SOLVED. Child/YA short story: a boy's fingernails start falling off and more growing. [s]

[Hope]

I read it in 1999 or 2001

I think he found his nails were falling off then growing back, then he grew them all over his body.

SPOILERS


He discovers at the end that his mum is a mermaid.

[Cat]

I believe this is a Paul Jennings story called 'Nails' from the short story collection Unbearable! .
Was also made into an episode of the TV series Round the Twist.

Wiki Description
Nails
A boy gets stranded on an island with his father. But he has three other problems: one, he has never seen his mother; two, he is forced to watch his father die; and three, he has nails growing all over him. Was later adapted as an episode of Round The Twist.

[Hope]

Paul Jennings! Awesome, thank you!