When I started bawling on the deck of the competition pool, Bart got out. He was really there and there really was Aqua Zumba and I really did start to sob.

No one else noticed, thank you, not even the lifeguard who was a girl with a long face and her job is to save lives and I was about to die and she didn’t even look over, but he did.

~

He got out and I almost went back to the locker room because I hate him and he said, “Olivia!” He said it loud but not too loud. I turned around and he was jogging up and dripping and he said, “What’s wrong?”

And I should have said, “I’m mad at you,” but instead I said, “My butthead dad.”

And he said, “Your dad is here?”

And I said, “Yeah.”

And he said, “Where?”

And I pointed through the glass where Dad was standing there watching. He wasn’t coming after me. He was just standing there.

“Is something wrong with him?” Bart said.

“What?”

“What’s wrong with him? He looks weird.”

I looked at Dad. His stupid cool clothes. His hair sticking straight up with a gallon of gel. And his face all fake concerned. He did look weird.

“Yes,” I said. “Something is very wrong with him.”

Dad motioned for me to come back.

I looked at Bart. “I hate him,” I said, wiping my nose.

Bart said, “He was rude when I came over.”

I said, “I know.”

And he said, “But I thought you liked him. I thought he worked for the Parks Department and maybe the NSA.”

I looked over again. Berk was dragging Dad back to the locker room, probably to make him put on his suit. He waved for me to come.

Bart said, “What are you going to do?”

I stared at Dad’s face.

“Do you want me to go beat him up?” Bart asked, and I smiled.

Then I looked at the ladies and one old guy jumping around in the pool.

I looked at the blond middle-aged woman on the deck in Zumba clothes.

I looked at the boom box or whatever they call those, blasting Cher.

They looked ridiculous.

And happy.

And I said, “Can I do what you’re doing?”

And he said, “Water Zumba?”

I said, “Please.”

And he said, “Are you serious?”

I said, “Please.”

And he said, “It can be dangerous.”

I said, “I’ll risk it.”

So that’s how I did my first Aqua Zumba class.