• adopted by billie eilish •

F O U R T E E N

paisley

billie said that she is taking me to go swimming again today, and i am very excited.

"mommy!" i call from my room. billie walks in and looks at me. "what do you want, baby?" she asks, squatting down to my level.

"can you help me put on my swimsuit?" i ask nicely. "of course!" billie says as she takes it out of my hand.

she takes off my shirt and pants and puts me in my swimsuit. "ooh girl, let me do something with that hair." billie laughs as she picks me up.

she takes me to her room and sits me on her bed. she turns on peppa pig while i wait for her to find her brush.

billie gets back on the bed and sits me in her lap. she starts brushing my hair back into a small bun.

i put my finger in my mouth. my mouth hurts. billie finishes up my hair and picks me back up and walks to the kitchen downstairs.

"hey girls, where are you going?" grandma asks. "i'm taking her to go swim again." billie says as she grabs the car keys.

"be safe!" grandma says as we walk out the door.

billie puts me in my car seat and gives me my ipod. she gets in the driver's seat and starts the short drive to the public pool.

i play on my ipod. i find my way to the camera and take a picture of myself.

i start singing a song i heard billie singing in her room one time. "i'm not afraid anymore, what makes you sure!" i sing happily.

billie turns around from the driver's seat. "what are you singing?" she asks, smiling. "a song i heard you sing." a day and smile back.

"you're a good singer, baby!" she says as she turns back around and drives into the parking lot of the public pool.

billie gets out the car and goes to the backseat. she takes me out of my car seat and tells me to leave my iPod in the car so it doesn't fall in the water.

she picks me up and we go inside the entrance. billie takes off her oversized shirt and puts it to the side.

i hold on to her tight as she gets in the water. "don't be scared, we've done this before." billie says as she sits in the shallow part and lays me on her lap.

"i'm gonna teach you how to hold your breath." billie says as she plays with my hands. "okay." i say as i look at her in the face.

"do you know how to hold your breath?" she asks. i nod. "try it, i wanna see." she says as she smiles.

i hold my breath for about ten seconds and breath out. "good!" billie says as she kisses my cheek.

"let's try holding your breath under the water." billie says spreading out her legs. "hold your breath, and i am gonna quickly dip you underwater, okay?" she says as she holds me under my arms tightly.

i nod, scared. "three, two, one!" billie says as she gets ready to put me underwater. i hold my breath and billie dunks me under water for three seconds.

she pulls me back up and smiles. "good job, paisley!" she says as i smile. "let's try it again, but longer." she says and smiles.

"three, two, one!"

she dunks me under water for about five seconds and pulls me back up. "good job!" she says as she hugs me.

"let's work on your swimming, now."

•••

word count: 603