Girl Sam backed up and took a couple quick steps, then jumped and shot down the slide. Lying flat, she sped around the first corner, her body flying up so high I worried she’d be launched over the side. Instead, she just gently slid back down. I bit my nail; Girl Sam screamed happily. She wound around three more turns, then shot out of the bottom into the pool below, emerging laughing, her drenched hair stuck to her face.

I walked over to where Boy Sam and Izzy were doubled over laughing, too, waiting for Girl Sam. I got there just as she climbed out of the water; the lifeguard appeared.

“I told you already, no running starts,” the angry-looking girl said.

“Sorry,” Sam said. “Won’t happen again.” She smiled at all of us.

“This is your last warning,” the lifeguard said before walking away.

“Busted!” Izzy said. He looked at me. “Hey, Tess. You’re up!”

“Uh . . .”

“It’s fun!” Boy Sam said.

“He did it backward last time,” Girl Sam said, pointing at Boy Sam. “It was lit.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder and wrung it out like a towel. “Just stay loose, and you’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” I said, not wanting a turn but not wanting them to think I was chicken either.

“I’ll hold your towel,” said Girl Sam, reaching for it. Reluctantly, I handed it over.

Walking to the steps that led to the slide, Mean Me showed up.

Your suit is up your butt right now and Izzy can see! Gross!

You’re going to forget to inhale at the bottom and drown in front of everyone.

Why are you doing this instead of just saying you don’t want to? What a pathetic wimp! Stand up for yourself!

With every step up the slide, my knees grew weaker. I was afraid of heights, afraid of drowning, afraid of everything. I felt like I might throw up my breakfast, and the fear of throwing up got in line with the other fears. By the time I made it to the top, my heart was pounding and my palms were clammy. I considered going back down the steps, but then I saw Izzy’s huge, excited smile.

“No running starts,” the lifeguard said sternly. “Or jumping.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said.

“Go, Tess!” Izzy shouted, and the Sams cheered.

I looked out over the lazy river. Some of the other kids from camp were looking up at me, too, including Jackie, who was lying on a lounge chair in a rainbow bikini. My one-piece felt like a snowsuit compared to what all the other girls were wearing.

I’d bought this suit with Colette last summer. She’d had the same one in purple. We’d loved them so much.

Why aren’t you here right now?

“More kids are coming up,” the lifeguard said. “You need to go.”