Escape

The blacktop stifled her breaths and clung to the soles of her shoes as she walked, towel in hand.

The park was about a dozen streets away. A train rattled down the tracks—iron and hot, shaking the ground.

Voices spattered the sun-soaked park. Screams burst through the chain link fence. Colors ran, jumped, and bobbed up and down.

Rules: No running.

She walked fast

Directions: Shower first.

She shrugged.

Hoots and hollers echoed in every direction. Chlorine burned the inside of her nose, but it smelled like cooling off.

Ceecee found the perfect spot, between the deep and shallow water. At the edge, she dipped a toe where the water forcefully bubbled out.

Songs hummed in the heat. “If you like piña coladas… getting caught….”

She dove under—streamlined, no breath, eyes open. Pull down and kick. The burn—she surfaced with big breaths.

Eying the distance, a smile cracked. Half-way, not bad. Stealth like a submarine.

The diving boards next. She stood in line, fifth back.

Splash, one step forward.

Splash. Another.

Scratchy baby blue board wobbled beneath.

At the end she bounced. Yelped and jumped, turned 180 degrees, did a scissors, and plunged into the water.