The whistle blew once, it was a 5 minute warning. We swam as fast as we could to the pools edge and waited impatiently in line to get out of the pool just to wait in another line to jump off the diving board.

Standing at the edge of the pool, I was shivering more so with anticipation than being cold. The diving board line was so long no way I’d make it before the double whistle. I stood in line line, water dripping down my back and slightly tapping my toe, speed talking to a friend.

Whhhhoooooot Whhhhoooooot. The double whistle. All children out of the pool it is time for adult swim. All children must exit the pool it is time for adult swim. Shoulders dropped, speech slowed down and the kids looked around for how to kill time.

Woman clad in their bathing suits with the straps dangling off their shoulders and zinc stripes on their noses but baby oil everywhere else moved slowly from their lounge chairs to dip their toes in the pool.

We watched them from the sidelines begging the 10 minutes to move a lot faster than they were.

I’d made my way to the concession stand and the usual crisis played in my mind: nerds or bit o honey. Nerds or bit o honey. Nerds or bit o honey.

Come on! Not this again! Pick one. Cicely’s voice broke my concentration. In a panic I yelled out far too loudly than necessary, bit o honey. The teenage girl behind the counter was chewing her bubble yum loudly and swinging her side pony back and forth. That wasn’t loud enough she said and rolled her eyes. She slammed the candy down on the wet counter and I slid my change over to her.

My bare feet were hot on the scorched concrete and making my way to a seat i only walked in other people’s puddles.

We got to a bench and I started unwrapping my candy. I took a bite and heard a slight pop. Pulled the bit o honey out of my mouth and saw my tooth standing there erect like a tiny white statue. Aha!

My tongue darted in and out of the now vacant space in my mouth. There was a slight metallic taste as the blood began to settle.

Whhhhoooooot Whhhhoooooot!! It was as if the Bat Signal went off. Shapes on the Benches and chairs that were once as still as my tooth on the Square of bit of honey came to life at once. We all ran back and reclaimed our rightful places in the water.