We were finally all set up.
All the kids had peed, drank something, removed their clothes, been thoroughly sprayed with sunblock, and been informed of the rules. At our signal, they scattered like mice and hit the artificial lake, save for Noah, who found a shallow hole in the sand and sat in it, shovel and bucket in hand. Davinder had told me Noah wouldn’t touch the water and not to expect him to give in. Noah hated the feel of anything wet on his skin, and giving him showers or baths was an exhausting endeavor.
I watched Fay and Jude braving the cold lake. I hadn’t even sipped a drop of water or removed my shoes yet. I was sweating under my shirt. “I’ve haven’t been here in ages,” I said, pulling my shirt over my head. “Since I was a teenager, I think.” I stuffed my shirt inside the to
