E.” As he stared down at the rushing water inside the anaconda-sized pipe, Noodle was starting to have second thoughts. “I love Tom and all, but a man’s gotta draw the line.” Without paying much attention to his protests, Tom’s dad stuck one foot through the opening at the top of the aqueduct, then lowered in the rest of his body. Another moment, and he’d disappeared inside the pipe completely. “Come on. The water’s not even cold.” His voice sounded tinny and hollow. “This is really happening.” Noodle shook his head in disbelief as he took a hesitant step toward the aqueduct. He couldn’t wimp out now. Tom and Colby would never let him live it down. Eyes closed, he placed a cautious foot through the opening. Water rushed into his shoes. Its biting cold numbed his whole leg in a matter of seconds. “Hold your breath and plunge right in,” Tom’s dad instructed from the darkness. Like it was that easy. “Hawwwwhhhh …” Shin-deep in the foot-high water, Noodle shivered to his core.
