poor Ollie laughed and laughed and he fell out of the
box. “I feel much happier now Bella, I do enjoy being tickled.”

He stretched out all his eight arms. He is such a big Octopus.

“Thank you for getting the box open.” Ollie said to Mr Crabby,
“I wasn’t very comfortable in there. There are very prickly things in
that box.”

Bella and everyone looked in the box. “Gosh,“ Bella said “Look there
are gold coins and jewels.”

2 3
 “There is nothing in there for any of us, just for Bella.” said
Larry Lobster.
Bella put the rings on her fingers, the clips in her hair and
necklaces round her neck. “I feel so pretty. They are all very
sparkly.”
Crabby Crab looked at her. “You do look very pretty, so you
should keep them all. You should find something to put the
coins in so they are all safe and don’t get lost.”
Dilly Dolphin was looking at the bottom of the box. “Look,
there is a picture of a little girl in here. Bella have you seen
this?”
Bella picked it up, but the strangest thing was that the little
girl in the picture had two legs with shoes on her feet.” This
little girl doesn’t have a tail with a fin on the end like me.” she
said.
So she gave it back to Dilly Dolphin and Dilly explained.” She
is a little girl who lives on the land. She doesn’t have a tail like
you as she doesn’t have to swim. Instead she has legs so that
she can walk everywhere.”
Bella said, “Please will you take me to this land Dilly?”
“Yes,“ Dilly said “We will ask Daddy Kingfish if you can go.”
4 5
The next day Dilly Dolphin and the other dolphins came to get
Bella as Daddyfish said that she could go to the beach.
“Come on Bella,” Dilly said “get on my back and hold onto my
fin and then we can swim fast and it won’t take very long.”
When they reached the beach Bella swam to a rock that was
sticking out of the water near the edge of the sand. Dilly and
the others shouted to her “We are going to go and jump over
the waves and we won’t be long. ”Dilly said “You stay on
the rock and you can see all the people on the beach,
but they can not see mermaids, so you will be very
safe there. Have fun.”
Bella was amazed “Gosh look at all the
people with legs, walking about and
playing in the sand. I think they
look very funny, Dilly has said
that they can’t see me so
they can’t see me giggling
about them which is
good as they might
think that I am
being rude.”
 Bella could see a little girl playing in the water with her bucket, but
just then the little girl looked at the rock where Bella was sitting.
She shouted “Look mummy I can see a mermaid. She is beautiful
with long golden brown hair and a shiny tail just like the mermaids
in my books.” Her mummy looked at the rock. “No Matilda, I can’t
see a mermaid, you really do have a good imagination.” Matilda
knew that she could see a mermaid, so she waved to Bella. Bella was
so surprised that the little girl could see her but she waved back.
Mummy said to Matilda,” What are you doing waving to a rock?
You are a silly billy. There is no mermaid there. Now come on we
must go home as it is nearly tea time and you must be getting
hungry. I know I am.” Matilda knew she had to go now but she
shouted to the mermaid.
“My name is Matilda, I have to go home now but I hope to see you
here again. Goodbye” Bella shouted back “My name is Bella. I will try
to came back another day.” They both waved goodbye.

Dilly and the others came back to get Bella.” We had great fun, the
waves were big so we leapt right out of the water. The people on the
beach could see us so we really entertained them.”
“Oh, I really enjoyed myself and there was a little girl with legs
playing in the water with her bucket. When she looked out at the

6 7
 rock SHE COULD SEE ME. Her mummy couldn’t see me though, and
she didn’t believe her.”
“Well,” said Dilly, ”I think she must be very special to be able to see
you. Did she speak to you?” Bella did a big smile ”Yes, she told me
her name is Matilda.”
“Goodness me!!!” Dilly said “I think we had better take you home
now. Hold on to my fin again and we can swim fast so you will not
be late for your tea.”

The dolphins got her back for a yummy tea. She told mummy fish
all about it and asked her if there are any other mermaids like her
living in the sea. ”Yes, there are other mermaids. Daddyfish and I will
take you to see them. Maybe on Saturday if you are good.”
Bella gave mummy and daddyfish a big hug and kiss goodnight. She
brushed her teeth with coral, washed her tail and got into her big
cosy shell bed.
Bella then fell fast asleep dreaming about her fun day and of course
Matilda.

