“You’re kidding me, right?” she says. She starts to push the stroller faster, hurrying toward our gate, Diesel following her and dragging me along. “All the more reason to dump the dog and head for the pool.”

“Have you been listening? What part of secret do you not understand?”

“Simon might like teaching you,” she calls back as she bumps open our gate with Luanne’s stroller. “We know he likes tiny. Maybe it would make him feel big and strong, like Uncle Lurch. Maybe he likes helpless girls.”

“I’m not helpless. And I don’t want the cool high school girls thinking that. You’ve got my back, remember?” I unlock the door and let Diesel in. Then I take the stroller from Morgan.

She frowns. “Fine, no lessons in public. A bit trickier. Wait a minute! I have the perfect idea. I know where I can teach you how to swim. No one will ever have to know.”

I have a feeling I’m not going to like her solution. When do I ever? But what choice do I have? Lessons at the community centre are out. Dad throwing me off some dock? Really, I have run out of options.

9

Saturday, June 26:

The First Swimming Lesson

The best part of Morgan’s idea is that Diesel and Baby Luanne can come. No one will be around to insist Luanne wears a special swim diaper, the kind that Aunt Cathie may not have or want to buy. Diesel won’t have to be tied up outside.

We’re going to a pool that her uncle is looking after for the summer. According to Morgan, Lurch likes it to be used because the splashing and movement keep the chemicals stirred up so the water doesn’t go green. Not sure I believe we have permission, since we’re not allowed to go inside to use the bathroom.

“Ya gotta just hold it. If you pee in the pool, there’s a chemical that will turn the water red around you.”

“That’s a myth,” I tell her.

But just in case, on Saturday morning I go to the bathroom twice before Morgan arrives.

“We’re going swimming, Luanne. You’re going to love it!”

“Rawf!” Me, too! I love water running! It’s so refreshing.

Even though Aunt Cathie has the day off, we’re taking my baby cousin because Mom and my aunt are packing together. It’s official: they decided on the ride to work together with Dad yesterday that we’re moving in with her the first week of July. This is a whole different path from the last time through. Mom never told me about not making rent then. She was just endlessly mad at Dad.

But Mom isn’t happy about moving, either. I hear her sighing as she empties cupboards — cupboards she lovingly painted white against a sunny yellow wall.

It’s as if she’s leaving a best friend instead of a townhouse rental. And she tossed Dad out so easily!

He should be helping, because I hear Mom and Aunt Cathie badmouthing him. Something they couldn’t do if he were here. What did Morgan say about her parents? They could never see anything good in each other. Maybe Dad needs some help showing his good side. He’s sweet and kind, but he sometimes doesn’t know when and how to pitch in.