Cover art by Erin Halfelven
©2026, SammyC

“You’re only having a glass of orange juice for breakfast?” Dad asked me as he spread a dollop of butter on a slice of toast.

It was Wednesday morning, the day after I was late returning from clothing shopping in Ross & Stone On Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, causing Aaron Felder to read us the riot act. Nevertheless, our act went brilliantly, drawing even more applause than on opening night. I felt myself blush several times when I noticed the gazes of so many men in the audience directed at me in my revealing costume. One particular gentleman kept peering at my cleavage as I stood at his table and I had to remind him to produce an object for my father to guess.

“It’s bad to swim on a full stomach.”

“You don’t know how to swim, kiddo.”

“I know. Jeremy’s going to give me swimming lessons. We’re supposed to meet up at the pool in about an hour. It’s a good day for a swim too. The radio says we’re hitting 90 by noon.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea to wear a bathing suit? After all, there are some things you don’t have and other extra things you do have. Your stage costume does a fair job of keeping up the illusion that you’re a girl but…”

“You’re a worry wart, Dad. It’ll be alright. You’ll see when I put on the bikini we bought yesterday.”

“Bikini?! Lindsey, have you lost your mind?”

I got up from the breakfast table room service had wheeled in and downed the last bit of my juice. “No time to argue, Dad. I’ve got to do my make-up and hair and get dressed for the pool. It’s not like when I was a boy and just rolled out of bed in the morning. Some days I wouldn’t even shower.” That made me giggle and I stepped into the bathroom before Dad could respond.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and followed Elena’s advice to consider a natural look. Apply a light foundation, use tinted moisturizer, and forego mascara and eyeliner (nothing is truly waterproof). I didn’t want to look like a raccoon for Jeremy.

“Daddy, I made an appointment with the in-house doctor here for you. First thing in the afternoon after lunch. I’ll come back up after my swimming lesson and change. We’ll have lunch downstairs and then I’ll take you to the doctor’s office—”

“No need, kiddo. I’m fine—”

“No, Daddy. You’ve been fatigued much too much lately. And you fainted the other day.”

“I stumbled. It was a little dizziness caused by the food they serve here. They call it food anyway.”

“Well, better safe than sorry. The doctor will look you over. It’ll take ten minutes. I’ll feel better if he gives you a clean bill of health. You’re the only parent I have now…”

“Okay, okay, kiddo. Let me see what you look like in that bikini. I don’t want you to cause a scene at the pool. If Mr. Felder finds out—”

I stepped out of the bathroom and did a twirl for Dad.

“How many pairs of socks do you have stuffed in there, Lindsey? And how much tape did you use to squeeze all that flesh together to simulate having cleavage?” wondered Dad as I buttoned my cover-up and strode to the door. I just flashed a smile. He wouldn’t believe me if I told him the truth. I barely believe it myself.

The Lodge had an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. The outdoor pool is Olympic size: 165 feet long by 56 feet wide. Even at this early hour of the morning, a sizeable crowd had plopped themselves on chaise lounges or were flopping around in the water. It was already hot and steamy.

Jeremy, in swim trunks with cartoon alligators all across the front, waved to me from the far end of the pool. The shallow end. I hurried along the side of the pool toward him, waving back, and passed the pool lifeguard sitting on his elevated stand. He lifted his sunglasses onto his forehead and winked at me. He said something about our magic act. Something complimentary, I think.

When I reached Jeremy, he pointed to an unoccupied chaise lounge and told me to leave my cover-up on it. When I turned around, he was already standing in the water next to the small ladder at the shallow end of the pool. He was beckoning me to get into the water. As I took small, uncertain steps toward the ladder, I heard a couple of wolf whistles and turned my head to see who they were coming from.

“Don’t pay them any attention, Lindsey,” Jeremy advised as he held out his arms to receive me. “Just some dirty old men looking to be slapped by their wives.” He laughed as I found myself standing chest deep in the pool. “I don’t blame them though. I can see what they were whistling about. But I’m nothing if not a complete gentleman, Lindsey. I’ll behave myself.” He raised his right hand as if in a pledge.

