fish of a scale, swim together

It began like a simple Tuesday. What should of been my most exciting day of high school. The day I would make sure i'd find real friends not the nice kind that said hi and bye and it never crossses their mind to invite you to their table, nor the kind that was their for one period and none in your others. This year I was determined to get some real, true friends. And for the first time ever I thought I had finally reached my goal, until the letter arrived.

FREEZE AND REWIND TO THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY.

"Wow you look like a dumpster" my little sister ,Sharlett, commented.

"That's because I'm related to you" I snapped back, while loosening my bathrobe. Mom still believed that pajamas were to be seen only in bed and nowhere else. Me I kept up with the order as best as I could, which wasn't much.

" kids do you want your mother to come up and swap you dry for the week" dad was the one who said this. His back facing us and already dressed for his normal morning office attire. Did he ever swim? I swear the only times I ever see him swimming was during family get- togethers.

" no" we rang together

" Your mother should be coming up any minute now" As if right on que she arrived, her hair wraped in a towel and her body in a yellow, bohemian style dress.

" Hey girls" she called while bending down to dry her hair.

"Mom! Maria said I look like a dumpster just because i'm related to her." Sharlett whined.

" no I did not "

" yes you did just like when you told me I was annoying."

" that was yesterday!" Jeez this girl could remember every lickin she ever lost. I swear if a random person ever went up to her and won her in a game of heads and tails and then they saw each other three years later she'd demand a rematch of that very same game.

"mom I was just trying to counter with Sharletts accusation that I looked liked a dumpster."

Mom sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, tangling it along the way, so she gave up

"girls if you don't remember, which you probably don't, you two made a promise last night that if you two were not to fight in the mourning before school started. I would let you two go out and swim." Silence "Well I guess since both of you broke the promise then their will be no swimming for either of you." She pointed out. Two fingers, emphasizing us.

" -no no wait no" Sharlett called trying to stop mom from making a final tie to the statement, but lost on how to change moms mind. Luckily this is where my older sister brains come in.

" Mom, if Sharlett and I say we're sorry to each other, both of us, then, maybe could we....go?" The last part came out as a plea, but I just really needed to take a swim. Swimming was like a my mourning coffee. I needed it

Mom's eyebrows shot up, but instantly her eyes regained calmness.

"Maybe" but it was a highly unlikely maybe, but still any maybe was a shot to me. Instantly I turned toward my disbelieving sister and as we'll-mannered and womanly as I could I said. "I am so sorry for my harsh response a few minutes ago."

Sharlett just kept staring at me as if she wasn't sure who I was anymore. Like I was a undercover agent who had switched places with her nazi sister.

" I'm sorry too" her voice travelled to a quiet murmur almost like she was so tired to even lift a vowel.

" and that you two forgive each other. " mom said

A longer silence past between us, but it had to be done.