Member-only story
Permanent Water Duty
The afternoon sun bounced off the small windows of the dorm buildings and into a parking lot full of beat-up cars. Two guys with super soakers hid behind a rusty minivan, occasionally squirting unexpected victims. Girls in tank tops and shorts lay on bath towels, occupying every available sunbathed patch of grass. The beach volleyball courts had a waiting line. Mildred sat farthest from the dorms amongst athletic bags, which lay on a brown patch of grass.
Mildred moved her hand over her eyes, pushing her red curly hair back against her sweaty forehead. Her jeans and a white button-up shirt, covered in little pineapples, stuck to her skin. She smiled as her friend, Abbey, ran up.
“Water!”
Mildred dug through the bags and found a liter Aquafina bottle filled with purple Gatorade. She threw it to Abbey and Abbey downed half of it. Suddenly, Drake ran out of the cornfield next to the college. He triumphantly held up a soccer ball.
Everyone on the soccer field cheered. Mildred and Abbey let out a holler.
“Thank you!” Abbey said through labored breaths as she tossed the bottle back.
Mildred caught it, giving Abbey a thumbs up and a smile as Abbey ran back onto the field. Mildred threw the bottle back into the bag, Her attention turned back to the field as the game started again.
