When I saw Bart waving his arms in the water, I knew he was really just trying to make me laugh. And I did laugh. “You’re doing water aerobics,” I yelled.

He said, “Yes. Is it funny?”

And I said, “Yes.”

Then he jumped out of the pool and I dropped Berkeley’s hand and even though there was glass between us, and a hundred kids screaming and moms yelling and the lifeguards blowing their whistle and someone hitting an echo-y ball against the wall, why were they doing that? Even through all that, I heard his voice and he said, “I’ve been trying to find you.”

And I said, “I’m so sorry! I’m also sorry you got in trouble.”

And then I ran up the stairs to the opening at the slide and even though there were all these people ahead of me, they said, “GO! GO! GO to him!” And even though a part of me thought, this is so wrong, another part of me thought, this is so right.

I jumped on the slide headfirst and went through the tube faster than anyone had ever gone before and when the slide went outside the building to the part where you can see the parking lot—this is actually a pretty cool thing about the slide, by the way—at that part, there were thousands of people in the parking lot holding signs that said, LOVE with all your HEART!

“I will!” I yelled as I zoomed to the end of the waterslide and he was there waiting for me and he was wearing his tank top and puffy jeans but I didn’t care.

When he saw me, his whole face lit up and he said, “I love you,” and I said, “I love you,” and I ran to him and he picked me up over his head and I put my arms in the air like I was in the Olympics and the whole place was screaming and yelling and cheering.

The boy said, “Go.”

And I said, “What?”

And he said, “Go.”

He pointed to the slide.

We were at the top. Berkeley, I guess, had already gone down.

I sat down. “GO!” someone yelled.

The water was rushing and my stomach was rumbling and I wondered if I really did love Bart.

Then someone pushed me and I went down the waterslide.

~

When I got out and I was soaked and hyperventilating because I do not like the waterslide, I looked through the glass to see if he was still there.

A blond lady in a swimsuit and pants that said ZUMBA on the butt was jumping around on the deck and all the old people and ladies were in the pool mimicking her.

In the corner, in the back, was Bart.

My Bart.

Really there.

Doing Aqua Zumba.

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Dear Dad,

How did you know when you were in love? I’m asking for a friend who likes this boy and thinks it may be love but she doesn’t know anything about him except that he’s nice. And he’s smart. And he works in a kitchen. And he takes a water aerobics class. Is that strange? Would you ever take a water aerobics class? I don’t think you would. Should the girl not like him?

Also, we’re so happy! Mom seems better than ever and so am I and so is Berkeley. Carlene hasn’t said anything about Las Vegas but she did say that if you wanted to come you could just call her dad. I told her you probably would when you got back to the ranger station. Can you do that? Do you still have his number? I can get it for you.

Also, I think Mrs. Sydney Gunnerson goes to water aerobics, too. She may know the boy my friend likes because after class the teacher, the boy, and Mrs. Sydney Gunnerson were talking. I only know this because my friend told me and my friend knows Mrs. Sydney Gunnerson because my friend comes over here all the time because that’s what friends do. They hang out together. Or they live by each other.

Me and Berk really are putting on a circus. Plans are moving ahead and we are getting an elephant and a lion and a boy who can eat fire.

If you can come to Las Vegas or not come, it’s fine but I would love it if you could tell me. Or if you want to come to the circus, I think we’re doing it right after school gets out.

Love your daughter,
Olivia

P.S. Did you know there is a National Park Tour Giveaway? I’ve entered it a few times. Maybe it will have Bryce!

............