YOU do on your summer vacation? The water splashed against the dock.
We three had left the rented cottage
where Mom and Dad were screaming
nonstop.
Our annual summer lake vacation
had taken its typical bad turn.
Mary was worried about her tan lines
and Jay if his baby fat had yet morphed
into muscle.
I, the youngest was on my stomach,
head hanging over the edge,
watching the tips of my long, blond
hair float aimlessly on the water's surface.
"Are you going to try to water ski this year?"
my sister asked me.
"No, Daddy gets too mad and yells at me
when I can't do it right."
"You can't do anything right, you sissy,"
my brother was quick to add.
"Yeah, well, I can swim better than you both!"
I cried in defense.
My eyes were so focused on the water's
dancing sparkles,
they thought I missed their signals behind me,
they always used secret codes
when they planned.
But they forgot how bright sun can turn
clear water into a mirror
and I spun onto my back
before either were able
to hold my head under.
Then Mom came out
with puffy red eyes and her
artifical smile, called out to us,
"Are you kids having fun?
Don't we always have fun at the lake?"
We three had left the rented cottage
where Mom and Dad were screaming
nonstop.
Our annual summer lake vacation
had taken its typical bad turn.
Mary was worried about her tan lines
and Jay if his baby fat had yet morphed
into muscle.
I, the youngest was on my stomach,
head hanging over the edge,
watching the tips of my long, blond
hair float aimlessly on the water's surface.
"Are you going to try to water ski this year?"
my sister asked me.
"No, Daddy gets too mad and yells at me
when I can't do it right."
"You can't do anything right, you sissy,"
my brother was quick to add.
"Yeah, well, I can swim better than you both!"
I cried in defense.
My eyes were so focused on the water's
dancing sparkles,
they thought I missed their signals behind me,
they always used secret codes
when they planned.
But they forgot how bright sun can turn
clear water into a mirror
and I spun onto my back
before either were able
to hold my head under.
Then Mom came out
with puffy red eyes and her
artifical smile, called out to us,
"Are you kids having fun?
Don't we always have fun at the lake?"