Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume Page A

shut for the rest of the ride. I wasn't taking any chances. If a werewolf ran out of the woods I wasn't going to be the one to see him!
     
        Finally, we made it back to camp. I was never so happy to see Daddy in my life. "How was it?" he asked. "Did you have lots of fun?"
     
        Mouse answered. She said, "It was great fun, Mr. Tubman. Just great! Wasn't it, Sheila?"
     
        I tried a smile. "Oh sure," I said. "Great."
     
        Now that I have been on one hayride, I don't think I will be in a hurry to go on another.
     
     
     
Chapter Fifteen
     
     
        THIS afternoon I am going to take my swimming test. I hope it rains. I hope it rains and pours until we leave here. But when I checked the sky the sun was shining. And when I turned on the radio and listened to the weather report there was no rain forecast.
     
        So I hope I get sick and the doctor says I can't go in the water for ten days. But I feel fine. Except for my stomach, which keeps jumping all around.
     
        So I hope that when I get to the pool this afternoon Marty won't be there. And no one will be able to find him. Then I will never have to take my swimming test!
     
        But when we got to the pool Marty was there, waiting for me. That's when I knew there was no getting out of it. I would have to take my Beginner's Test and if I drowned, I drowned! It was better not to think about it. Besides, chances were I wouldn't drown. Marty would probably save me. But if he had to jump in and save me in front of everyone, that would be as bad as drowning. Maybe even worse!
     
        When I was in my suit Mom said, "Good luck, Sheila. And please don't be nervous."
     
        "Me . . . nervous?" I said. "Ha ha. That's really funny."
     
        When Marty saw me he called, "Hi, Sheila. All set?"
     
        I didn't answer him.
     
        "Okay, now here's all you have to do," M,arty said. "First you'll jump in and swim across the deep end of the pooi. Then you'll tread water for two minutes."
     
        I don't know who Marty thought he was fooling. If he expected me to jump in and swim across the deep end of the pool he was even nuttier than I thought. He was more than nutty. He was even more than crazy! He was also stupid, dumb, and an idiot!
     
        "Are you listening to me?" Marty asked.
     
        "Oh sure," I told him. "I'm listening. But you know I can't swim across the whole pool!"
     
        "Yes you can," Marty said.
     
        I folded my arms and gave him one of my best stares.
     
        "You've got to try, Sheila. That's all I ask. You just can't give up without trying."
     
        "Who's giving up?" I asked. "I can swim. You know that. You've seen me."
     
        "Okay," Marty said. "So I know it. So now I want you to prove it to everyone by swimming across the pool."
     
        "Maybe I just don't feel like it."
     
        "Look, Sheila, there's absolutely nothing to be afraid of. If you can't make it I'll be right there to help you."
     
        "I am not afraid!"
     
        "Then prove that you're not! Jump in right now and start swimming. I know you can make it. I have a lot of confidence in you."
     
        I didn't answer him.
     
        "Please, Sheila. Please try. . . for me."
     
        I liked the way Marty said that. But when I looked across the pool the other side seemed ten miles away. "You promise nothing bad will happen?" I asked.
     
        "I promise," Marty said. "Word of honor. I'll even clear this section of the pool while you take your test."
     
        "Do I have to keep my face in the water the whole time?"
     
        "No, you can swim any way you want."
     
        "How far is it across? About a mile?"
     
        Marty laughed. "It's only forty feet."
     
        "It looks like ten miles to me," I said.
     
        "It's not. Tell you what . . . I'll count to three. Then you jump in and start swimming. I'll walk along the side of the pool and if you have any trouble I'll pull