7 Not HIM Again!

CHAPTER 7

Not HIM Again! Clara strung the mermaids' shells the rest of the day. The next morning she loaded her garlands into a wheelbarrow. Lucas steered the wheelbarrow to the blacksmith's shop and borrowed a hammer and nails. Then they rolled their decorations to the arena. Lucas pounded the nails into the fence that surrounded the arena. Clara draped the shell garlands from one nail to the next. She had enough strands to make it all the way around.

"How did the mermaids know exactly how many shells were needed?" said Clara in amazement. "Because mermaids are magical," said someone behind them. Clara and Lucas whirled around, and there stood Gilbert. He had come back with the knights for another practice. Clara frowned. Oh no, she thought. Not HIM again. Gilbert bowed to Prince Lucas. Then he turned to Clara and began to clap as if she had just performed some kind of stunt. "Well done!" he remarked. "I'm glad to see you've found an activity more fitting for a girl!"

Clara glared at Gilbert. "What's that supposed to mean?" she said.

Gilbert chuckled at Clara's response. "Calm down," he said. "I was trying to give you a compliment. Are you going to sell seashells at the tournament?"

"That's none of your business!" Clara said curtly. She didn't want to admit to Gilbert that she liked anything girly. "Clara makes the most beautiful seashell jewelry in the kingdom!" said Lucas proudly. "I'm sure she does!" Gilbert exclaimed.