Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Author:Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich [Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2022-01-04T00:00:00+00:00

THE BRIGHT COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING didn’t look large enough to hold a pool inside, but here it was, deep and wide and smelling very chloriney. Mama Hope handed them off to Mum, who seemed to be carefully avoiding Bo’s eyes. A small group of little kids was practicing their kicks with foam boards, and the Twins immediately went over to a cluster of teenagers who were nonchalantly diving into the bright green water at the deep end. Bo heard a lot of giggling and “You can do it”s as she and Sunday followed Mum to the bleachers. That Hooray Summer! joy was everywhere, except in Bo’s heart at the moment. Was there such a thing as a summer grinch, she wondered? Because if there wasn’t, she was going to invent it right this second.

As the Twins rejoined them, Coach Miguel grabbed Bo’s hand and smiled a wide smile that showed a lot of teeth.

Please don’t say it, please don’t say it.

“Welcome!” he said. “Splash Fit is glad to have you.”

Of course he said “Welcome.” Bo glared at Mum, who looked away. She could see her sisters’ lips twitching out of the corner of her eye.

“You two go ahead,” said Sunday to the Twins. “I’ll see you after my test.”

After they left, Bo and Sunday followed Mum as she walked with Coach Miguel to the office. He picked up a clipboard.

“So, Sunday,” he said. “Ready for your Shark test?” Sunday grinned and nodded, and he sent her over to a light-skinned woman with short locs who was wearing what looked like a scuba diving suit. Before she left, Sunday gave Bo an extra hand squeeze.

“So, Bo, I understand from your mom here that you’ve been taking lessons at Riverdale Road pool, but she thought you might want to…refine your technique. What level did you last test on?”

“Swimming’s not really my main thing,” said Bo, trying to sound casual. “I mean, I’m at just the right level for me. I’m more of a landlubbing type. Salt of the earth, you know?” Coach Miguel just looked at her. “Yeah, I’m a real city girl, keeping it concrete.” Mum rolled her eyes and exchanged a glance with Coach Miguel.

“I got you,” he said. “And you’re in luck, because we specialize in…salt of the earth city kids here.” He gave her the same look Mrs. Dougie gave Dougie when he said he didn’t know how melted chocolate had gotten all over his face. “I’m just going to do a little assessment to make sure we match you up with the right instructor.”

“Could you excuse us for a moment, please, sir?” she said politely. When Coach Miguel smiled bigger and nodded, she pulled Mum aside. “Come on, Mum! This is hopeless! And also not fun! And also something I really, really don’t want to do!”

Mum patted her shoulder. “You know how some things are nonnegotiable? This is one of those. You are swimming. Here. I was so glad when I found out this place was within walking distance.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.