8 9
 mummy very tightly as she was a bit scared. They went past some
sharks and they were going very fast. She was very relieved as the
sharks did not seem hungry. It was also a bit bumpy as the dolphins
MERMAID COVE were dodging turtles and fish even the large stingrays. Bella held on
even tighter.” This is a bit scary”, she said to mummy fish. “Oh, don’t
worry we are very safe in our Clam Shell car. If something tries to
get us the top of the Clam shell will come down and shut us in. So
don’t worry Bella.” said Mummy fish.
On Saturday morning Mummy and Daddyfish told Bella that
they would take her to see Mermaid Cove as she had been The Clam Shell car started to slow down and everyone
a very good girl all week. “Yippee,” shouted Bella “I am so could see large pink coral stone gates
excited. I will go and brush my hair and then I am ready.” and yellow angel fish started to
So Daddyfish called Dilly Dolphin.” Dilly please get the large open the gates for them.
Clam Shell and two strong dolphins as we are taking Bella to “OOH mummy I am so
see Mermaid Cove today.” “Not a problem, we will collect you excited, it all looks
all in half an hour,” replied Dilly Dolphin. so pretty.” Mummy
squeezed her
Dilly arrived and the large Clam Shell looked very smart. It had hand,” You will
seat belts made of seaweed and the dolphins had harnesses have lots of fun.”
around their noses so they could pull everybody along. Off she said as the
they went. yellow angel fish all
bowed to them. Well of
They had to go very deep in the sea and Bella held onto course they would as
mummy and daddyish were

10 11
 the King and Queen of Sea Park!!

Inside the gates there were a lot of mermaids all sat around
talking and brushing their hair with spiky fish. Luckily the fish
didn’t mind this as the mermaids hair tickled them so there
was lots of giggling by the mermaids and the spiky fish loved
to hear them all giggle. Some of the mermaids saw Bella and
they swam over to say hello and ask where they had come
from. Bella told them that she lived in Sea Park with lobsters,
crabs, dolphins and lots of different fish. The mermaids were
amazed as the only fish they had in Mermaid Cove were spiky
fish that they used as hair brushes, and sucker fish that they
used as hoovers to clean all the sand on the sea bed.
Daddy fish said, “I will leave you to talk to your new friends
while I take Mummy fish to see the King of Mermaid Cove. We
won’t be long.”

They asked Bella why she had come there, so she told them
how she had found out that she was a mermaid. ,and that she
wanted to see other mermaids that were like her. They loved
hearing all about Mr Lobster and the treasure chest. They all
laughed about Ollie Octopus getting stuck in the treasure box.
Bella told them about the girl in the picture and the jewels
and coins, and of course her visit to the beach.

12 13
 “Wow,” said one of the mermaids. “We have swum to the beach and
seen lots of people, but no one has been able to see us as mermaids
are invisible to people.” “Well, she said her name was Matilda and
she waved to me and I am not making it up.” said Bella. She felt
very important as they all sat listening to her. They brushed her hair
with spiky fish and she knew that she had found some new friends.”
I feel so happy, and I love having my hair brushed with spiky fish as
it does make me giggle.”

Daddyfish came back and told Bella that the King wanted them to
have a sleepover and Bella shouted with delight.
Jess the mermaid said to Bella” My name is Jess, if you want to, you
can sleep next to me.” and she pointed to a big sponge bed.
“That will be fun thank you Jess.”

So all the mermaids washed their tails with seaweed and brushed
their teeth with coral. They all chatted for a while telling stories
about what they do at school and how different Bella’s life is to
theirs. Bella started to yawn and all the others started to yawn as
well. Jess said “I think it is bedtime.” They all agreed and snuggled
down in their beds. “Night Night, Night Night.” they all said. within
minutes they were all fast asleep.

14 15
 but you will be fine I
am sure. Lets go and
get them ready and
MERMAIDS GO TO THE BEACH we can go if Dilly
Dolphin agrees.”
Dilly agreed to take
When Bella and the mermaids woke up the next morning they them as the king of
wanted to see her treasure. They tried the jewels and pretty hair Sea Park was very
clips on. Jess said to Bella, ”don’t we all look beautiful in these busy for the morning,
jewels.” ”Yes you do,” said Bella ”I would really love it if you would having golf lessons
keep them as little presents from me. It is so good to see other with King of Mermaid
mermaids that look like me.” “Thank you, thank you.” They all said Cove. Dilly thought that
“We love them and we will treasure them.” a bit strange. He could
not imagine a large fish
They all wanted to go to the beach to see if they could see playing golf. Of course King
Matilda. Most of all to see if Matilda could see them as they didn’t of Mermaid Cove was a man
understand how she could see Bella. mermaid, and he had arms to use.
“Dilly knows the way to the beach that Matilda was on.” said Bella. “Strange, strange, it would be funny to
”Oh good” said the mermaids,” we have seahorses that we can ride watch, but I had better take the mermaids to the
on to get there, and we will find one that is well-behaved for you beach.” thought Dilly.
Bella.” Bella said that she had never ridden on a sea horse. Jess
said “You have to sit on with your tail on the side and just hold on They were all sorted with their sea horses and Bella was doing
tightly. Sometimes they will jump about if they feel a bit naughty well, although her sea horse kept biting the other sea horses
bottoms! She wasn’t feeling that confident about this riding

