Chapter 14
WHO GOES WHERE?
You’re in the water. Congratulations. The water feels good.
I know you’re a bit conflicted; you can see all your old friends still baking in the sun. You’re starting to miss their friendships. After all, you did have some really great times together. I mean, who could forget about that one time, when you guys___. That was crazy!
Although you’ve been yelling from inside the pool, they’re still not interested in taking the dive. In fact, they think you’re the crazy one, because you’ve made a decision to jump into the cool and refreshing water! You begin to wonder, Have their minds been affected by the heat? Can they not see that their skin is burning?
In an effort to help them “see the light,” you decide to step out of the pool.
As you step out, you can feel the change in temperature. Sure, it’s hot, but you still have some of the cool water glistening on your body. You begin to share your experience of what it feels like to be submerged in the refreshing pool water.
“The pain of the sunburn goes away!” They listen for a few minutes, as you try to help them understand the difference in temperature and sensation. But you notice they begin to grow weary of hearing about your “pool stories.” In their eyes, you’ve just become one of those “pool people.”
You really miss your “sun burnt friends” and wish there was a way you guys could hang out. They’ve already made plans for later that evening, and those plans are definitely outside the pool. If you want to be a part of it, you’ll have to stay outside the pool. They’re definitely not interested in hanging out in the water, with all your new “pool pals.”
As you sit outside the pool, and your body slowly adjusts to the hot weather, you notice that the cool beads of pool water are beginning to evaporate. As your body gets re-adjusted to the new, warmer temperature, you start thinking: This isn’t so bad. I can deal with this. These people are my friends. One night outside the pool won’t hurt.
As the sun goes down, you realize that being outside the pool isn’t as bad as you remembered. In fact, if you were inside the pool right now, it’d really be uncomfortable, maybe even a little chilly. Why on earth would I want to be in the water on a Saturday night?
You head out with your “sun burnt friends” and see all the familiar faces. The same people are still doing the same things. You begin to wonder why you chose to leave the pool. Oh yeah, because I wanted to hang out with my old friends.
After a night of associating with the “sun burnt crew,” you realize that it might’ve been a bad idea. You’re not feeling great, and are already beginning to regret some of your decisions from the night before.
Everyone decides to head back to the pool.
Now you have to make a decision: Do I dive back in, or do I bake in the heat? If you choose to return to the water, here’s what to expect next: