Mark stood there confused about what was going on. Where was Amy and why was Lina a mermaid?
Lina took off her pearl necklace and tossed it to Mark, who caught it.
"Put on the pearls and you can join me as a mermaid!" she said.
"Um..."
Just then, Mark heard the back door slide open and out walked Amy wearing a skirt and a bikini top.
"Hey Mark. I guess you've seen Lina's surprise..."
Mark turned to her, still holding the pearl necklace.
"Where did you get that???" Amy asked.
"Lina just threw it to me. She wants me to put it on."
"Hi Amy!" said Lina from the pool in a dreamy voice.
"Don't put that on!" Amy warned Mark.
Turning to Lina, she asked "If you took off your necklace how are you still a mermaid?"
"Because being a mermaid is amazing!"
"Will someone explain to me what's going on?" said Mark.
"Me and Lina got pearl necklaces at a magical shop we found. The necklace turns you into a mermaid when you wear it. I wanted to surprise you."
"I'm certainly surprised!" admitted Mark.
"Not quite the kind of surprise I was hoping for."
"So why is Lina still a mermaid if she took her necklace off?"
"I don't know. She put the necklace on while we were still in the car and there was a warning not to wear it unless you were submerged in water. It seemed like it was just good advice because the transformation was painful without water, but now I'm thinking it might have some other side effects."
"Or maybe she just wont change back until she drys off?" suggested Mark.
"Maybe. Hopefully. I don't know how we'd explain it to her parents otherwise."
Mark wrapped his arms around Amy in a comforting hug.