Lifeguard

Chapter Three

I arrive at familiar Rainier.

I've been going to Rainier since I was born and everything has been exactly the same for the entire 17 years. Towels are still the same color (though I'm hoping replaced), soap in dispensers is honey dew melon scented (smells a lot better than it sounds) and pool chairs even set up in same patterns. I even think they still have the pair of goggles I left here when I was 12 in the lost and found. All in all, I've had some pretty great memories here. I've had 6 birthday parties here, lost a tooth here, almost drowned, and broke my leg when I slipped while running. Okay, well, maybe not all good, but at least some were funny.

I walk down the semi-steep hill and into the main office. Marie the manager sits at her desk in her usual spot slurping a diet Coke. His gray hair in braids for the summer.

"Hey Marie." I say trying to sound cheery.

"Miss Robin, glad to see you're on time." She says, getting up.

I rock back and forth on my heels anxiously. "Yup." Truthfully, I have no idea why I'm nervous. I've known this lady for 10 years. "First day right?" She asks. "Yup, I-I mean yes." My father always told me I say 'Yup' too much. Today was not a day for mistakes. She looks me up and down probably wondering why I showed up in just a bikini, this makes me self conscious and I feel myself blush. "Now, uh, next time just show up in some swim shorts with a bikini underneath." I nod, "Sorry I woke up really late and-" she holds up a bony finger. "Sweetheart it's okay, don't apologize." I look down at my feet and resume rocking back and forth. I have to force myself to stop. "Now at Rainer, you know there are always two lifeguards on duty. You know your days: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My nephew Nathaniel is on your shift so you'll be paired with him for the summer. Don't worry, he doesn't bite." I grinned nervously wondering who this Nathaniel was. Hopefully not some jerk in board shorts.

Marie shuffled over to the women's locker room. "Obviously you've been here before but it'll be your job on your days to put all our towels in the bin, report anythin' important to the lost and found and mop a bit. Nathaniel's in charge of the Men's, you the Women's." I nodded, 'This should be easy.' I thought.