The girl in the middle reminded me of a mermaid, but that was probably just a reflection on her pose. She sat like a pin-up model with both hands behind her and both legs together, somewhat folded, like a tail. Her name was Rosa. She had dark hair and bronze skin. There were chickadee tattoos above both breasts.

 

Rosa wasn't naked. She had on a black corset and a matching g-string. She looked like a million bucks.

 

Nobody instructed us to get started, but I guess we all knew it was time. Rosa was ready. So were we. I spread out my towel next to Shannon's, even though I felt oddly separate from her, like I was in this alone. It was my journey. She'd brought me here, but this was for me.

 

Some people didn't sit, or recline, but I did. There were girls at the back of the room who stood, leaning against the walls, their backs pressing right up to those crayon pictures of Bible stories. Some of the girls were kneeling, which seemed like a good idea, but I sat on my ass with my legs in front of me and my arms behind me, sort of like Rosa.

 

For a while, I just watched.