As I ran into the ocean, I heard Andy screaming hysterically from behind
me, yelling for me to stop. I kept on going. The only thought in my
head was to get to the twins, and get them safely to shore. As I threw
myself down on my boogie board and began paddling out toward the boys, I
also heard the lifeguard's incessant shrill whistling. I kept on going.
* * *
Back on shore, Andy was standing in the surf, still screaming for me to
come back.
Finally Boner got in his face and yelled at him "SHUT UP ANDY! AND
LISTEN!"
Andy stopped screaming and looked at him.
Steve grabbed Andy by both shoulders and looked him in the eye and said
"John's a lifeguard! He and Mike got certified last summer and worked
here as lifeguards all summer! John knows what he's doing! He'll be
OK!"
Andy stared at Steve for a minute, thinking, then looked a little
relieved and said, "That's right! Mike wrote that in his journals! Oh
Thank God!"
Andy broke away from Steve then and shaded his eyes and looked out to
sea, watching my progress, as I got closer to the twins. He didn't
notice Steve and the others looking at him.
Mitchell, who had run over to the lifeguard, to explain that I was going
out after the boys, and that I would be OK, because I'd been a guard the
previous year, ran up to the group just then. He heard what Andy had
said, and was looking at Andy too.
"Mike kept a journal?" Steve asked Andy, finally.
Suddenly, Andy realized that in his panic, he'd told the guys about
Mike's journals, which I'd asked him not to tell anyone about. He looked
at Steve, and then saw that everyone else was looking at him too.
"I don't suppose you guys could just forget I said that?" he asked,
looking at them.
"No, I thought not," Andy said, as they all remained silent, and just
continued to stare at him. "I wasn't supposed to say anything about
them. I wouldn't have, if I weren't so scared about John! JOHN!"
Andy turned quickly then and looked to sea again, scanning the waves for
me.
"WHERE IS HE?" Andy yelled, when he didn't see me.
"He's there," Pete said, pointing at me, as a wave settled, and I
appeared behind it.
"Thank God!" Andy said. "Why haven't they sent out more help?"
"They can't. There're other people caught in the same rip tide further
up. They're all busy," Mitchell said. "They'll be alright. John's used
