Chapter 3 #3
“Oh, sure!” I rattled off the number.
He tapped on his phone, then said, “I just texted you, so you have mine too now. Ok?”
I nodded. “I better get back inside. I don’t really have a break now. Thank you again, for everything.”
He nodded too, and I felt all eyes on me again as I re-entered the NGS.
“Um, honey?” Martha asked me as I replaced her at the register. “Did you know that you have a price tag stuck to your cheek?”
∞
It was my day to drive Charlie and Darby over to the pool.
Thank goodness they were now in the same swim group—Tara and I could get each other’s backs and carpool.
I picked them up a little late, and after driving a maximum three MPH in the school parking lot as I scanned for errant children, I had to gun the Bronco to get to the pool on time.
Charlie couldn’t change with Darby in the car, so he scurried off to the locker room (“Slow down! No running!”) while I looked around the pool deck for Coach Sean.
He was talking to a group of swimmers about their weekends when I hesitantly tapped him on the shoulder. “Uh, Coach Sean? Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure,” he said. “Scram, you little monkeys.” The swimmers scattered. “What’s up, Emily? Are the boys bothering Charlie again?”
“No, no, he’s doing great. Thanks for asking.” I bunched my hands into fists inside my sweatshirt pocket. “I wanted to talk to you about the team monthly dues.”
“Sure,” he said again. “Did you want to switch to an automatic payment on your card or something?”
No, I didn’t want to do that, and he didn’t either if he actually wanted money from me. My plastic was no good anymore.
“No, no thank you. Um, I actually wanted to see if you guys ever offer scholarships. Or fee reductions, or anything like that.” I could feel my face getting red. Why was money so hard?
Coach Sean nodded slowly. “Well, what I can do is bring your request to the Board of Directors. They make all the money decisions for the team. They meet next week. Would that work for you?”
“Yes. Yes, that would be great. I don’t know if you’re aware of the family…
situation that we have going on right now, but things are really tight, and I would do just about anything to keep Charlie swimming because it means so much to him.
” The last part of the sentence came out in huge rush, like it was a single gigantic word.
Sean nodded again. “I can’t make any promises, but they’re reasonable people on the board. Let’s see what they say.”
I felt a little relief. “Ok, thank you again.”
“Sure.”
It had been my Nana who had gotten Charlie into swimming, first for lessons so he would be water safe when she took him to the beach, then when she saw how much he loved it, signed up for the team that practiced at the Athletic Complex.
Nana, who had never watched a swimming race in her life, not even the Olympics, would call me to report his times and splits, his progress in butterfly and problems with his dive (he was a flopper).
I searched around the internet to find good deals on suits and goggles (Nana was not a computer person) and had them shipped right to her.
When she had died, so had his swimming for a while.
Neither Mike nor Cassie had taken any interest. But now that I was there, and he was back in the pool, I wasn’t going to let anything keep him out of it.
Charlie joined the rest of the swimmers, swim cap strangely puffy like a latex chef’s hat. I saw that he hadn’t pulled it down over his ears. Luckily Ysabel with a Y was taking care of it.
I opened my phone to go through emails—the WIFI at the Athletic Complex was free and awesome.
∞
To:
From: Sharks Aquatics
Re: Weekly Update
Hi, Shark families!
Everyone ready for the meet this weekend? Please make sure to sign up for your timing shifts through the link on our homepage. And if you haven’t yet ordered your team suit and parka, you can do so through the link to our team store below. Team logo swim caps also available.
Our annual Shark Feeding Frenzy (team dinner) is coming up on the 14th at the home of the Whitaker/Rendics. Please give your checks to Annie Whitaker (Macdara’s mom). $40/adult, $25/child. This is not only a wonderful way for our families to socialize, but it’s a fundraiser for our team too!
Go Sharks!
∞
$65 dollars for dinner? I bit my lip. Maybe I could just have Charlie go with Tara. So only $25 that I didn’t have.
I mulled over what I could sell—did people still buy blood? Hair? Mine was pretty long.
∞
From: [email protected]
Re: checking in
Hi Emily!
Just wanted to let you know we are all thinking about you and hoping that you’re well. When you’re ready to come back, please let me know and let’s work on it together!
Best,
Mary Matson
∞
I stopped. Dr. Matson was one of my favorite professors ever and my grad school advisor. She had been the first person I had gone to when I decided to take a leave from the program, and the person who told me that there was no “taking a leave.” I was dropping out.
I was lost in thought when I heard a “Hi, Emily.”
Annie Whitaker stood next to me, in brand new running shoes, and really cute leggings. “How’s it going?” she asked me.
