Riddle at the Deep End

Maya's hair had officially declared independence. The humidity at the community pool was doing things to her curls that defied physics, and of course, Jason had to show up right then.

"Nice lion look," Jason smirked, dripping pool water onto the concrete. "Going full ferocity today?"

Maya's face burned. She'd spent forty-five minutes trying to tame her hair into something respectable. Now it looked like she'd stuck her finger in an electrical socket.

"Shut up, Jason," she muttered, adjusting her swim cap like armor.

"Yo, May!" called Lena from the diving boards. "Academic decathlon practice starts in five. You ready to get wrecked?"

The pool area transformed into战场. Their coach, Mr. Harrison, had set up practice stations around the pool deck because the air conditioning was busted in the school building. And someone had decided to place the mythology station right beside the deep end.

Maya's stomach dropped. She'd been struggling with the ancient riddles all week.

"Alright," Mr. Harrison announced. "Today's elimination round: sphinx riddles. Lose, and you're doing a cannonball. Fully clothed."

The class went wild. Maya's palms sweated. She could swim, but not in her favorite hoodie.

The rounds flew by. Kids dropped like flies, executing embarrassing plunges into the water while everyone roasted them. When it was Maya's turn, Jason was watching, leaning against the fence with that annoying confident slouch.

"Okay, Maya," Mr. Harrison said. "Here's your riddle: What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?"

Maya's mind went blank. The answer was literally *man* — *humanity* — but she froze. Jason's eyes were on her. Her wild hair was frizzing bigger by the second. Everyone was waiting.

"Uh..." she stammered.

But then she saw it — her reflection in the pool water. Not perfect. Not smooth. A glorious mess of curls and coils and refusal to conform.

"Humanity," she said, finding her voice. "Because we crawl as babies, walk as adults, and use canes when we're old."

Jason's jaw dropped. Lena high-fived her so hard it echoed.

"What?" Jason blinked. "You actually got it?"

"Like I'd let you see me do a cannonball," Maya tossed her hair, letting it expand to its full, magnificent volume. "This masterpiece stays dry."

"Touché," Jason grinned, and for once, it wasn't annoying. "You know, you look kinda badass with the lion hair."

Maya rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. Maybe messy wasn't so bad after all.