on the second grade swim team, flanked by competitors

she pisses herself
on the diving pedestal.
yellow body fluid spewing along her tightly pressed thighs
uninhibited,
pooling along the rough blue-gray plastic
riveting into the chlorine pool,
inoculated.

undaunted, Vivienne stares ahead
clenched, stoic.
like a caged beast, singularly focused on freedom
on victory
on adulthood.

the whistle blows.