Dreadful Sorry Read Online Free PDF Page B

shiver.
    "Great! Okay, now just dip your hand in the water. Just one hand. Like this." He stuck his fingers in the water and wiggled them. "See?"
    She kept her arms folded stubbornly. Enough was enough.
    "We'll have you off the high dive in no time," teased Jared. Or maybe he wasn't teasing.
    She felt ridiculous sitting fully clothed at the side of the pool while this boy cheered her on and Kathi watched with an expression of encouragement. The other kids were still clowning around in the deep end, not taking any notice of them.
    Jared's voice grew soft, deeper. "Come on, now both hands in. Like this."
    She dropped her hands into the water next to his, waved her fingers around under the surface. And under her own surface, the ever-present lump of fear expanded.
    "Now down to the elbows." His face was impassive. She leaned forward slightly and lowered her arms. "Good job," he said.
    "Way to go, Moll," shouted Derek from the diving board. He held his nose and danced at the end of the board. Michael stepped up behind him and shoved. Derek plunged out of sight, then came up sputtering and laughing. He swam to the shallow end and stood. "See?" he appealed to Molly. "Easy as pie." Then he splashed away to chase one of the girls.
    Molly pulled her arms from the water. She held them, dripping, away from her sides. "There. Lesson's over."
    Jared crouched beside her. "Hang on a sec." She was very aware of his bulk, his strength. "Listen, I know you're afraid," he whispered. "Lots of kids are at first; you'd be surprised. But I really want to help you."
    "I don't think so." She stood, narrowing her eyes as she saw Jared and Kathi exchange a look. The smell of chlorine was very strong. She moved her shoulders up and down and rubbed the tight muscles at the back of her neck.
    "How am I going to teach you anything if you won't even get into the water?"
    "I admit it's a problem." She smiled, though her heart was pounding. She tried for a joke. "Thousands before you have tried and failed."
    He stripped off his shirt and jumped into the pool in his shorts. The water slapped out onto the tiles. Molly shuddered.
    "Jump in. You can do it."
    "No." Why didn't she just walk away? There was a charge in the air that had only partly to do with her fear. Something about Jared drew her, but something equally strong now warned her away.
    He was standing in the water at the four-foot marker, his hair curling wetly over his forehead, his eyes somber. She was at the side of the pool only a foot away from him, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
    He splashed some water onto her feet. "Last chance." When she didn't respond, he began the song again. He sang softly, gently, splashing water onto her feet in time to the tune: "
Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin', Clementine. You are lost and gone forever, Dreadful sorry, Clementine!
"
    She leapt back and screamed at him: "You shut up!"
    He vaulted out of the pool in a single motion and towered over her. "Get in the pool," he said in a low voice.
    "Way to go!" shouted Derek from the deep end.
    "Hooray for Molly!" called someone else. "It's swim time!"
    Molly turned to run, but he caught her by the shoulders. His eyes were black pools. "Get in, or I'll throw you in."
    "Go to hell."
    Then his arms were lifting her—one around her shoulders, one under her knees. He carried her without effort. She screamed and beat him with her fists. He flinched at the blows but stepped closer to the pool's edge.
    "Help me! Michael, Kathi, help me! Help!" screamed Molly. She saw her friends laughing. They didn't understand it wasn't a game.
    "It's all right," Jared called over to them, struggling to keep his grip on Molly.
    "You're trying to kill me!" she wailed, striking him. She felt the salty wind rise mysteriously, blowing fiercely now all around them. The water of the pool—so close—grew choppy, rising in great white peaks of foam.
    "You'll be fine. You'll be a regular"—Jared ducked his head as