the walls, the pool water, like a puddle of medical dye. Mr. Blink leans against
the bleachers and twirls the cigar at his lip. I remove my clothes and heap them
behind me. When I sit, the pool water chills me, wrapping around my thighs
through my thin boxers. I remove the gun from my jean pocket and empty its
bullets into the pool water, wondering how the community center will react upon
finding the bullets in the morning, and how Mr. Blink is reacting right now. I look
at him and he only smiles as if to say, ‘You intrigue me.’
I dive into the water after the bullets, shuddering as the pool devours me
whole. Every time I hit the water I wonder if I can really swim or if I’ll drown. Even
during swim meets it feels like my heart stops underwater. I often look at the
bodies that dart forth on either side of me and wonder if anyone would stop to
save me.
When I rise, drops of water sliding down my cheeks, Mr. Blink applauds. I
laugh and lean back on the edge of the pool.
“Beautiful, boy,” he says. “Beautiful dive.”
“Thank you,” I say. I toss the hair on my forehead back and splatter the
poolside. Mr. Blink’s lips part and with the sound of rising steam he blows a chain
of smoke. He crouches beside me, removing his cigar.
“Would you like to come home with me tonight, my boy?” he asks.
“Would you drive me somewhere first?” I ask him. He twiddles the cigar
between his lips, blows a cloud of smoke and reaches for my clothing. I pull
myself from the water onto the floor beside him, flopping into my own chlorine
puddle. When I sit up, he hands me my shirt and I dry myself with it.
“Anywhere,” he says. His voice is calm, as if we’ve talked like this for
years, when really this is the first time I’ve taken him up on his offer. I wonder
how he isn’t giddy from finally having his dreams fulfilled, and I almost worry
about what more he could want.
“Then I’ll go with you,” I say. He smiles, his long teeth balancing on one
another, locked together perfectly.
“I’ll be in my car.” He walks to the door as I continue to dress. I ignore the
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