Relax. It won’t hurt us.

He keeps pacing anyway.

Meanwhile, I strip Luanne down to her diaper. Then I pull a pair of rubber pants over it and put an old T-shirt on her to protect her from the sun.

“Don’t you have any water wings for her?” Morgan asks.

I shake my head.

“So you gonna change or what?”

I pull off my T-shirt and shorts.

She stares at my pink one-piece. “That is one ugly bathing suit.”

I shrug. “It was a birthday present from my aunt a few years ago.”

“Little Mermaid almost makes sense when you’re ten.” She squints at my butt. “And it still fits?”

“Sad, right? I don’t go swimming much anyway, seeing as I don’t know how.”

“Yeah, well, the back’s worn clean through.” She shakes her head and turns to Luanne. “Come on, brat.” Luanne doesn’t seem to mind her new nickname. Morgan reaches for her hand and, smiling, Luanne takes it. Together they step down the stairs into the water.

I follow more slowly. Ahh! Perfect. If only I could learn to float on top of it.

Morgan dips Luanne down into the pool with her. Together they drift away from the edge.

Diesel runs back and forth nervously. Careful, careful!

“Okay. So show me what you can do,” Morgan says to me. “Try to swim to that side.” She points to the other side of the shallow end.

“I can’t get that far.”

“Try.” Meanwhile, she crouches down in the water near me, with Luanne gurgling and splashing.

I sink down and then run in the water, the way I learned in my single swimming lesson.

“You’re just treading water,” Morgan says.

Not even. I sputter as I sink.

“Stop, stop!” Morgan holds out her hand, and I death-grip it. “I know you have no coordination at all, but can you close your mouth when you swim?”

“Can you stop being so mean?” I snap.

“What? Did I say something we all don’t know?”

“I can’t help it — I’m a klutz. Just like you’re a dolt and can’t help that!”

Anger! Diesel barks loud and sharp at us. Fighting in the pack! I remember him barking like that when Mom and Dad fought.

“Quiet, Diesel!” He makes me regret yelling at Morgan.

“I am dumb.” Morgan shrugs.

I sigh. “Since we both agree we’re clumsy and stupid, can we stop telling each other? It’s bad for our self-esteem!”

Morgan snorts at that, which makes me crack up, too. Baby Luanne laughs along with us, happy to share a chuckle. Diesel stops barking and runs to the waterfall again.

“What I meant was,” Morgan explains, “it may be hard to move your hands and feet at the same time, but concentrate on closing your lips. You don’t want to swallow water.” She begins blowing bubbles with Luanne.

I blow along with them.

“See, when you blow bubbles, you’re pushing air out so the water can’t come in to your mouth. It’s the first thing they teach babies when they’re learning to swim.”