Nina’s younger brother, Leo, flew through the air like a misguided missile. He hit the water three feet away, sending a massive wave directly over Nina. Flo tipped precariously, and Nina slid off into the deep end with a startled yelp.
She tossed her striped towel over a lounge chair and dropped her bag. Out came the essentials: a thick layer of coconut-scented sunscreen, her favorite mirrored sunglasses, and the star of the show—a giant inflatable flamingo she had named Flo. After a few minutes of breathless huffing to top off the air, Nina launched Flo into the water. nina's pool day
With a practiced hop, Nina glided onto the flamingo’s back. The water was cool against her ankles as she drifted toward the center of the pool. For an hour, the world was perfect. The only sounds were the distant hum of a neighbor’s lawnmower and the gentle splash of water against the tile. She closed her eyes, letting the sun soak into her skin, feeling like the queen of her own private island. Nina’s younger brother, Leo, flew through the air