16 17
 thing. Dilly did say that she could ride with him if she got fed up sounded so frightened, but before Bella and the others could
with her naughty sea horse but no way was she going to give up. get to him he fell off his lillo and he was going down in the
water quite fast. Although he could swim a little bit it was
When they arrived at the beach they sat on the rocks that were just not good enough for the deep water. Bella swam down to
sticking out of the water. Bella said to them “There is a lot of people get him and the other mermaids held onto the lillo ready to
on the beach but I can’t see Matilda anywhere.” The other mermaids put him back on.
said “We can’t help as we don’t know what she looks like. Our tails Bella said to the little boy to do as she told him,
are getting very dry so I think we should slide back in the water.” but he definitely couldn’t hear or see her, so
“NO, NO, there she is,” said Bella. “She is the little girl standing at she gently pushed him to the surface.
the edge of the water with the green top and shorts on. She is The funny thing was that the little
shouting something.” “Yes we can see her,” said the mermaids and boy could feel something pushing
they all started to wave to her. Matilda didn’t see the mermaids at him because he was really trying
all, so the mermaids were shouting HELLO, HELLO, but Matilda didn’t his hardest to swim. All of a
hear them either. sudden he went very fast out
So Bella called out to Matilda” Hello again, can you still see me? I of the water and plop, he
have brought my other mermaid friends to see you. Can you see or landed on his lillo again.
hear them?” He was really surprised as
Matilda said, ”Oh Bella I am so pleased to see you again, but I the lillo started to move
definitely can’t see any other mermaids.” “PLEASE CAN YOU HELP back to the beach. As
ME, my stupid little Brother has gone too far out on his lillo and he he couldn’t see the
can’t swim that well. I think the wind is going to blow him further mermaids he didn’t
out to sea. Can you do something?” realise that it was
Bella shouted back to Matilda, ”Don’t worry, my friends and I will them pushing him
help him.” Bella could hear the little boy shouting, ”HELP, HELP,” he back to the safety of

18 19
 the beach.

When the lillo was safely with Matilda, she waved to Bella and said
“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and to your friends as well. I can not
see them but I know that they helped you. You have all saved my
brothers life. He now understands how careful he has to be with the
lillo. Thank you all again.” Matildas brother was sat on the beach
coughing and spluttering as he must have swallowed a lot of water.
He looked at Matilda and said to her ”I don’t know what happened
but I think the wind just got stronger, when I fell in the water I was
going deeper and deeper but I then felt something push me to the
top. I think I had just got stronger in my swimming and when I got
back on lillo…..well I don’t know. I thought the wind had changed
direction and blown me back onto the beach.”

Matilda couldn’t tell her brother about the mermaids helping him as
she knew he wouldn’t believe her. She knew the truth though.

All the mermaids were very disappointed that Matilda had only been
able to see Bella and not them and couldn’t understand why.
Dilly Dolphin was ready to go back to Mermaid Cove and so were
the sea horses. Bella and the mermaids all got on the sea horses
backs and off they went feeling very good as they had done a very
good deed that day. Bella’s Sea horse didn’t bite the others bottoms

20 21
 on the way back. Thank goodness for that thought Bella.
The sea horses had seaweed for their lunch and settled down
for a rest as they had been a long way that morning, and the
mermaids and Bella went into Mermaid Cove for a yummy
lunch. They loved Jellyfish pie, and sea worms and custard for
pudding. “YUM, YUM,” They all shouted.

