On a bright and sunny day in a small town, two 12-year-old girls who were best friends, Sadie and Briar, went for a walk on a hot, July day during their summer break. As they walked they talked about their plans for summer and what they wanted to do before school began again in the fall. The girls wanted to do something fun to beat the heat. Each of the girls gave a suggestion. Sadie suggested going on a hike, but the girls laughed at the thought. Neither of the girls liked hiking.  They brainstormed and continued to complain about the intense heat radiating from the sun's blazing rays. 

 Briar had suggested going to the pool. She loved swimming and was part of their school's swim team. 

"It is too hot outside!" Briar whined as she walked next to Sadie.

"We need to find a way to cool down!" Sadie cried.

Briar had stopped and thought for a moment before she turned to Sadie with a huge grin. 

"We should go swimming!" Briar exclaimed, practically shouting with excitement. 

"We should go swimming!"

"We need to cool down!"

Sadie hesitated before speaking. 

"Maybe we can do something else. Maybe we could just go inside, and we can have popsicles or ice cream." Sadie said nervously.

No, we should definitely go swimming. It will be so much fun." Briar said

"My mom will pick you up at your house tomorrow, and we can ride to the pool together. I have to get home now. Bye!" Briar declared before Sadie could object.

" Sounds good. Bye." Sadie said attempting to hide her unease. 

During her walk home, Sadie tried to distract herself from thinking about having to go swimming the next day. Sadie was afraid of the water and had never learned how to swim. Despite having been best friends with Briar since they were in Kindergarten, she had always been too embarrassed and afraid of being judged to tell Briar. Sadie hated telling people about her fear, worried that she would be bullied, or even lose friends over it. She especially did not want to lose Briar, her best friend.

"Hi, sweetie" Sadie's mom chimed as Sadie entered the living room. 

"How was your walk with Briar?"

Sadie sighed and sat down on the couch by her mom.  

"Briar insisted that we go swimming together tomorrow, and I couldn't say no, but now I don't know what to do because I can't swim," Sadie said, tears forming in her eyes. 

"I don't want her to stop being friends with me or think I am a loser!" Sadie sobbed.

"She is never going to talk to me again!"

Sadie's mom hugged her tightly and wiped the tears from Sadie's face.

"Sadie," her mom said, "you are being silly. Briar will not stop being friends with you because you can't swim. You have been friends for six years. I am confident that she will be understanding, and if she didn't want to be your friend anymore, that means she was not good to keep as a friend anyway." 

Sadie's mom's words were reassuring and comforting. 

"She is your best friend. She cares about you."