She gave herself a moment to acclimate to the cold. As she did, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to indulge in the fantasy that her body had not betrayed her, that she was the same as she had been. That moment ended far too quickly. Then she took out the bar of soap and set to work on scrubbing this strange new body.
It had all started shortly before her twelfth birthday. Prudence had asked her to come into her shop to have her try on a new dress to wear for the party. Ordinarily Prudence's dresses fit without needing alterations. This time when Samantha tried on the dress, something was wrong. The dress felt tight around her chest, as if someone were squeezing her there. That was when she really noticed the two new bulges on her chest.
In the last two months, she had noticed other changes as well. She grew at least four inches seemingly overnight. Even the shape of her body seemed to be changing, her hips widening and waist narrowing. And there was hair where she hadn't had any before.
At that point she stopped bathing with the other girls. She didn't want them to see her monstrous new body without clothes to disguise it. When Prudence or Rebecca asked about it, Samantha said only she couldn't sleep. They accepted this, at least for the moment. She didn't know how long she could keep fooling them.
As if reading her thoughts, Prudence called out, "Samantha?"
Samantha ducked back into the water, keeping only her face above water. Prudence stood on the edge of the shore, still wearing her nightgown. Her body had changed as well in the last five years, getting ever pudgier. Her fat cheeks were still bright red from the walk and despite the chilliness, sweat plastered red hair to her forehead.
"What are you doing here?" Samantha asked.
"I woke up and you were gone."
"So?"
"I thought maybe you were feeling ill."
"No, I just couldn't sleep."
"I was thinking, perhaps we could go pray in the church. That always helps me when I can't sleep."
"No thanks."
"Oh, I see." Prudence looked down at her feet. "I suppose while I'm here, I might as well take my bath as well."
Prudence started to take off her nightgown until Samantha snapped, "Can't you give me a few minutes alone? Why can't I ever have any privacy around here?"
Prudence's face reddened, though this time not from exercise. "I'm sorry," she said. "I thought we were friends."
"We are, but that doesn't mean I need you around me every second of the day."