"You're gonna run the Polar Bear Bath." Another fireman handed him a hose and he tossed it into the tub.
"The what?" I watched the tub begin to fill with water.
"Polar Bear Bath. We're gonna fill this with ice water and then people can challenge others to donate and try it, or challenge others too."
Others came forward carrying buckets and bags of ice. Pound after pound, dumping them into the tub.
"Okay, so I just collect money?" I cocked my head, unsure of it all. They hadn't done this activity last year.
The captain slapped me on the back harder than usual, causing me to lurch forward.
"Don't be late next time, Maitland." He cackled as he walked off.
"Yes, sir," I muttered, even though he was too far away to hear.
Chip, another newbie, came over. I cursed under my breath. He was a total suck-up. What had he done to get put on polar bear duty?
“Ready?” He grinned at me.
“Not even slightly. How long are we doing this?” I looked at the baths, which were full now, and looked… cold. I wasn't trying to dive in for stupid kids who jumped in and panicked.
“Until we cure retinoblastoma!” he said so cheerfully that I wanted to shove him into one of the tubs just to shut him up.
“What? I thought you out of anyone would appreciate the cause this year.” He pointed to his eye.
“That’s not how I lost my eye, dipshit.”
I paused my shit-talking when a group of giggling young girls came over and asked what our attraction was. I let Chip take the lead and explain everything.
“Our goal for today is fifteen thousand. You want to help cure eye cancer?”
The giddy girls tossed their money in his boot and eagerly took their socks and shoes off. I grabbed a towel from the pile and stood on the other side for when they leaped out.
One by one, each kid jumped in and then right back out. They dried off, tossed the towels back, and ran to tell their friends how brave they were.
The job was dreadfully boring. I couldn’t stray too far from the baths, and the only people interested were kids.
“The polar bear bath is meant to symbolize endurance when things get rough. Just like the people fighting retinoblastoma, they have to be tough and strong enough to handle treatments and long hospital stays. It's often painful, just like sitting in ice is. Can you handle time in the polar bear bath?” Chip read off the card we’d been given.
“I can handle a lot of things.” A familiar voice caused me to turn. I’d been so lost in my mind, I hadn’t seen my own fucking truck pull in. Swayze smirked at me as I looked over in surprise. Beside him stood—Was that Domino? Holy fuck. She'd been pretty before... but now...
“How much have you guys raised?” she asked. I was momentarily stumped, staring at her freshly colored hair, the new clothes, thetighterclothes. Holy fuck she was hot.
We looked to the electric sign that updated periodically.
“7k. We’re about halfway there. Care to try the bath? Our record is twenty-three seconds,” Chip said.
“I don’t know.” Domino shook her head. “The shock probably won’t feel good. I don’t really like water, either.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” I stepped forward, suddenly interested in helping Chip. He’d already had to dig at least a dozen kids and various adults out of the bath. He was soaked through completely, while I still bone dry. “Or are you too scared?”
“I’m not that scared. I just…”
“What if I made a deal with you? If you double your donation, I’ll get in the bath with you," I blurted. I wasn't sure where that had come from, but my heart was beating furiously as I waited for her response.
“What?” Chip, Swayze, and Domino all said in unison.
Forcing back my nerves, I slid off my boots and socks.
