The smell of gasoline and summer is in the breeze as I parked my car by the local pool. “Um, what are we doing here?” my friend asks. I grumbled about how this place never called me for an interview despite receiving my application a week or so ago. I tell her I’ll be quick; I was only there to ask a few questions. The smell of chlorine and sunscreen draft into my nose and the sound of laughter and squealing fill my ears. I’m sixteen and I’m terrified as I walk through puddles towards the lifeguard room. I remind myself of the other places that turned me down to give myself grit. I think of how stupid I was to bring my mom with me to previous interviews and how shaky my voice gets if I answered questions. I can do this. When I enter the
