The Tower by Lynn Moon

Author:Lynn Moon
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633933705
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2015-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

A SIMPLE THING

IT WAS MIDDLE MAY, and in just a few weeks, classes would end for the summer. I’d been in that school for several months now, and every day my fear and anticipation of what would happen to me grew stronger, making my life even more miserable. To make matters worse, my dad drove me to school every morning; a requirement at DA. I already accepted the fact that he hated me and didn’t want me living with him. It was the only explanation I could come up with. We hardly ever said a word to each other, other than three: good morning or good evening.

One good thing; no one messed with my replacement saddle. Unfortunately, my damaged one sat openly at the stable’s entrance as a reminder to all students that the administration was watching. I wasn’t sure if it accomplished that. However, it did remind me of my total embarrassment on a day that I’d rather forget.

Our term for tennis had ended, and since every end followed with a start, it was time for swimming. The school provided our swimsuits—black with a red stripe running along both sides. At my old school, I was on the swim team. Although I never won a race, I never came in last either. Just before lunch, instead of changing into shorts, I now had to change into a tight elastic swimsuit. Yuck. It looked like something my grandmother would wear.

Spinning the dial on the gym locker several times, I wanted to make sure it locked. I did not need any more vulgarity written inside my textbooks. I could hardly read the words now. Kera and Jessie walked by, giggling. As always, I knew their pleasure came at my expense. Again, I didn’t know why.

The steam from the indoor pool covered the windows blocking the wonderful sunlight. Why does a gym have windows if they’re just going to steam up anyway? My towel refused to stay on the hook, so I tossed it onto a nearby bench. The coach waved for me to hurry.

“We have a lot to go over girls,” she yelled. “Please take your seats.”

Sitting down at my assigned place on the cold metal bench, the coolness tickled the back of my legs. At the same time, it felt a little warm. What an odd sensation. Behind me, Kera and Jessie laughed. I glanced around. I couldn’t figure out what was so funny. As Joe had suggested, I just ignored them.

“Okay class, settle down. Today we’re going to work on our breast stroke.” The instructor demonstrated how to move our arms, and the girls behind me giggled even more. She did look funny flinging her arms in the air. I smiled. “Katie and Petunia, you two were on a swim team before. Come up here and demonstrate the stroke for us.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Katie said, jumping up from the bench and skipping over to the instructor.

Her eagerness to impress everyone rubbed me the wrong way. Refusing to be last, I too jumped up.

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