Bull in the Water

Caleb's dad was the Bull Riding Champion of three counties, which meant Caleb was supposed to be tough. But Caleb wasn't tough. Caleb was afraid of water, which was basically social suicide when you live in a town where the lake is the only place to hang out during summer.

"You coming, bro?" Tyler asked, already walking toward the swimming hole with his crew.

Caleb's stomach did that thing where it felt like someone was wringing it out like a wet towel. "Nah, I gotta... help my dad with... stuff."

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You're missing out. Jenna's gonna be there."

Clena's face heated up. Jenna. The girl he'd been lowkey crushing on since seventh grade when she accidentally called him "Cale" in math class and he hadn't corrected her because it sounded cooler.

That night, Caleb stared at his ceiling. His bull riding trophy collection from his dad stared back at him from the dresser—second place, third place, never first. Always the bull, never the rider.

Something in Caleb snapped.

The next morning, while everyone else was sleeping in, Caleb was at the community pool. His dad's old camouflage hat pulled low over his eyes, doing absolutely nothing to hide how obviously he didn't know what he was doing.

"First time?" asked an old guy who was practically doing backstrokes around him.

Caleb nodded, feeling stupid.

"Everyone starts somewhere," the guy said. "But you're gonna drown in that hat."

Caleb took it off. Felt naked. Felt like his dad was gonna somehow know. Felt like Tyler and Jenna and everyone at school would point and laugh if they could see him now.

He got in the water. It wasn't immediately terrible. It was actually kind of... peaceful.

By the end of July, Caleb could swim laps without feeling like he was dying. By mid-August, he signed up for the fall swim team. His dad just nodded and said, "Whatever makes you happy, son," which was basically the most emotional he'd ever gotten.

When school started, Tyler found out.

"Wait, YOU joined the swim team? Since when do you swim?"

Clena adjusted his hat—a new one, a swim team cap. "Since I realized some bulls are meant to ride, and some are meant to swim."

Tyler stared at him for a full five seconds. "That made no sense, but also... kind of badass?"

Jenna walked by and waved. "Hey Cale, see you at practice."

Caleb's stomach did that thing again. But this time, it wasn't from fear.