Free Iggie's House by Judy Blume

jump off the diving board with a little boy. He used to do that with her too. She felt the sweat trickle down her chest inside her bathing suit. She decided as long as she was at the pool she might as well have a swim.
    Winnie sat down next to the ladder at the deep end of the pool and dangled her feet in the cold water. She read the printed sign stating WOMEN AND GIRLS MUST WEAR BATHING HATS AT ALL TIMES—THE MANAGEMENT . She held hers in her lap, not wanting to put it on until the last possible second. The hat squeezed her head and she hated it.
    Since she had passed the deep water test last summer she was allowed to use all sections of the pool. She even had a badge to pin on her bathing suit saying GUEST: DEEP WATER . Winnie was thinking about the things she and Mr. Berger had discussed when someone suddenly shoved her from behind and sent her splashing down into the cold water, totally unprepared. She came up choking and spurting water, her nose clips still hanging around her neck. The life guard stood up furiously blowing his whistle at her.He pointed at her head, indicating that she was in the pool without a bathing cap.
Wonderful!
she thought! She might have drowned and all the life guard cared about was that her hair wasn’t covered. She looked up into Big Red’s laughing face.
    â€œOh, that was just great Winnie!. I really surprised you, didn’t I?” He laughed hysterically and slapped his thigh. “Oh boy, I really caught you off guard!”
    Winnie muttered under her breath and considered how good it would feel to chop off his big red head with a sharp hatchet!
    She climbed up the ladder, stepped out of the pool and sat down in the sun, hoping her hair dried before she had to go home. Mrs. Landon was still sitting on a chair right up close to the shallow end of the pool. She was wearing a bathing suit but had her sweater over her shoulders anyway.
    Clarice was floating inside a tube. She twirled around and around but didn’t get her face wet. At that moment Winnie felt sorry for her. Having a mother like Germs, Inc. was pretty bad. Mr. Berger was right. It really wasn’t Clarice’s fault that she was the way she was. Maybe when she got older she’d change. Maybe, but probably not, Winnie decided.
    She took out her questionnaire again. She simply could not resist the temptation to approach Mrs. Landon.She walked over slowly and just stood there, waiting for Mrs. Landon to notice her.
    â€œHello, Winifred. Do you want to swim with Clarice?”
    â€œNo … I … uh … it’s just my questionnaire, Mrs. Landon. I’d appreciate it if you would fill it out please,” Winnie said, making her voice as gentle and sweet as she possibly could.
    â€œQuestionnaire! Now what are you up to young lady?” Winnie handed her the paper. Mrs. Landon read it and sucked in her breath. She kept her voice low, almost swallowing every word. “Winifred Barringer … I feel sorry for you! And for your parents!” Mrs. Landon shook the questionnaire in Winnie’s face.
    Winnie grabbed it and went to search for her aunt. She was afraid if she stayed she would cause a commotion. Then Aunt Myrna might be mad at her, and she was, after all, only a guest.
    â€œGlad you’re here Winnie,” Aunt Myrna said, as Winnie approached her bridge table. “It’s almost four o’clock, and I have to be going. Let’s get our things together now.”
    Winnie opened the car door on the driver’s side. She slid over into her own bucket seat, and fastened the safety belt. Aunt Myrna backed out of the parking lot and headed for Grove Street.
    Winnie asked her aunt to drop her off at the Garbers, instead of at home. Aunt Myrna agreed. Winnie got out of the little red car, thanked her aunt for the afternoon, and skipped up to the Garbers’ front door.
    She pressed the bell and looked around. There was no green station wagon