Daddy fish and Mummy fish came to get Bella when they had
finished their lunch. Daddy fish said “I hope that you all had
fun this morning. Unfortunately Bella we must go home now.”
Bella looked at all her new friends and said, ”Thank you, I
have had a lot of fun, and now you all share my secret. I
cant wait to tell Larry Lobster, Crabby Crab and all the others
about you all and what a pretty Cove you all live in.” Jess gave
Bella a spiky fish to brush her long hair with and to keep as
a present.” Oh thank you so much.” said Bella. “you are my
special friend and I am sure we will see each other again soon,
maybe have some sleepovers.
Jess said “I would love that, and you can come back here for
some sleepovers too.
Bella put the picture of the little girl and the gold coins into
her bag. She had a few sparkly clips left over, so she put those
in as well.

22 23
 Dilly dolphin arrived with the other dolphins and Daddy fishes
Clamshell car. They all waved Goodbye “GOODBYE.”

Daddy fish turned to mummy and Bella.” We are going back a

MR WALRUS
different way. I want Bella to meet the very old but very wise Mr
Walrus.” Bella looked puzzled as she didn’t know what a Walrus
was. “Don’t worry” Mummy fish said, ”you will enjoy meeting him. It was a very calm trip to where Mr Walrus lived. The dolphins
Put your seaweed seat belt on please Bella and we can be our way.” slowed the clam shell down as there was a lot of kelp. Kelp is like
Bella thought to herself” This is so exciting, I am doing lots of new long seaweed and it was difficult for Dilly Dolphin to find the way.
things.” Bella was very tired and she fell asleep very quickly. Daddy Kingfish said, “Look Bella there are some of the seals. They are
coming to show us the way through the kelp.”
The water to get there was
not very deep so the
dolphins had to go slowly
as they didn’t want the
Clam shell car to get
all tangled up. They
followed the little seals
and in no time they were
through the kelp.

Mr Walrus was sat on a big

rock. Bella whispered to

24 25
 Mummy fish ”If that is Mr Walrus he is very very fat, and he
is a bit ugly as well.” Mummy whispered back ”I do agree with
you, but he really is very jolly and very kind. You will like him
but don’t go too close to him as he does smell a bit.” “What
does he smell of,” whispered Bella, but Mummy fish didn’t
have time to answer.

Mr Walrus was talking to Daddy fish. Mummy fish gave Bella

a nudge and pointed to a plate full of small fish all ready to
eat. Mr Walrus said “Oh, don’t worry girls. That plate of little
fish is for my lunch.” Bella then put a bit more space between
Mummy fish and the Walrus. The Walrus started to laugh,
“I only eat small fish and so do the Seals. Your Daddy and
Mummy fish are far too big for me and not very tasty. My
name is Hector, I know I look a bit scary to you Bella, but I am
a big softie Walrus really. I would love to be your friend.”

“Your Daddy has told me all about you and that you found a
treasure chest at the bottom of the sea. Why don’t you tell
me all about it. I am very old and very wise and I hear about a
lot of things that happen in the sea. I may be able to help you
find out more about it.”
Bella thought, ‘he looks scary but does seem very nice, and
Daddy fish is nodding at me, so I think I will tell him.’ She told

26 27
 him how it was found and about Larry Lobster and Crabby Crab.
Then she told him about Ollie Octopus. Well, Hector Walrus started
to laugh very loudly and all the sand around him started to move.
Bella couldn’t help laughing because his big fat tummy started to
wobble and jiggle up and down. Mummy fish and Daddy fish were
doing there best not to laugh. Bella said, ”You do look so funny
when you laugh, and you make me laugh as well.”
Hector replied “Well it is good to laugh, but when I laugh I am sorry
but I do have a bit of bad breath.” Bella thought to herself” Not a bit
of bad breath, very bad breath. Yuk!!!”
She didn’t say anything as it really would have been very rude of
her.
Hector Walrus said “I did hear that some Pirates had stolen a
treasure chest from a lady on land. They had taken it to their ship
and got away before anyone could stop them. I also heard that
there was a big storm and it had caused the ship to sink. I do know
that the ship sunk not far from your home ‘Sea Park’. Maybe it is the
same chest that was stolen. I really don’t know what happened to
the Pirates.” “Maybe the hungry sharks ate them all”

Bella was excited that the treasure chest that Larry Lobster found,
could be the one that was stolen by the Pirates. She would have to
wait until she went home to ask him where he had found it.” Thank
you for telling me what you have heard about the treasure chest. I

