AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s because it was only one lesson and I kicked the instructor in the nuts when he tried to push me into the water. My mom took me home after he was incapacitated and couldn’t continue the lesson.”
My eyes widened, and for a moment, I regretted my spontaneous decision. She smiled at the look on my face. Oh, no. Grace Sweeney would not get out of this that easily. I jogged a few feet deeper into the dark lake, raised my arms above my head, and dove in—white t-shirt, gray shorts, and all. The splash was the last thing I heard before the rush of the water.
I broke through the surface and shook out my wet hair before slicking it back.
She stared at me, then cleared her throat. “That was a nice dive. Are we done yet?”
“No. We’re not. Come on in. The water’s warm.”
“It’s not the temperature of the water I’m worried about. It’s the depth and likeliness of losing my air supply.”
“You’re not going to drown.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “That’s it. You put it into the universe. I’m done. I’m definitely not getting into the water now.”
“You’re not superstitious, are you?”
“No. I’m practical. I don’t need to know how to swim.”
“What if one day you’re thrown overboard?”
“I promise you, that won’t ever happen.”
Silence. Then I began…
“Bock, bock, bock.”
“Are you making chicken noises?”
I could see the indignation steam from her ears. She would throttle me if she could. Maybe it would spur her into the water. “Bock,” I said, more quietly this time.
“I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“Neither do I. I don’t think the fish will care.”
Her eyes grew twice as big. “There are fish?”
I thought it best to avoid answering that question. “That’s not even your shirt. You can change into your regular clothes once the lesson is over.”
“Are you even certified to give lessons?”
I shook my head. Grace Sweeney only did things by the book. “Why don’t you live a little and get a swimming lesson from an uncertified instructor? The thrill is unbelievable,” I deadpanned.
“This really—” she started and I threw my best bait.
“I get it. You suck at this and you won’t do something unless you’re perfect at it. Afraid someone may judge you for it.”
She fell for it hook, line and sinker. Maybe because it was the truth. She marched down the grass and onto the sand, her arms swinging at her sides. Her mouth formed a straight line, and her face was as gray as the lake. When her toes splashed the water, she froze. And the angry woman became a terrified little girl. Her eyes rounded and her chest started heaving. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.
Something pounded within my chest, and I moved quickly to grasp her hands. “It’s all right. I’m right here. You can do this.”
When her hands began to tremble, I interlaced them with my fingers. “We don’t have to move much further than this if you don’t want to.”
She nodded but stared at her legs. The water reached her ankles and I could see her pink toenail polish peeking out between the sand. When she looked up, she nodded again and took another step forward.
“That’s it,” I coaxed.
Her hands trembled again and she bit her lip. I wanted to take her fear away. “Look at me.” When she kept her head down, I brought my finger to her chin and raised her head. “Look at my eyes.” Her eyes were a deep brown shade. I could lose myself inside them if this wasn’t Grace Sweeney.
