• Jack Kingsley gawked at his family summer location. It had absolutely everything. The first thing Jack noticed was the Olympic sized pool with a high dive. Jack turned to his dad from the passenger seat. Jack started to speak, but his dad looked so tired, he didn’t bother. Although Jack was only twelve, he had already won two gold medals in the Olympics for diving. Jack couldn’t wait to dive.

    They pulled into the driveway of the condominium. It was astonishingly large. He got out of the car, in awe. His father came around, “Cool, isn’t it?” His father asked. Jack just nodded. His father seemed uncomfortable, Hey, fish boy, why don’t you go down to the pool, and I’ll unpack.” He suggested. Jack’s smile widened at the sound of his nickname. “Okay. Thanks.” He ran off to get his trunks on.

    The pool looked fresh. Crisp and clean. Jack saw the lifeguards smiling and saying flips were all right. “Flips? Awesome!” He said to himself. One gleeful blonde lifeguard looked at Jack and her mouth dropped. “Jack Kingsley!” She yelled pointing. Jack blushed and walked to the high dive. The blonde lifeguard beamed. She must’ve been fourteen, at the most. “Hey, Jack! Feel free to do as many flips you want! I’ll clear this end.” She called, clearing the deep end. Jack smiled and nodded. He felt his form within. He jumped with a triple flip and a twist, perfectly executing the dive.

    The water felt tingly, but good. He swam to the side, his dark hair matted to his forehead. All the lifeguards grinned at him. Jack saw this as a nice smile. It wasn’t. He pulled himself out of the pool. Jack the fish boy, he thought to himself.


    No less than five minutes later, the head lifeguard called a class, and Jack decided to join. This class wasn’t in the water. It was a classroom. They gave all the kids a towel; Jack’s a special green. He paid attention in the class, until a girl started giggling and pointing at Jack, Others started to laugh, too. Jack felt a pain in the center of his face. It was a squeezing sensation. He touched his nose and looked toward the window where it began to get cloudy. Jack saw his reflection. His nose was that of a fish’s. Flat and scaly. Gills found a home beneath his jaw, cutting off his ability to breath. Jack screamed. The children laughed and the teacher laughed as well. His father’s voice came into the room like fog, “Now you really are a fish boy.” He said with a deep, intimidating laugh.



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