Why My Sister Has Swimming Lessons

Chapter 9

My sister couldn't do anymore. She had begged and came up with crazy excuses. But it was no use. We were on our way to the swimming pool, with our towels and swimming costumes packed into bright, colourful, chlorine-smelling bags. My mum and dad were saying that it would be fun. But I knew that it was going to be anything but fun, I tried so hard to make Charlie tell them her fear of water. But she was so stubborn. There's nothing else I could do.
We walked into the changing room that was drenched in the stench of chlorine and sweat. It was hot and stuffy, and to top it all I was feeling sick with worry. Charlie's hands were shaking as she tied up her hair into a high pony tail, for the 5th time.
"Ok girls lets go!" My mum said optimisticaly. We gave each other a look of disaproval.
"What are you going to do!?" I hissed.
"Just dip my legs in. Nothing's going to grab me round the ankle." She stifled a laugh, but I could tell how nervous she was, there was a tremble in her voice and her eyes were swimming with worry.

We came upon the turquoise coloured swimming pool, the people in it looked so happy, they were laughing like they had no worry in the world. However my sister and I were the complete opposite, we looked like we were going to a funeral, not a birthday party! I thought of the word again, funeral. What if this swimming pool is my sister's watery grave? What if no one can save her? Will she die? I wanted to collapse to the floor, make everything stop.

"Are you ok pet?" A warm hand placed on my shoulder, I turned round in shock, an old women was waiting to get in the pool. And then I realised I was holding up the queue.

"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry." I hesitated, I quickly walked off to catch up with Charlie who was standing a metre away from the pool side, her face was pale with worry. I slowly got in, the pool was cold; sending shivers up my spine.

"It's cold." I warned Charlie. She sat down and dipped her feet in the water.

"Lola I can't do it!" she cried.

"HEY!" A voice yelled from the deep end of the pool. It was our uncle and on his shoulders was Molly grinning and waving us to come over. The whole family was over in the deep side of the pool. Oh. My. God.

"Charlie! We're supposed to go over in the deep end!" I panicked. Everything seemed to be going wrong! One problem after another kept popping up. I decided to just let go, I couldn't do it anymore, I have been defeated by a fear that only me and my sister know about. I got out of the pool and worked over to the deep end, with Charlie behind me, she was scared and confused. I stopped at the pool side. I let Charlie get in first. She explained to my uncle that she wasn't going to get in because her eye make-up would smudge. My parents rolled their eyes.

"Just get in! It's fun!" Molly exclaimed.