28 29
 will talk to my friends. I will tell you what we find out about
it.” Bella said to Hector Walrus.
Her parents started to talk to Hector and Bella and the young
seals were getting bored. One of the seals said to Bella, ”Will
you come and play with us? We could play hide and seek in
the Kelp. It is good fun.” ”Yes of course I will. I don’t know how
to play hide and seek, but you can show me.” replied Bella.
They had a lot of fun until Bella noticed that they had
stopped playing and the seals were getting
very interested in a shoal of small fish
swimming just above them. She
knew that they would catch some
and eat them, so she shouted to
the little fish. “Be careful there
are some hungry young seals
here and they are getting
ready to catch you. Your
such pretty little silvery fish
and I can’t watch the seals
eat you.” The little fish
swam as fast as they could
to get away and they were
too fast for the seals. The
30
seals got cross with Bella but she didn’t worry, as she thought that
they were very fat and they did have very smelly fishy bad breath -
YUK!!!!
Daddy fish called her and said it is time to go home now. PHEW,
Bella was relieved and got very quickly into the Clam Shell car. They
waved Goodbye to everybody and Bella snuggled into Mummy fish.
The trip was nice and smooth and it was good to be home.
Larry Lobster and Crabby Crab were waiting for them and Bella
said, ”I have so much to tell you,” “Larry where did you find the
treasure chest?” Larry replied “There is a ship on the bottom of the
sea. I think it was in a storm but I am not sure. Why?” “I will tell
you everything in the morning. It is so exciting.” but she started
to yawn. ”I am so tired I really need to go bed now.” Mummy fish
gave her a kiss and said to Larry Lobster and to Crabby Crab. “Bella
has had a very busy time and she has too much to tell you tonight,
so all of you get together in the morning, and I will make some
seaweed biscuits.” Bella yawned again and off to bed she went. She
brushed her hair with her new spiky fish hairbrush that Jess had
given her, and it made her giggle. She didn’t wash her tail or do her
teeth. Naughty Bella.
She curled up in her cosy shell bed and went fast asleep dreaming
about tomorrow.
31
 BELLA HAS A FRIEND TO STAY

School holidays had just started.

Bella was thinking about Mermaid Cove and the friend she made
called Jess. So Bella asked Mummy fish if Jess could come and stay
for a few sleepovers. “Yes” Mummy fish said “I think that would be
fun. We can send Dilly Dolphin to see if she can come, I’ll call him
now.” Dilly wasn’t very busy so he said “Yes I will take Daddy fish’s
Clamshell car, so if she says yes I can bring her back with me.”

When Dilly Dolphin arrived at Mermaid Cove he asked Jess if she

would like to come to Sea Park for a few sleepovers. She was
so excited! “Oh Mummy can I go pleeeeeeaaaase?” Her Mummy
laughed “Yes, of course you can. Go and pack your spiky hairbrush
and your coral toothbrush and then you can go to Sea Park with
Dilly.”

Jess soon got ready. Mummy and Daddy kissed her goodbye and
they both said, “Be a good girl and give our love to Bella and her

32 33
 parents.” Jess got into the clamshell car and put her seaweed
seatbelt on and waved goodbye. Dilly said “Hold on tight!”
Jess thought it was a bit scary as the clamshell car was going
from side to side and it was bumpy too. “Are you alright Jess?”
“Yes thank you,” shouted Jess “I’m a bit frightened, but I am
holding on tight.” Dilly said “We will be there soon, so don’t
worry.”

When they arrived, Bella gave Jess a big hug. “I’m so happy
you have come to stay, we will have so much fun. Mummy has
made us a yummy lunch. We are having prawn fishcakes and
snail jelly for pudding.” Jess said “Oh goody, my favourites.”

When lunch had gone down, they went for a swim to find
Larry Lobster. They found him having a sleep on a nice comfy
rock. Bella gave him a gentle push to wake him up. “Hello
Larry. How are you today?” Larry stretched out his claws and
said “I am very well Bella, who is your little mermaid friend?”
“I am Jess, it’s very nice to meet you,” and she gently shook
his claw. Larry said “I have heard how kind you were when
Bella visited Mermaid Cove, so I am very pleased to meet you
Jess.It is a good job that you woke me up Bella as I am to go
and play in the band this afternoon. Would you both like to
come and watch us?” “Yes please,” they said “We will come

34 35
 with you now.” instruments.” Ollie gave Bella and Jess a GENTLE hug and said
goodbye. “Bye”, they said “We thought you played very well
They all went to the coral reef where the band were practising. and we really enjoyed all the music.”
Crabby Crab was playing the castanets with his claws. Larry Lobster
started to play the guitar and Ollie Octopus was playing the drums, Bella and Jess had to be home for tea so they waved goodbye
symbols and the piano at the same time! Well, he has so many arms
he might as well use them all. “Hello Bella, who is your mermaid
friend?” said Crabby Crab. “This is Jess and she is having a few
sleepovers with me.” So Jess said “Hi everyone it is very nice to meet
you all.”