“First off, walk around. Splash the water all you want. Get comfortable with it. I’ll be right behind you just in case you slip…which you won’t.”

After I walked the width of the pool back and forth and splashed to my satisfaction, I splashed Jeremy, giggling like a schoolgirl (which I was, wasn’t I now?).

“You doing really well so far. Are you sure you can’t swim?”

“It helps that I’ve got someone nice and patient to give me lessons,” I said with a flirty smile.

“Now we’re going to have you blow bubbles in the water.”

“That’s for kids, Jeremy.”

“Well, it’s true. That’s one of the first things they had us do when I learned how to swim. I was like 4 years old. But it’s really an important skill to have. It helps you learn to exhale and keep your face in the water when you’re swimming. Look, I’ll show you.”

Jeremy sank down in the water until his mouth was below the surface and started blowing bubbles with his exhaled breaths. I followed his example and blew bubbles in the water, hoping my makeup wouldn’t wash off. It didn’t.

Jeremy blew bubbles with me. He started making funny animal noises along with the bubbles. That made me laugh and I mistakenly inhaled, causing me to choke on the intake of water. Jeremy rushed to my side and patted my back while keeping my head above the water. I coughed up some water.

“You’re going to kill her if that’s what you call giving her swimming lessons.”

It was Aaron Felder, standing poolside, his hands on his hips, a look of disdain on his handsome face. I took in the masculine vision he presented: slim, athletic, a chiseled body, wearing a skimpy pair of speedos. The only hair on his body was perfectly coiffed on the top of his head.

“I’m alright, Mr. Felder.”

“You can call me Aaron.” He kneeled down and spoke directly to me, ignoring Jeremy completely. “Why don’t you let me properly teach you how to swim? I was varsity swimming team captain at Cornell. Okay?”

I looked at Jeremy, a helpless expression on my face. Jeremy backed out of the pool.

“Maybe you should let Mr. Felder take over. I won’t mind, Lindsey. Honest.”

For the better part of the next hour, Aaron did a really professional job of teaching the basics of swimming. He was a little handsy (well, a lot) but I suppose it was necessary to keep hold of me while going through the process of learning how to swim. Every now and then I’d look up to see Jeremy sitting in his chaise lounge, moping the time away. He’d only smile when I waved to him. I didn’t want him to think I preferred Aaron as a tutor. It’s just…well he’s my damned boss.

We started by having me lie on my back in the water, with Aaron holding me under my back and neck to support them. Slowly, he released his support until I was floating on my own. Aaron reminded me to relax and breathe deeply. Miraculously, I stayed afloat.

Then Aaron walked me to the edge of the pool and told me to hold on to the wall. I was directly facing Jeremy, sitting glumly just a few feet away. Aaron told me to kick my legs, keeping my toes pointed and legs straight. Gradually, Aaron eased me away from the wall, having me kick my legs with my face in the water. Of course, Aaron kept a tight hold on me throughout.

Passing the kicking portion of the lesson with swimming colors, we moved on to using my arms. I held onto the side of the pool with my face in the water (blowing bubbles, of course) and was told to reach forward with one arm, pulling the water towards me, and then reaching with the other. Aaron said this was to accustom me to alternating arm movements while keeping my face in the water.

Finally, kicking my legs and moving my arms together, I swam short distances until I could navigate the width of the pool quite easily. I was exhilarated at learning this amazing new skill as well as getting free of Aaron’s groping hands. Aaron stole a kiss when we climbed out of the pool. I was about to protest his taking that liberty when Jeremy handed me a towel, my cover-up in the crook of his other arm.

“Now in tomorrow’s lesson, we’ll take you into the deeper part of the pool. You’re a quick learner. You could make a good competitive swimmer. Just stick with me, Lindsey. I see an Olympic medal in your future,” Aaron said with a gentle laugh.

“Thanks so much, Mr. Feld…er…Aaron. But I think I’ll have Jeremy continue the lessons. Building, of course, on the fine foundation you’ve laid down today.” I smiled reassuringly at Jeremy, who perked up and smiled in return.

