Caryn finished fixing ডিনার and told John that it was ready. As they ate, John said, "This is really good, Caryn." She said, "Thank you. My grandmother taught me how to cook." He said, "My grandmother taught me how to cook, too." Caryn smiled and said, "That's something cool that we have in common." After they finished eating, John helped Caryn wash the dishes. She said, "You didn't have to do that, John." He said, "I don't mind it. I've had to wash dishes most of my life anyway." She said, "Well, I appreciate your help." After that, she asked, "Are আপনি ready to go in the pool?" He said, "We just ate. Aren't আপনি supposed to wait an hour?" She laughed and said, "Turns out, that's a myth. You're no আরো likely to drown অথবা get cramps if আপনি go swimming after আপনি eat." John smiled a little at this, but it didn't make him feel much better. He knew he had to tell Caryn the truth. If he pretended everything was all right, it would create a dishonest relationship. As the two of them headed to the pool, John said, "Caryn, I have something to tell you." She asked, "What is it, John?" He said, "I, um, I'm afraid of water." She asked, "Why didn't আপনি tell me?" He said, "I was afraid that আপনি would be ashamed of me." She hugged him and said, "John, I প্রণয় you. I could never be ashamed of you, ever." He said, "Well, that's a relief." She said, "I could help আপনি overcome your fear. Don't worry; I won't let আপনি drown." He said, "Okay." He took a step closer. He then slipped and fell into the pool. John began to panic under the water. Which way was up? Just then, he felt someone pulled him to the surface. He coughed up some water, and he looked to see who helped him. It was Caryn. She was still holding on to him. She asked, "Are আপনি okay?" He said, "I think so." She said, "No wonder you're scared of water. Has this happened to আপনি a lot?" He said, "More than I care to admit, but that's not why I'm afraid of water." She asked, "What happened to make আপনি so afraid?" He said, "When Pastor Thomas attempted to murder me for the সেকেন্ড and final time, he shot me, and it caused me to fall into a river. I went under, and I couldn't see anything. Luckily, Peter jumped in to save me. I didn't come close to drowning, but it was close enough for me. As for the gunshot wound, the bullet didn't go in very deep. It only penetrated the skin." Caryn cried as she listened to the story. She said, "I'm so sorry this happened to you, but Pastor Thomas isn't here to hurt আপনি now. On শীর্ষ of that, this water is shallow and calm. আপনি don't have to swim. Just stand up." This made John feel confident. He stood পরবর্তি to Caryn and said, "Thanks, Caryn. I'm glad I told আপনি about my fear." She said, "You're welcome. I'm glad about that, too."
When I had entered the fifth grade, I was dreading it. I had heard rumors that the teacher was really mean. When I met her before school started, she seemed really nice. On the first দিন of school, I was wearing one of my Beatles t-shirts. She noticed it, and she said, "Darling, I প্রণয় আপনি already!" I said, "Okay, then." She would take up for me all the time. The other kids often called me glasses. She heard them and said, "She has a name, guys. Her name is not glasses. It's Winter." There was one দিন when another girl kept picking on me. I finally had enough and said, "I might look sweet and innocent, but that shit is for suckers, and I'm no lollipop." I looked at the teacher. She winked and said, "I heard nothing." I would have had her for the sixth grade, too, but unfortunately, I moved to Tennessee as soon as the school বছর was over. We both cried. We promised to keep in touch with each other, and we've kept in touch to this day.
