CHAPTER 1  GECKO-SIZED LESSONS

 

   

  "Um... I think I've made a mistake," said Fitz the gecko. He was hanging onto a gecko-sized pool floatie with all his might.

  On the beautiful island of Sol, the weather was perfect for the ultimate fun in the sun. The neighborhood pool was packed as kids splashed around and enjoyed the heat.

  Well, except for Fitz, Isla thought.

  He was trying something brand new--swimming lessons.

  Though geckoes weren't natural swimmers, Fitz wasn't your average reptile. He was known for eating way too many human sweets and going on exciting adventures with Isla. Oh, and there was the fact that he and Isla could actually speak to each other.

   

  "Honestly, I think this is your best idea yet," Isla said, smearing sunscreen all over her face, arms, and legs. She wore her favorite seashell swimsuit for this special moment.

  "If you say so..." Fitz still looked unsure as he sat on the floatie they'd found at the Adventure Shack. They were lucky that Mama's shop had everything you could imagine in stock.

  Isla finished tying her hair in a bun, then slipped into the pool's refreshing water.

  "All right--listen up!" she instructed. "All you have to do is hold on tight to the floatie, then kick as fast as a hummingbird's wings! Got it?"

  "Like this?" Carefully, Fitz kicked his feet.

   

  "Even faster," Isla said. "Pretend a shark is chasing you!"

  "AH!" Fitz shouted. Scrunching up his face, he kicked as quickly as he could. "I'm doing it! I'm moving! Well, I think I'm doing it."

   

  Isla couldn't help but giggle. "Well... you're definitely doing something."

  Fitz hadn't moved an inch.

  "Why don't you watch me?" Isla suggested.

  But before she could take off, a sound made everyone in the pool pause.

  Ding! Ding! Ding!

  All at once, every kid stopped what they were doing. The splashes came to a halt, and no one jumped from the diving board.

   

  "I know that sound!" one kid gasped, taking off his goggles.

  "Can it be?" a girl with floaties asked.

  A woman wearing an apron rolled a metal cart into the pool area. She parked herself in the dining section, then popped open a striped umbrella attached to the cart.

   

  "Helado! Ice cream!" she called out as she rang a little bell. "Come get your ice cream!"

  "It's Free Ice Cream Friday!" Isla and Fitz squealed at the same time.

---

Excerpted from Marina's Turf by Dela Costa
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.