Malachy Norman's Diary

## Malachy Norman

### March 23rd

It's my final year at Outer Banks junior high! The cheer team promoted me to lead flyer, which means I'll be flying highest at all the sports games this year. Lily Kelp has been training me to keep my balance and do some crazy flips in the air! I've been trying to impress the new quarterback on the football team, Ridley Hatteras. He's a seasnake gorgon and watching him practice doesn't just make me do flips, but my stomach! I caught him looking at me while I was practicing a back finspring, but I don't know if it was my imagination that he blushed or not. I guess we'll find out at the end of the year game! For now, Lily just brought me a seaweed salad (my favorite food!) to gain some energy before we start today's practice. I'll write in you again soon, diary!

### April 30th

I'm quitting school. The end of the year game was the worst event ever.

### May 1st

Haha, sorry diary. I wasn't having a good day yesterday. I've gotten some rest and gotten my energy back so I can explain what happened at the game.

It's the beginning of fishing season in the Outer Banks right now, which means there are all sorts of Normies up top looking to snag a sea monster to tell their friends and family about all of us. Usually, we have tons of security keeping watch and placing "Do not fish" signs in the area. This year, though, the principal must have forgotten or just let it slide, because there was no security and no signs to prevent Normies from getting too close.

Lily and the other cheerleaders had gone in for the big finale. Halftime was almost over so this was my big moment to get Ridley to notice me. What we didn't notice was the fishing boat right above my head as we swam up for my jump, where I'd breach the surface of the water. Right as I let my face high the air, a harpoon flew right past me and onto the field. I was horrified and immediately swam home. Not knowing what's on top? That's terrible! I decided I'd stay above the surface from then on, keeping myself from almost getting hooked again.

### July 7th

Hey diary! It's been a while. I wasn't really feeling too good after my last entry. Mom's been looking for new schools to transfer into. I skipped the last week of junior high. Ridley's been talking to me a lot, recently. He told me the other day that he always saw me looking at him from across the field (embarrassing!) and that he would always stare back. I think he might like me too?

I've been staying in a home away from home cave. It's in the lake, just away from the water. It's a little cove under the ground where a waterfall goes right through the wall. I can stay dry in my room. Mom's been with me, rather than with my sisters, for the whole time I've been cooped up here. I feel a little bad, but I really don't want to go back into the water again. I'll write again later. Bye.

### August 13th

And we're back! Hi again, diary. Mom finally found a place! It's called Monster High, and it's supposed to be for monsters looking for a place to fit in. I think a sea monster who can't stand the water belongs there, don't you? Lily told me she didn't want to be friends with a scaredy-catfish anymore, so that stinks. Ridley said he was planning on going to Monster High too, but probably after me. His parents aren't really on board with a monster boarding school yet. Mom said that my boarding status qualifies me for a roommate, but because of all my requests, they haven't found a match for me yet. If Ridley comes along, maybe we could be roommates!

We're driving up to the giant school now. I don't know when my next entry will be, but probably no time soon. I have to get to making friends! Bye, diary!