Bell and Jess sat together on a big sponge on the reef. The music
started again and Lottie the dolphin started to sing. Jess and Bella
knew some of the songs, so they joined in. All the tiny fish around
the reef came to dance to the music.

Bella and Jess were having a great time. They were laughing at Ollie
Octopus playing the drums, crashing the symbols together and
playing the piano all at the same time. He was playing so fast that
his arms got all tangled up. Everyone started to laugh. It took Bella
and Jess ages to untangle him and poor Ollie felt so silly. He said,
“Oh, I am very tired now and I’ve had enough for today. I feel so
silly for getting all tangled up. Thank for helping me. I need to play
a bit slower but I do get carried away as I so enjoy playing all the

36 37
 to everyone. On the way back they could see a blue whale. He was new name. Perhaps I will see you on my way back”.
huge. Jess hadn’t seen one before so Bella said “Lets quickly go and
see him” Jess was a bit nervous “He won’t try and eat us will he?” Bella and Jess swam as fast as they could home.
she said. “Oh no, he eats Plankton, which is small plants that float in They had had a good day together and were feeling quite
the sea. He also eats shrimp like things called krill. tired. They were looking forward to having their tea. I wonder
what they will have.
The blue whale said “Hello little mermaids, have you come to say
hello to me?” “Yes we have. What is your name? We are Bella and Jess said, “you must stay with me in the summer holidays.”
Jess.” “Oh yes please. I would love to” said Bella.
“Oh no! I don’t have a name. I am just Mr Blue Whale.”
Bella was thinking that he should have a name. Mr Whale was
telling them that he was going to Alaska to see some friends and
that he will swim back in about five months time as the water will
be too cold for him to stay in Alaska then.

Jess got very excited and shouted to Bella. “I have an idea. Shall
we call Mr Whale TINY. No one will forget it?” Mr Whale started to
laugh.” You are right little Jess. Everyone will remember my name if
I am called TINY, because I am so big. Thank you for thinking of me.”
Bella laughed and she said to Jess “Well done Jess, that is a perfect
name. We really must go now Mr Whale. Oh, sorry I mean TINY. We
must not be late for tea.”

TINY said “Well be good little mermaids and thank you again for my

38 39

BELLA VISITS JESS
Bella was just starting her long summer holiday. She asked Mummy
fish if she could go to Mermaid Cove and see Jess.
“Yes of course you can. I will phone her Mummy on my conch shell
phone and see what they are doing”. Later that morning she spoke
to Jess’s Mummy.
Jess’s Mummy said “That is a great idea. Jess had so much fun
when she stayed with you last holidays, I know that she will be very
excited when I tell her. Tell Bella that we look forward to seeing her
tomorrow.”
Dilly Dolphin took Bella in Daddyish’s clam shell car. It was a smooth
ride to Mermaid Cove and luckily they didn’t see any hungry sharks.
Jess was so excited when Bella arrived and she gave her a big hug
and Bella noticed she was wearing the pretty hair clip that she had
given her when she visited Mermaid Cove the first time. Bella didn’t
say anything but was really pleased as Jess obviously really likes it.
40
They heard Jess’s mummy calling them in for lunch. They had
seaweed soup to start, sea slugs and chips and plankton ice
cream for pudding. “Plankton ice cream always reminds me of
Tiny, the blue whale. He eats lots of Plankton. It tastes really
yummy doesn’t it. Do you like it?” Bella said “I haven’t had
Plankton ice cream before. It is really nice and I will ask my
mummy to make some when I get home.”
They were both full up and were letting their lunch go
down. Jess’s Daddy came into the kitchen “Hi you two. It is
nice to see you again Bella. We must do something fun this
afternoon, I was thinking of going to the funfair. It is here
for two days but I have time to go today. Mummy said that
she would like to come with us too. What do you think?”
They both shouted “oh yes please we love funfairs, can we go
now?”
“Come on Mummy, get ready and we will all go together.
It is not far so we can swim there.”
When they arrived Bella said “Wow! look at all the rides. Can
we go on the seahorse ride first, it really looks fun.”
The seahorses looked very naughty, they were trying to get
their riders off balance so that they fell off into the sand.
41
 Bella and Jess got on when it was their turn and they held on tight.
They were laughing and really enjoyed the ride and the naughty
seahorses just couldn’t get them to fall off.
“Well done girls, you did very well to hold on. Mummy and I are
pleased we didn’t try as I think we would have fallen off into the
sand.” “What ride are you going on next?”
Dad enjoyed it though”.
The next ride was a ride on a giant Manta Ray. The girls were
too small to go on it, as he went very fast and there was
nothing to hold on to for small mermaids. So Mummy and
Daddy went on it.

