Caterpillars Can't Swim by Liane Shaw

Author:Liane Shaw [Shaw, Liane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781772600544
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2017-09-06T15:25:02+00:00

Seventeen

The rest of the school year crawled along at its usual breakneck speed, making it seem like summer was never going to come.

Not that summer is as exciting as it used to be when we were younger. Cody and Jack have both been working pretty much full-time since classes ended, so right now I’m not seeing much of either of them. I was supposed to try to get a job this year, too, but my mom took pity on me and said I should spend the time getting better and working on my swimming instead. I wasn’t sure what I was going to be able to find in town anyway. I can’t exactly clear tables at the Supe, like Jack. The aisles in that place are narrow, and I’d be knocking waitresses over left and right.

Most of the stores in town have the same kids who come back year after year, and there are seldom any new job options. And if there were, I’d probably not be their first choice. There isn’t exactly stellar accessibility in our town yet, except in the bigger chain stores out on the highway, which isn’t close enough to get to without help. I suppose if I really took the time to go in and talk to a few managers, I’d find someone willing to try to figure out something for me, but for this summer, I’m happy with the reprieve.

My shoulder feels more like it’s slogging through mud than slicing through the water, so even though I managed to get back in to a couple of team practices before the year ended, I mostly worked by myself off to one side while Steve gave me the stink eye from the other side of the pool. I’m trying not to panic, trying to believe Cody when he says that I’m improving. I know I have to be patient, that if I work it the wrong way, I’ll just make things worse and I won’t even get back on the team full-time by fall.

Assuming I’m still around in the fall. First I have to survive a road trip with two guys who want to be anywhere but with each other.

Jack’s level of enthusiasm for the trip didn’t exactly increase with time, but he didn’t back out either. Which is good, I guess.

Cody has finally stopped bitching about Jack coming with us, but he apparently has strong opinions about the rest of my plan.

“No way! I already booked us a motel.”

“I didn’t know you were going to do that. I’ve already talked to Jacob and he’s expecting us.”

“His parents are expecting us you mean.”

“Well, yeah, they’ll be there too. It’s their house. Jacob is a good guy. You’ll like him.” I don’t know if that’s true or not. I haven’t actually seen him in years.

“I’m sure your friend is very nice and everything, but this is our trip. We didn’t plan on parental supervision when we talked about it last fall. It’s enough that your friend Jackie baby is coming.

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