“Hey ducky, where you paddling off to now?” Marti giggled, her golden laugh echoing through my eardrums as I thrashed over to the docks. Panting, I struggled clumsily up onto the wooden planks, water streaming loudly off of me and all my floatation gimmicks. Marti glided easily through the water and pulled herself gracefully up onto the dock.
“You ok?” She twisted her fingers through long, dark hair wringing out the salty water. She was Venus from the sea, her every movement the emblem of agility. I flopped on my back, kicking off my “duck feet”.
“Sure, what could be wrong? I just about drowned out there.” I wrinkled my nose. Marti sighed and sat down next to me, her long legs hanging over the edge of the dock.
“Meg, you never take any risks. I mean come on. You took swim lessons for two years and you still won’t take off those ridiculous floaties! Do you really need them?”
I tugged at the puffy yellow things on my arms, and readjusted my flippers.
“I guess not, but I don’t like the idea of it just being me out there. In a pool there’s people everywhere and a lifeguard and everything. Here it’s just you and all the sharks.”
Marti laughed again, and helped me up. “Megan, there aren’t any sharks around, I promise. And I would never let anything happen to you. Plus, my dad’s inside about a hundred feet away and there’s always boats going by.” I bit my lip, unconvinced. “Just try it.” She smiled encouragingly, those deep sea blue eyes gleaming bright and kind. “You’ll never make it out to the island in all those, and besides,” She tilted her head like a puppy. “Swimming isn’t the same with them on. You can’t feel free.” She turned to face the clear blue water, her eyes closed. She looked liked Lady Liberty, so wild and independent. I gave in.
“Oh ok. I’ll be in, in a minute.”