Daddy thought they could all go on the Mr Octopus ride. He had So Bella and Jess had a ride on the flying fish as they could
one seat at the end of each arm, which meant he had eight seats. hold onto their fins. The flying fish swam fast up to the top of
He was moving his arms all over the place but it did look fun the sea and did a big jump out of the water and then very fast
and his passengers looked very happy. Jess said “This Mr Octopus down to the bottom of the sea. Bella
reminds me of Ollie Octopus who played in the band when I was and Jess were making so much
staying with you Bella.I hope he doesn’t get his arms tangled up like noise, shouting faster, faster
Ollie did.” and jump again, and again.
Bella was laughing, ”Oh, this Octopus looks much stronger. I think They loved it so had the
this will be good.” So they all got in their seats and it started gently ride again. They were
swaying around slowly. The girls shouted to one another” This a bit very happy.
boring he doesn’t go fast enough?” Mr Octopus heard them, and he
thought I’ll show them what I can do. A bit slow am I? Well here we Daddy was saying “Who
go! wants to see the funny
He went faster and faster and his arms were going all over the fish now? We can have
place. “Oh I feel so sick”. shouted Jess. “So do I shouted Bella. I think a seaweed ice-cream
he must have heard us saying he was a bit slow and boring. Oh cone as we swim around.”
good we are nearly finished thank goodness. I think your Mum and “Oh, yes please we would

42 43
 love an ice-cream and we haven’t seen funny fish before” So in the
tanks they saw a fish with TWO heads, a large PINK seal. Next a big
fierce shark but he had NO TEETH. Then there was an octopus with
FOURTEEN ARMS and he was getting all tangled up in the seaweed.
He did manage to get untangled again so the girls did find him
funny.
Dilly Dolphin said “come on Bella, we need to take you back
home now” They all waved goodbye and Bella settled down in
her fathers clam shell car. It was a bit bumpy going back but
they arrived at Sea Park very safely.

Bella and Jess enjoyed themselves very much and when Mummy
said it was time to go as it was getting late they didn’t mind as they
were getting very tired. The swim back to Jess’s house was a lot
slower than when they came, as they were all tired but very happy,
and they all had a great afternoon.

Tucked up in their sea shell beds Jess got two glowworms out so
that Bella and her could see one another and talk about their day.
It wasn’t long before they both did a big yawn.” Night, Night sleep
well and see you in the morning”.
They blew kisses to one another and went straight to sleep.

The next day Dilly Dolphin arrived to take Bella home. “Thank you
for having me I have had a great time.You are my best friend Jess”
Jess gave her a big hug and kiss and said “You are my best friend
too Bella. We will see one another soon, maybe at Half Term.”

44 45
 BELLA RETURNS TO THE BEACH

In Bella’s last week of the summer holidays, she was feeling a

bit bored. “Mummy, can I go with the dolphins to the beach.
I want to see if Matilda is there?” Mummy thought about
whether or not Bella would be safe, if she just went with the
young dolphins. She knew that if Dilly Dolphin went with
them Dilly would look after Bella. So she said “Yes you can
go Bella but only if Dilly can go with you all. Tell Dilly that I
would like you home in time for tea.” “Great”, said Bella” I will
ask Dilly if he is free, and no I won’t be late back”

Dilly was going with the other dolphins anyway, so Bella was
very happy.

On the way to the beach they saw some big sharks coming
up behind them. Dilly shouted to everyone, ”Swim away as
fast as you can and Bella get hold of my fin as I can swim a
lot faster than you can. We really do need to get away from

46 47
 these sharks. They look hungry.” ”Gosh Dilly look at their mouths I
can see their big sharp teeth” Bella shouted as she grabbed hold of
Dilly’s fin. They all swam as fast as they could and soon they saw
the shipwreck where Larry Lobster had found the treasure chest.
Dilly followed the other dolphins into the ship and they all managed
to squeeze into one of the old cabins.

