The peace was short-lived. A sudden, loud "CANNONBALL!" shattered the silence.
The concrete was already warm under Nina’s bare feet as she pushed open the back gate. The morning sun turned the pool into a sheet of shimmering turquoise glass, undisturbed and inviting. Today was the first real Saturday of summer, and Nina had been planning this specific afternoon since the last bell rang at school. nina's pool day
With a practiced hop, Nina glided onto the flamingo’s back. The water was cool against her ankles as she drifted toward the center of the pool. For an hour, the world was perfect. The only sounds were the distant hum of a neighbor’s lawnmower and the gentle splash of water against the tile. She closed her eyes, letting the sun soak into her skin, feeling like the queen of her own private island. The peace was short-lived
