Children from the Sea

Katie unwillingly has to leave her cool life in London to settle in a remote Spanish fishing village. The villagers are against the new hotel where her parents have started a new business. They believe it will destroy the dolphins in the bay, which by superstition protect the village.
Katie’s gets in deep trouble after finding a strange white dolphin on the beach who requests her to kiss it! When she does, it turns into a naked boy with amnesia called Naji. Romance beckons her…
However, Naji has other concerns... Who is he? Where are his other relatives? Where does he come from?
When Katie helps Naji, she upsets Alvaro the village bully, by stealing his clothes from the washing line and confuses her parents. Now things can only get much worse and they do…

Is it a Mystery, a Romance or, a Ghost story?

Read it and find out! It might surprise you!

[Unedited version]
What am I doing here! Katie adjusted her stance from one foot to the other while standing next to her mother Valerie Kirchin. Their tall slim bodies, loose clothes warmed in the bright Mediterranean sun while waiting outside arrivals at Murcia Airport. They attracted clamorous taxi drivers and prying touts. They guarded their luggage, piled high like Jenga blocks on a trolley. Katie’s mother glanced sideways.

"Well Kate, I hope you’re going to behave now! We’ve put everything into this venture."

"Yes Mum!" Katie lifted her hand to swipe her brow. Eh! In your dreams. I don’t know anyone here and I can’t speak the language. It’s hot! I bet I’m turning red.

"Where’s your father?" Her mother growled while holding her mobile phone and tapping on the luggage. “Hello! Peter where are you?” She snapped her phone and turned to Katie. “Your father says he’s late; delayed with his car!”

Katie’s brow puckered; she glanced away, rolled her eyes and played with her ring avoiding the glaring sun. Katie glimpsed along the pungent roadway; I’m going to make them pay. Spain is all dad’s fault! She visualised her future while scrutinising the distance. She sighed, Me! Me selling knickknacks, beach balls, suntan oil; an unpaid skivvy without a social life. Oh Hell!’ She sniffled, and watched taxis draw up and collect their fares. I already miss London, window-shopping with the gang; my school, my clubs. The last three weeks have been murder! packing and at garage sales. She scowled; Why did dad have to give up his job to come here?

An unfamiliar white van screeched to a halt. Katie’s eyes glanced down at her painted toes on the raised kerb. She wriggled them to be sure they were still there. Her father’s hair glowed in the sun; he slammed the offside door and leapt towards them.

His teeth gleamed at her mother. “Hello you two. I’m sorry I’m late!”

Her mother’s shoulders relaxed. She smiled. They embraced and kissed. Katie turned away clenching her teeth and hissing.

Her mother said. “We thought you’d forgotten us.”

Katie huffed her disapproval for both of them.

Her father turned eagerly. “Let’s get moving! You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” He sighed at Katie. Then he jerked their suitcases from the airport trolley, swimmingly sliding them into the back of the van.

“Dad! Where’s the car?” Katie asked in a stupor.

“I changed it for a van to move the stock about. It’s great, left hand drive.”

Her parents settled in the front on grey leatherette seats. The van pulled off with a jolt and screeched, chased by a blaring horn. Katie slid about steadying herself on the nearby luggage and felt every bump and lump on the hot liquefied road.

Her mother asked. “What’s the state of the shop?”

“We should be able to open on time now that Kate and you’re here!” Her father smiled.

“Have you sorted out the racking,”

“Yeah! We just need to assemble it.”

“It’s all going well, then!”

“I’m glad you and Katie are now here to help!”

Her mother looked round. “I’m sure Katie will settle.”

Katie knitted her brows and took heed of every word of her parent’s conversation, eager to extract any detail that might impact upon her uncertain future. I’ve nothing in Spain. I’ve left everything back in London. Oh! I’ll have to learn Spanish! She felt a fur-ball developing in her throat. I’m not going to fit in here. I’ll be like a mute. I’ll have to go to a new school as well! Oh! I’ll end up with all the dumb kids. She looked out the rear window twisting her hair. She saw busy streets and crowded shops. Without any qualifications, I can’t go back to England. I’ll never be able to pass exams in Spanish. Her eyes flickered.

Katie shouted over her parent’s conversation. “Where’s the school dad?”

Her mother turned. “Katie, dad says there’re two buses to catch to go to school.”

Katie snapped. “That’s great!”

Katie’s father replied. “I thought you’d prefer the school in Murcia. The school is better than the local one.”

“So, I won’t know anybody in the village then?”

“I’m afraid so! You start in the autumn. But, you won’t have to wear a uniform.”

She fidgeted. Um, Yeah, that means I’ll have to wear uncool Spanish clothes when these wear out. Wot will happen, if my friend Amelia comes to stay. She’ll bring her wickedly handsome twin brother Craig. Why did mum promise! She panicked. Oh God! What a freak I’ll look! She glanced out of the van’s rear window, to see if there could be any redress living in Spain. She confirmed her prejudices; Spanish boys are freaky; hang on, look they’ve no dress sense; weirdo clothes, worse than uncool, like prehistoric - this is going to be purgatory, if not hell for me here.

Katie turned her head to look out of the van’s front windscreen to shed her concerns. “Dad! If this shop doesn’t work out, will we go back to London?”

“Don’t be so negative Kate. You’ll enjoy the sun and the sea. The house I’ve rented