THE SWIMMER

FICTION

Sharon Anne

5-H-25 FPE

Dennis let the screen door bang shut behind him. Even in the shadows of the kitchen the humid summer air made things feel hot and close. He put the grass clippers down and took a milk bottle of water from the refrigerator, poured out a paper cupful and gulped it.

"Can I go now?”

"Where are you going?"

"Swimming."

He was talking down the basement stairwell. Unseen somewhere below his mother was ironing in the coolness and her voice floated up to him.

"Have you finished around the hedges?"

"Yes."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"The big one in front?"

"Yes."

"All right. Get a quarter out of my purse."

"Can I have money for a soda too?"

There was an indecisive pause below. "I suppose take a nickel. And do everything the lifeguard says. Promise me?"

"I promise."

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