Free Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume Page B

choked to death! Marty had to whack me on the back until I stopped coughing.
     
        "What were you supposed to do, Sheila?" he asked.
     
        "I was supposed to blow bubbles," I answered.
     
        "And did you?"
     
        "No, I breathed regular."
     
        "And what did you find out?"
     
        "That I can't breathe regular in the water."
     
        "That's right!" Marty said. "So let's try it again. And this time take a breath first and then blow it out."
     
        "Okay." I took a breath, but I started to laugh. Sometimes I do that when I'm really scared. And nothing stops me from laughing. Nothing! I laugh until my side feels as if it is going to split open. Usually I wind up with bad hiccups.
     
        "Sheila . . . Sheila . . ." Marty said. "What am I going to do with you? You're impossible!"
     
        "I told you I was, didn't I?" I giggled.
     
        "I should have believed you," Marty said. "Calm down now. Let's get to work."
     
        "I'm calm, I'm calm," I told him. I took a big breath and put my face into the water. I think Marty was yelling something at me but I don't know what. When I felt ready to explode I lifted my face and said, "Well, how was that?"
     
        "You forgot to let it out, Sheila."
     
        "Let what out?"
     
        "The air . . . you took a big breath but then you didn't let it out."
     
        "Oh." I knew something was wrong. I took a bigger breath, put my face in the water, and blew out. I made bubbles. Just like Marty!
     
        I lifted my head and smiled.
     
        "That's it!" Marty shouted. "You did it . . . you really did it!"
     
        "I did, didn't I?" I could hardly believe it myself. "I really did do it!"
     
        "Yes, and now I want you to try it ten times in a row."
     
        "Oh, Marty . . . do I have to? Isn't just once enough?"
     
        Marty shook his head.
     
        I took a breath and did what he told me to. I blew very nice bubbles. Then I turned my head to the side, took another breath, and put my face back into the water. I did this four times before I forgot to blow the air out. That time I think I breathed in while my face was under the water. I wound up with a mouthful. When I stopped coughing I gasped, "No more. Please no more. Don't make me do it again." I climbed out of the pool and ran for a towel. The chlorine really stings my eyes.
     
        Marty followed me. "Okay, Sheila. That's it for today. But I want you to practice swimming with your face in the water. I'm going to give you the Beginner's Swimming Test before the end of the summer. I think you'll be able to pass it."
     
        "Me? Me pass a swimming test?" I asked.
     
        "Yes . . . you!"
     
        I always knew Marty was sick!
     
     
     
Chapter Thirteen
     
     
        I'M going to have a slumber party. I've never had one. How could I when I have shared a room with Libby all my life? I just can't wait until Saturday night. Mouse, Sondra, and Jane are coming, and Mom says we can all sleep in my room if my friends bring sleeping bags with them. I even have new pajamas to wear. They are red-and-white striped. Mouse has the same ones. She promised to wear them so we can be twins like Sondra and Jane. My slumber party is going to be the best slumber party that ever was!
     
        Since I have been planning everything so carefully I got really sore at Libby this morning when she told Mom, "I'm going to invite Maryann Markman to sleep over Saturday night."
     
        "Oh no!" I said. "You know I'm having a slumber party.
     
        "So?" Libby asked. "Who wants to get in your way?"
     
        "That's not fair!" I said to Mom. "Can't I do something just once without her butting in?"
     
        "There's plenty of room, Sheila," Mom said. "If Libby wants Maryann to spend the night, there's no reason why she can't. It has nothing to do with you."
     
        "They'll try to boss us around," I cried. "Just like always."
     
        "Ha!"