“Um, great,” I answered, tucking my phone into my purse. “How are you?”
“Busy with all the swim team stuff! There’s so much going on right now.”
“Yeah, I was just reading about the dinner.” I hesitated. “Does everyone come?”
“Almost everyone, and it’s really fun. You guys will be there, right? I’m hosting again this year and I’m going to really do it up.” She was pulling her shiny dark hair into a ponytail. It was the same color as Luke’s.
“I’m not sure yet. We may have plans on the—” Shoot, I couldn’t remember the date. “That day.”
She looked at me funny, and I knew I was blushing. I was probably one of the worst liars in the world.
“Well, I was going to go for a run, but I’d love to chat more. Want to walk around the track with me?”
I looked at Charlie. He didn’t need me to sit watching the practice. I had wanted to be there when the boys were being mean (no telling when I would have to haul a kid out of the water and beat his butt) but maybe we were past that.
“Sure, if you don’t mind. I actually used to run too, but I’m not really dressed for it today.”
Another mom walked up, decked out in spandex from head to foot. “Annie, ready?” she asked impatiently.
“Oh, that’s right— Kyra and I were going to work out a little. How about tomorrow? We could run on the track.”
“Uh, sure, I’ll bring my stuff.”
“Great!” Annie flashed me a brilliant smile with those perfect Whitaker teeth. Luke’s teeth. “See you after practice.”
I watched her walk off with her friend, their ponytails swinging in unison. They would have been a scary duo in high school.
I sat next to the wall, and balled up my jacket into a pillow to take a discreet nap. I only woke up when Tara poked me in the ribs.
“Pardon me, Cinderella?”
I rubbed my eyes and sighed. “I believe you mean, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Whatever, I hate all those princess movies. Some day my prince will come, my ass.” She threw her purse down. “What a day!” She launched into story about a difficult patient and his parents while I hunted in my purse for a mint to take the nap out of my mouth.
“Anyway,” Tara was wrapping up, “the doctor had to just tell the dad that I was right to begin with. So there!”
“Hmmm,” I said.
“Did you hear a word I said?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “How’s it working with the loaner car?”
“It’s great. I’m so lucky to have it.”
“Yeah, you’re super lucky to have an ancient, crappy car when your other ancient, crappy car left you stranded. By the way, why was the Eldorado parked at Roy’s anyway?”
I ignored the last question. “I mean I’m lucky to get a loaner at all! And Martha’s cousin is going to get back to me today with an estimate to fix the El D.”
The kids were getting out of the pool, laughing and shoving a little bit. One big boy shoved Charlie in the back. Hard. He went down on his knees on the tile.
“Hey!” The yell came out of my mouth before I could stop it. I rushed down the bleachers, almost tripping as I went.
Coach Sean had the pusher off to the side, and I could tell by the look on his face and the angry movement of his mouth that it wasn’t going well for that kid. Charlie was being comforted by Darby.
“Who is that little thug?” I asked angrily as we ducked under the metal bar onto the pool deck.
I reached Charlie and started to hug him, but he pulled away. “Em! I’m fine!”
“That’s Ellis Gassman. Neil’s son,” Tara answered me. “Charlie, you ok? Darby can kick his ass for you.”
“Mommy!” Darby protested.
Charlie looked at her with big eyes. “The A word,” he whispered.
“Charlie, let’s go,” I told him. “Get your equipment bag.” He scooped up the mesh bag with his flippers, snorkel, and gear.
We walked to the door, with me pulling clothes over Charlie’s head as we went. “Did you really want me to date someone with the last name ‘Gassman’?” I asked Tara quietly.
She laughed. “He has a boat too, did I mention that?”
On the way home, I asked Charlie why he thought Ellis had pushed him.
“Because he’s an ass,” Charlie explained confidently.
“Charlie Finn, do not use that word,” I said sternly.
“Emmy, I know all the swears. The A word, the B word, the C word…once Coach Sean said that in practice.”
“Coach Sean said the C word?” I yelped.
“Yes,” Charlie said. He lowered his voice. “Crap.”
Oh. That C word.
“The D word, the E word…” he continued.
“Wait a minute, what’s the E word?” I demanded.
He thought for a second. “I guess there’s no E word. Maybe I’ll make one up.”
I left him to it.
∞
Tuesday morning I dug through my clothes to look for something marginally not a rag to wear to run with Annie. My running shoes, which I wore every day to the NGS for comfort, were equally worn out. It didn’t matter, I told myself. It was a track, not a fashion show.