Jeisson swam in the pool while June grilled burgers. It was May and the weather had finally warmed up enough for Jeisson's father to call the pool guy. It was Jeisson's first time in it this year, and he was thrilled. 

He loved being in the water. He liked the feel of it. He also liked the science of it. He couldn't understand it yet but he was dying to know what made him float or sink, how he could propel himself forward with just his arms and legs.

"Keep your arms straight above your head," June called to him, watching his backstroke. "Don't put them out to the side like that."

"Okay!" Jeisson adjusted his technique. He was still taking swim lessons but he thought he was getting pretty good.

Jeisson heard the sliding door open and righted himself, treading water. "Dad!"

But Bruce looked displeased as he approached the edge of the pool. He put his hands on his hips as he peered down at his son. "What's this I hear about you getting a B on your spelling test?"

"Bruce, please don't start," June called from the grill. 

"I know you're better than a B. You could have aced that test in your sleep. So what gives, Kiddo?"

Jeisson felt his heart beating harder as he continued to tread water, his muscles growing tired. "I guess I just got the answers wrong," he said meekly.

"I don't buy that for one second," Bruce said, crouching down.

Jeisson let himself sink under the water. But he could only hold his breath for so long. 

When he popped back up, June was approaching, still holding one of the metal spatulas. "Bruce, it's one stupid test. This is not going to make or break his future." She pulled Bruce up by his tie and gave him a kiss.

Jeisson made a disgusted face and dove back under for just a few seconds. "I'm sorry, Dad," he said when he came back up.

Bruce wrapped an arm around June and gave a sigh. "You're better than that, Kiddo. I know you are. No more dicking around, alright? We play to win here."

"What's dicking around?" Jeisson asked.

June let out a sigh and looked up to the heavens. "Really, Bruce?"

Bruce crouched down again, motioning for Jeisson to come to him. So Jeisson swam over, hooking his elbows onto the rim of the pool to hold himself up. Bruce put a hand on his head. "I'd better not see another B on anything you do ever again. You have too much potential to be wasting it away like this. Got it?"

"Got it," Jeisson said with a nod. 

"Okay, then." Bruce ruffled Jeisson's wet hair, sending water drops flying. Then he rose and June pulled him back towards the grill, whispering intensely at him, but Jeisson sunk back into the water, not wanting to hear.

Later, Jeisson swung his feet from the lawn chair happily as they ate their dinner outside, under the awning. He held his burger with both hands and devoured it bite by bite. His mom had made it just how he liked it: no cheese, extra ketchup. All that swimming had made him hungry. 

His father's phone rang while they were eating, and he took it inside, closing the sliding door behind him. June turned to Jeisson then, a thoughtful look on her face.

"You can tell me, you know," she said, and took a bite of salad. 

"Tell you what?"

"Why you got a B. I know there must be a reason."

Jeisson dropped his burger onto his plate and gave a shrug.

"C'mon, Pip," June said, scooting her chair closer to his. She set her forearms on the table and then rested her chin on top of her hands, so she was at Jeisson's level. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

Jeisson kicked at the base of the table as he spoke, wringing his hands and staring down. "Arden, he sits next to me in class. We talk sometimes. He's always really sad whenever he does bad on a test. Well, not bad but...."

"Worse than you?"

"Yeah. And I thought, maybe if he did better than me, just once, then maybe we could be friends."

"How'd that work out?" June asked, tilting her head to the side.

Jeisson shook his head. "He still wouldn't play with me at recess. I guess he only wants to talk to me during class."

June let out a sigh, then lifted her head and wrapped an arm around Jeisson. She rested her chin on top of his head. "Pip, I know it's hard sometimes, to feel different. But what makes you different makes you special. Everyone has a way that they're special, and this is yours. You shouldn't ever become less special for the sake of someone else, okay?"

Jeisson nodded. June parted from him, resting her hands on his shoulders, and looked into his eyes. "Promise me, don't let your light shine any less bright for anyone else, okay? You just do your best."

Jeisson nodded, a little more firmly this time. "Okay. I promise."

"Good." June moved her chair back in front of her plate and the two continued eating.

Bruce didn't come back to dinner. When he finally did make it back outside, it was night and June and Jeisson were sitting by the pool, dipping their legs in.

"Sorry about that," Bruce said. "I have to go to the office."

June glanced at her watch. "Now? It's late."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"This was supposed to be a family night."

Jeisson was surprised to find his father coming to sit next to him. He peeled off his socks, rolled up his pants, and stuck his feet in the water. "I can't get in, but I have a few minutes if you want to play night sky."

Jeisson gave a squeal of glee and then dropped into the pool. He moved to float on his back. "Which one first?"

"How about... Orion?" Bruce said. 

Jeisson floated, scanning the sky. "There!" he said, pointing up. He looked over to see that Bruce was tapping away on his cell phone.

"Yep, good job, Kiddo," he said absently. "What about Cassiopeia?"

Jeisson looked to his mother, who offered him a smile. Jeisson didn't return it as he looked back up at the sky, searching for the constellation. He didn't find it before his father had to go. And he couldn't help but feel like he had failed somehow.