#FlashFictionMagic: Beneath the water

Thwack! Ding! Splash! An 11th grader with a surprisingly strong arm hit the target and sent Fern plunging into the cool water. Dave winced, then started counting. One Mississippi, two Mississippi... When she popped up, bystanders applauded. Fern took an exaggeratedly dramatic bow. Dave exhaled shakily and reluctantly clapped too. He was sure every time she went down he'd have to watch her drown. But he couldn't leave because what if he could somehow save her?

As the next student in line grabbed a ball, sixteen-year-old Grace appeared at Dave's side. "That water must be gross," she commented. "Fern's brave."

"Brave or crazy," murmured Dave, as this thrower also hit his target dead-on. He counted again. This time he made it to four and actually took a step toward the tank before Fern resurfaced. "Why did she have to choose the dunk tank?" He rolled his shoulders to shake off the anxiety. "Couldn't she have chosen something boring?"

"Like what?" asked Grace.

"I don't know," said Dave as Fern did a little victory dance and resumed her position. "Like… a kissing booth or something." As soon as the words were out, Dave wanted them back.

Grace howled with laughter. "A kissing booth! Oh man! You actually said that out loud."

"I didn't mean for me. I just meant… she might be better at that."

"Uh huh," said Grace. Dave wished it was acceptable to ground children for being wise beyond their years.

"You know Fern and I are just friends." He tried to sound stern and certain. "We've been over this."

"Well, then let's go ride the Ferris wheel or something and leave our friend Fern to fend for herself for a bit."

Dave considered it, but then a dad wailed the ball at the target and Fern went under more forcefully than ever. His heart leapt to his throat. "No," he rasped. "I think she needs my friendly moral support."

"If that's what you want to call it…" Grace kissed his cheek. "But the only one you're fooling is yourself." Then she skipped off to join her friends.

Fooling himself. Ha. What do teenagers know? But when Fern's head disappeared beneath the water yet again, he couldn't help but think that maybe she wasn't the only one in a bit over her head.