“Well, I’m always available if you need me. I’ve enjoyed having you as my student. It’s not every day I get to tutor the most beautiful girl at the Lodge. I’m going to do my 40 laps daily workout now. Gotta keep in shape, you know. If you don’t have any plans for the afternoon, maybe I can give you some riding lessons. The horses like this weather. It gets their blood running.”

“I’m afraid I can’t this afternoon. I’m taking Dad to his doctor’s appointment right after lunch. I’m worried about him. He’s been under the weather lately. I hope the doctor will tell us it’s just a summer cold.”

“Well, Doc Rosenberg is the best doctor in the region. And I’m not saying that just because he’s my cousin. See you tonight then.” He slipped back into the pool and swam slowly off, picking up speed as he stayed in the lane roped off especially for him.

“He gives me the willies,” Jeremy said as he helped me into my cover-up.

Dr. Rosenberg didn’t turn out to look like what I envisioned at all. Instead of a wizened, close-to-retirement age double for Marcus Welby, he was a young man in his twenties with sandy brown hair, a neatly trimmed moustache, and the beginnings of a goatee on his chin.

“I caught your act on opening night and my wife and I were very impressed both by your father’s skills and you. I remember your mother from last summer. You’re the spitting image of her. Even more beautiful if that’s possible,” declared Dr. Rosenberg as he ushered Dad into his examining room.

“I heard about my cousin Aaron giving you swimming lessons this morning.” I nodded. “Just a word of advice. Stay away from him. He’s my cousin but he’s a notorious player and you’re…what? All of sixteen.”

“I’ll be seventeen in November. And don’t worry. I’m not interested in Aaron. I’m just being cordial because…you know…he’s my boss.”

“Well, keep it that way. That’s the most comfortable chair. The one next to the magazines.”

Half an hour later, the nurse told me to go into Dr. Rosenberg’s office. He and Dad would be waiting for me inside to discuss the results of the examination. I put down the issue of Cosmopolitan I had been reading, making a mental note to remember to pick up a copy at the Lodge’s newsstand. There was a really interesting article on how to do easy natural makeup without applying foundation and using only six products. It’ll come in handy when I go back to my Hebrew High School in Teaneck. I wonder if they’ll let me wear mini-skirts. Probably not. Especially since they think I’m a boy.

“Come in, Lindsey. Have a seat. I wanted to go over your father’s exam since there’s some concerns with what I’ve found.”

Dad sat there with a forced smile, not quite succeeding in hiding his own concern. I took his hand and held it tightly as we both turned to face Dr. Rosenberg.

“Your father has experienced a whole range of disturbing symptoms in recent days and weeks. He told me he’s suffered from extreme fatigue, tightness in the chest area, shortness of breath, erratic sleep patterns, digestive issues, and occasional dizziness. He has dangerously high blood pressure as well. What I’m saying is that your father has all the classic signs of an impending cardiac episode.”

“A…a heart attack?” I swallowed the latter half of that sentence. My father tried reassuring me by grasping my hand and squeezing.

“Yes. Precisely.”

“What do we do, doctor?”

“I’d like Mr. Ace to check himself into Catskill Mountain Hospital and undergo some tests that will solidify my diagnosis. Or at least provide us with a framework for treatment so that we can avoid a possible heart attack.”

“No, doctor. I can’t spare the time. This gig here during the summer is my best paying job for the rest of the year. I can’t afford to lose it. I won’t be able to pay Lindsey’s tuition for school. This past year has pretty much exhausted all the savings we had. And the magic business isn’t doing that well…for me at least. No, I need to keep working,” Dad insisted.

“Mr. Ace, you’re taking a big risk here.”

“The bigger risk is that your cousin Aaron will tear up our contract if I’m away from the show for any amount of time. There’s a lot of magicians ready to take our place, especially with so many of the Catskill resorts closing for good.”

“I’ll go back to public school, Dad. Do what Dr. Rosenberg recommends. Please.”

Dad stood up, still holding my hand. “I’ve made up my mind. Thank you, doctor, but no thanks. Come, Lindsey, we need to make sure we’re on stage at 7 sharp tonight.”

I looked at Dr. Rosenberg and just shook my head before following Dad out the door of the office.