• I was just about to tell her mum at breakfast time she'd had a strange dream the night before, but her mum just said, "Look, you should really start wearing frocks. They make you look so sweet."
    I blushed and pretended to look pleased with Mum's idea, then suddenly went upstairs and thought of how weird my mum was acting.
    I got dressed for school and hurried to the bus.
    "Lucy!" shouted her mum. "You've forgotten your new swimming costume! Swimming today! You're going to be excited of seeing your new costume!"
    She passed me my swimming bag and I took it. I sat on the bus and carefully peered through the bag.
    It was a terrible nightmare in there. Pink fluffy hair bobbles, pink armbands, a duck float and a pink shark fin. There was a note underneath: 'Mind you don't die of excitement, Lucy! This is a late birthday present from your kind, thoughtful dear mother.'
    "Mum's done it again," I whispered to Lauren, my best friend. "Look at - oh, I mean...she's thinking of buying me a FROCK."
    Lauren laughed loudly. "You're strange, Lucy! Why are you lying to me?"
    I decided to keep the rest a secret.
    "But she's bought me an EXCELLENT birthday present, a new swimming costume, it's fabulous! Ice blue bikini top with some really cool red swimming shorts and some cool, fun floats. Oh, it's a float for two, so we can BOTH float in the water and have fun instead of boring, NORMAL swimming!"
    "Wow! I can't wait to see your new swimming costume. Ice blue! Red! Float for two! It sounds great! I expect a GREAT performance from you," said Lauren happily.
    "Uh, yeah, I...I promise..." I stuttered.
    At the swimming baths, our teacher told us to get changed so me and Lauren headed for the girls' changing rooms.
    I got changed and then we all sat together on a bench and waited for the boys. Soon enough, we went.
    I had only wore my best things - my black one-piece. It was the best I could wear.
    "Um, you said it was COOL," said Lauren icily. "And where's the float, bikini top, red shorts and everything?"
    "I forgot to bring them. Well, Mum says I can only wear it after the holidays when she's improved it."
    "Ah! I expect it GOOD, then," Lauren said. "Look, Vanessa's got a float for four - want to join in?"
    "Sure!" I said. "But after we're learning to dive. How boring, I already know that."
    Lauren giggled then we climbed into the pool.

    TO BE CONTINUED...