Dilly said to everyone “Lets stay in here until the sharks see that
they can’t get in here as they are to big. We will be safe here and I
am sure they will find something else to eat.”

Bella was very frightened as she thought that the sharks wanted
them for lunch. Dilly was in charge and knew the right thing to do.
After a little while Bella peeped round the door of the cabin, and
she saw a shoal of tiny fish. The sharks had seen them to. Bella said
to the others, ”I think the sharks have seen the big shoal of tiny
fish over there. Oh, yes they are swimming into them now. Do you
think we can escape now Dilly?” Dilly opened the cabin door ever so
quietly and saw that the sharks were in frenzy eating all the little
fish. “Yes come on, quick as you can and head for the beach.” Bella
held on to Dilly’s fin again and off they went.

When they reached the beach Dilly said to Bella. “You stay on your
rock until we come for you. You are very safe now as the sharks

48 49
 have had their lunch and we will be back home before their you been up to during the holidays?” So Bella told her all about
dinner time. We are going to play in the waves and jump in Mr Walrus and about the pirates that took a treasure chest from a
the wash made from the boats. We will come back in an hour. lady on land where Matilda lived.
Is that ok?” Bella nodded and sat on her rock as she needed to
have a rest. The sharks had frightened her. Matilda got very excited. “I wonder if my Aunt Isobel was the
lady who the pirates stole from. The Police said that the pirates
Bella started to look for Matilda. It was a nice and warm had taken the chest out to sea before they could stop them. They
sunny day so Matilda should be there somewhere. After a few thought that their ship had sunk and nobody knows what happened
minutes Bella saw her playing in the sand near the waters to the Treasure chest or the pirates. My Aunt had coins and jewels
edge. Matilda looked up and saw Bella sitting on her rock. in the chest but the only thing that she is really upset about is a
She paddled out near the rock as the water was too deep to photo she had of her little girl. It was the only one that she had of
go right up to it. her. All her other photos she had lost.”
“Hi Bella how are
you?” Bella replied Bella explained how the treasure chest was found, and that she
”I am alright now, had given the jewels to her friends the mermaids. They were the
but we have just had mermaids that had come with her to the beach last time and had
a big fright.” Bella helped Matilda’s brother when he had fallen off his Lilo into the
told Matilda what water.
had happened with
the sharks. Matilda Matilda was amazed at Bella’s story. Bella said “look I have kept the
was amazed, ”I think photo. I always have it with me as I can tuck it in my tail scales and
you are so brave Bella, it stays nice and dry. Do you think that this could be your Aunt’s
I would have been photo?” Matilda took it from Bella and said “I don’t remember what
terrified. What else have her little girl looked like. She really wants the photo back. My Aunt

50 51
 is on the beach sunbathing.Can I take the photo to her and They didn’t see any sharks on the way back home. Mummy fish was
see if it is the same one?” “Yes of course you can” said Bella. very proud of what Bella had done. Bella did a big yawn as Mummy
fish tucked her up in her shell bed. She put her beautiful hair clip
Aunt Isobel was on the beach watching Matilda talking away, onto her bedside shell and within minutes she fell fast asleep.
but was surprised it was a rock she was talking to. She got up
and walked up to Matilda. “Are you playing a new game as Well the story of the Treasure Chest was now solved. All she had to
you are talking to nobody but yourself?” Matilda laughed, and do now was tell Larry lobster and Crabby crab all about Aunt Isobel.
she told her Aunt all about Bella the mermaid and her story. Bella did go to the beach again and she could see Matilda on the
She gave her the photo of the little girl. Aunt Isobel burst into beach. Matilda could not see Bella or hear her anymore.
tears. “Oh, this is my daughters photo. How incredible this is. I wonder why. WHAT DO YOU THINK???
I wish that I could see Bella. Matilda has told me that she sits
on the rock. I can not thank her enough and I am not worried
what has happened to anything else in the chest. I just never
thought that I would ever see this photo again. Oh, how
wonderful this is.” “Matilda can you give Bella my jewelled
hair clip. It is the only thing that I have with me that I can
give her now, but it is my favourite one.Just to say thank you.”
So Matilda gave it to Bella.

Bella said “Please say thank you to your Aunt. This hair clip is
beautiful and I will keep it forever.”

They were all very happy and Bella said goodbye to them as the
dolphins had just arrived and were ready to take her home.

52 53