The Creature from Club Lagoona Read Online Free

giggled.
    Yup. Tadpole. Exactly what I figured they’d call me. Talk about corny. Maybe Polly didn’t mind being named for a fat baby frog, but I did!
    â€œSay, have you guys heard about the big race?” Barry asked.
    Race? I could feel my stomach tighten.
    We all shook our heads. I shook mine hardest.
    â€œIt’s kind of a Club Lagoona initiation,” Barry explained. “We call it Sink or Swim.” He punched my arm lightly. “It’s where we separate the rocks from the jocks.”
    â€œHuh?” I asked.
    â€œRocks and jocks,” he repeated. “The rocks sink. The jocks swim. But here at Club Lagoona, everyone takes lessons. We feel there’s always room for improvement, whether you’re a rock or a jock. Right, Tad?”
    â€œYeah, sure,” I agreed weakly.
    â€œSounds like fun,” Dad told Barry. “Tad here is sure to be one of the jocks. He’s his soccer team captain, you know.”
    Sure. I’m a jock. But only on land, Dad, I corrected him silently.
    â€œTad,” Mom said. “Why don’t you stay here with Barry while Dad, Polly, and I change into our bathing suits.”
    â€œGreat!” Barry cried.
    My parents and Polly headed for our rooms. Barry grabbed my shoulder and steered me over to the edge of the pool. “Come on, jock! Let’s get wet!”
    My brain went numb with panic. Barry moved mecloser and closer to the edge of the pool. There was no way out of this!
    I glanced around. There were hundreds of people in the pool. Hundreds of people who would see that I couldn’t swim! Well, at least when I started to drown, there would be enough people around to save me.
    I bent over and gazed down into the aqua water. The image of the disappearing diver floated before me. What would happen to me down there in all that water?
    And what about the little man’s warning about the place being dangerous?
    My heart beat faster. I started to tremble.
    Give up the act, Tad, I ordered myself. Confess you can’t swim. Or it’s all over.
    I had to get out of there. I straightened up, ready to bolt.
    Then a hard shove came from behind! Right in the middle of my back!
    I grabbed armfuls of air. My legs kicked.
    I hit the water in a giant belly flop.
    The skin on my face and stomach burned from the slap of the water.
    I sank. Like a rock. Deep into the water.
    I shut my eyes and held my breath.
    Everything I hate about the water started happening. Water seeped into my ears. It shot straight up my nose.
    I panicked and opened my eyes. The saltwater burned so much, I could barely see. My mouth opened and water rushed down my throat, choking me.
    I flailed around, trying to touch the bottom with my feet. But I couldn’t! The water was too deep. I was in over my head!
    I’m going to drown! I thought, wild with panic.
    I struggled to the top for air. When I got there, I could see Barry standing calmly on the side. He smiled down at me, watching. Waiting for me to prove what a jock I was.
    I knew I’d have to fake it. And maybe I wouldn’t drown.
    Maybe.
    I gulped a big breath of air. I tried to move my arms and legs the way I’d seen swimmers do.
    I stretched my arms out in front of me and brought them around. They pulled me forward a little.
    Then I kicked my legs out behind me kind of like a frog. But instead of moving forward, I somehow went backward!
    This wasn’t working at all.
    I’m in big trouble! I thought.
    I gasped for breath again. I felt myself sinking.
    My shoulders dipped below the surface. I tilted my face to keep it out of the water.
    I opened my mouth to scream.
    And swallowed what seemed like a gallon of water.
    I sputtered furiously as I plunged to the bottom of the pool.
    Oh, no! I thought. I’m drowning!

4

    I fought with every muscle against sinking. But I was so tired from struggling.
    My lungs were ready to burst. My arms and legs felt heavy. I could barely move them