How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel Read Online Free

despite the cool room. “I just like animals with…legs,” I said feebly, avoiding everyone’s eyes.
    It wasn’t actually the sharks that bugged me. But why would I want to change things now, when they had finally started to feel okay? What if I hated being with the sharks? Who would I get to work with? What if they didn’t even like me and spent all day trying to bite me? The sharks, I mean, not the people. What if I started having freak-outs again because it was a new place? My old, scaredy-cat self was clawing its way out of me. What if—
    â€œWell, I’ve already told Patricia you’d be great for the job. She’s in charge of the new species and said she would love the help. I can tell her you’d rather stay where you are, if you want to,” Grandpa said. He wrung his hands together and gave me a pouty look.
    Great. I’ll take panic with a side of guilt, please.
    Mom sighed. “He was only trying to surprise you, Ana. We really did have a great time when I was a kid.” She squeezed Dad’s hand. “You might love it,” she said. “You won’t have to be in the tanks the whole time either. It’s more of a fun thing to do while you learn. Then you can lead your talks as usual. Only this time about sharks. You don’t have to do this. But maybe you should think about it…?” Now it was Mom’s turn to give me puppy dog eyes.
    Ugh. More guilt.
    I peered around at the fake rocks and my family. Everyone, even Dad, looked like they were ready to dive into some super-happy pool of summer fun but couldn’t do it with me holding them up, dipping my toe in the cold water.
    That familiar clammy, tight feeling of fear choked at my throat, threatening to take over…
    No.
    I forced myself to stand straighter. If things were going to keep on changing like this, then I would just have to find a way to figure it out and deal with it without going all hot-jittery mess like I used to. I would adapt and change however I needed to, like Darwin (the scientist guy, not my parrot) was always talking about on the evolution posters in the Natural History Pavilion.
    I refused to let something as simple as man-eating sharks scare me.
    Okay, that’s a bad example.
    I set my jaw. Adapt, Ana. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it! Fine! Yes!” Nervous laughter bubbled up inside me as a proud smile burst onto Mom’s face. She squeezed my hand, and my shoulders relaxed as I leaned in for a hug, but the squirmy feeling of doubt seemed to smirk at me from the inside.
    I shoved the feeling down as Grandpa pulled me into a tight hug. “Yay, Ana Banana! It’s going to be great!”
    I took a huge breath and smelled the salty ocean tang in the air. My heart was lighter already, buoyed from the pride of not letting my fear ruin the day again. All I needed to do was make sure my bravery didn’t run off and hide like a dog from a bath with all these changes going on.
    Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad?
    Five Things about Summer That I Hope NEVER Change, No Matter How Many Sharks Grandpa Throws at Me
    An “Ana Will Stay Positive” List
    1. That feeling of the hot sun beaming against my back when I get out of the pool that feels like a giant hug. And since it’s summer, the days are extra long, almost like the sun knows it should hang out a little while longer in the sky instead of hightailing it below the horizon like the rest of the year.
    2. The taste of ice-cold lemonade mixed with a teensy bit of iced tea that you can hear when you drink because of the clinky-clink of all the ice cubes against your upper lip.
    3. That toe-stretchy feeling of waking up late in your cozy bed, knowing that no matter what happens today, you don’t have to go to school and take a math test.
    4. Getting to stay awake as late as I want, without having to worry about the alarm clock waking me up early in the morning. Technically , Mom