Read Online Bone Deep by Gina McMurchy-Barber - Free Book Online

than anyone else in the class. I removed my regulator from my mouth and let it go. It floated behind my head. Then I gave TB the out-of-air signal. He took three deep breaths and passed his regulator to me. So far, so good. Then I pushed the purge button and took in three deep breaths. Then I immediately exhaled.
    Wait! I wasn’t supposed to do that.
    The second after I exhaled I realized what I’d done. It’s funny how when your lungs are empty your brain goes blank too. I started grasping around for my own regulator but couldn’t reach it. Then I grabbed at TB’s regulator. He kept giving me the hand signal to wait while he took two more deep breaths.
    When he finally passed it to me I shoved it over my mouth. That’s when I made my second mistake — instead of purging the water from the regulator I immediately began to inhale. Instantly my lungs began filling with water instead of air and I started choking. Then I got completely disoriented. I couldn’t even tell which way led to the surface of the pool. As I tore frantically at my weight belt I saw the look of panic in TB’s eyes. That was the last thing I saw before everything went black.
    I don’t know how long it was before I regained consciousness, but when I did I was laying flat on my back at the side of the pool and staring up at Tornado. He was shouting in my ear to “wake up.”
    â€œI’m not deaf,” I moaned weakly. Then I quickly turned to the side and hurled all over his leg.
    â€œSo that’s the thanks I get for saving your life.”
    â€œAh, sorry, Tornado. I, uh …” Someone handed Tornado a wad of paper towel. I looked up to the other students and to TB. If I hadn’t been feeling as crappy as a flat cow patty I’d have laughed at the look on their faces.
    â€œOkay, you guys, everything is all right. Pammy’s mistake makes for a good learning opportunity for everyone. She exhaled too quickly, leaving herself with no air in her lungs. Of course the worst mistake she made was panicking — something you’ll want to make note of in case you’re ever in a situation like this.” Great, now I’ll always be remembered as the kid who lost it in diving school and nearly killed herself panicking. “But don’t be discouraged — the more you practice with this stuff, the more comfortable you’ll get underwater. Just stick to the safety rules and procedures I’ve taught you and you’ll be fine.” Right then I heard a loud whining sound. “Okay, Patsy, the ambulance is here. The medics are going to have a look at you.”
    â€œNo, I don’t …” I tried rolling to my side to get up, but flopped back down, exhausted. I didn’t have the strength to resist. Soon I was prodded and checked over by two ambulance guys.
    â€œHey, that was pretty exciting,” Tornado joked with one of them. “But that artificial resuscitation thing was tricky.” I looked over at TB and groaned.
    â€œTB, please tell me he didn’t do mouth-to-mouth,” I whispered. Just the thought of it made my stomach churn and I suddenly bent over and hurled again, this time on the medic’s shoe. By the time they’d finished checking me out I was feeling a little better — physically anyway. The memory of it all was haunting me like a dream I couldn’t wake up from. TB sat quietly by my side. He seemed to be in nearly as much shock as me. Besides nearly drowning, I now had a seriously disturbing image of Tornado giving me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation — it was like a barf stain on the brain.
    â€œI called your house and let your great aunt know what happened,” TB said.
    â€œYou called Aunt Beatrix! What’d you do that for?” I groaned while gripping my throbbing head.
    â€œShe sounded pretty calm, and said to tell you she’s on her way.”
    â€œThanks, TB,” I said sarcastically.