“I’m not a baby!”

“I never said you were. Sheesh. I just meant it was an easy baby step.” She shakes her head. “Instead of standing straight up in the water, try leaning forward and make your hands run, too, like a dog.”

Mouth closed is not all that easy. I have to focus on breathing through my nose. But when both my feet and hands churn, I move forward a little before I sink.

Careful! Diesel leaps into the water and swims over. Look at me. Watch my paws.

“I can’t believe he did that,” Morgan says. “It’s like he wanted to show you how.” She shakes her head.

“Or save me.” I’m fine, I tell him with my thoughts and guide him over to the stairs. I don’t want him to drown while I figure out swimming. He scrambles out and shakes himself.

“Okay, let’s try something different. The dog-paddle is too much work,” Morgan says. “How about the breaststroke? Way easier. Here’s what I want you to do.” She sits Luanne on the edge of the pool and puts her own hands together, prayer-style, at the top of her chest. Then she pushes out and opens her arms. Luanne reaches her arms out, mimicking her. “Don’t even bother with your legs right now. Just scrunch down and practise the move. No, no! Push the water away with your palms!”

Luanne leans over.

“Watch out!” I call.

Morgan turns. Too late — Luanne face-plants into the pool.

“Woof!” I must save the human pup! Diesel jumps in.

Morgan ducks down after the baby. The water pushes against my legs as I run toward them. Too slow! I’ve heard how quickly little kids can drown.

Like with my watch, time stops. The world quits turning. What’s taking Morgan so long?

I run with the force of my drowning memory pushing against me. A picture flashes across my mind, Baby Luanne blue-faced at the bottom of the pool.

Diesel thrashes madly toward them.

This is taking too long. Has Morgan knocked her head on the bottom? What about Luanne’s heart? Can she take this kind of scare?

I can’t swim. I can’t save them. My heart pounds.

Finally their heads reappear. Luanne blinks hard and coughs. Diesel, of course, barks.

We’re okay!

Luanne starts to cry.

Morgan pats Luanne’s back. “There, there,” she says stiffly. “You’re fine.”

“We have to go home,” I say. Diesel and I climb up the pool stairs together.

“Oh, come on,” Morgan calls. “Luanne was under the water for like two seconds.”

Was it really only a couple of seconds?

Time counting stops. Diesel’s thoughts.

What does that even mean? I wonder.

Until we’re safe, he repeats.

All of us, even Luanne? I ask.

Our pack. Everyone.

I snap, “She could have died, Morgan!”

“Shhh! Stop!” Morgan’s eyebrows push together and she gives me a look. Then she softens her voice. “You just had a little scare, right, Luanne? That should teach you better than to jump in.”