It is mid morning on a summer day. I am curled up on the couch watching Kath-lee and Regis on television. It is one of those morning nice quiet mornings, wear the sun is heating up the air and I should venture outside, but I do not want to move. Suddenly, I hear voices, splashing and the spring of the diving board. “Really I think to myself. Isn’t it too early to go swimming?” Getting off the couch is a slow process. I am so cozy. When I finally head outside on the deck, I see our friends from down the road with their younger children enjoying a mid morning swim.
Normally, I would jump at the chance to go swimming and loved when people would come over. However, today I am feeling lazy and just want to snuggle back on to the couch. I try to sneak back, without anyone noticing. However, I hear Peter call “Hey Emily, come on down for a swim.” I gave him a sceptical look and hoped that would be the end of it. But knowing Peter I was not going to be able to return to my cozy spot.
I replied “I will be down in a minute. I decided I would head down to the pool, but not swim. Just sit by the pool and enjoy the warm morning sun. As I walk down the stone steps I see Christopher, who is about seven years old. He gives me a big wave and a smile as he jumps off the side of the pool. The water cascades over the side of the pool and he comes up with a big grin on his face. Matthew his older brother is in a black inner tube with a mask on his face looking under water.
I take a seat on the steps of the pool and watch the boys swim. The water is cool at first, but warms up as my feet get use to the water. I am enjoying the atmosphere and the warm sun on my back. After a few seconds I think to myself, where has Peter gone?
The next thing I know I am being picked up, I look behind me and it is Peter. Oh no I thought, this cannot be happening. I try to plead my case. “Hey Peter, you really do not have to do this, I have all my clothes on and it is too early in the morning to get into the pool.” Unfortunately, he is not listening to me and the next thing I know I am in the water. When I surface I hear the boys laughing and cheering, Peter is laughing. He says “Emily you should know better by now then to come down to the pool without you swim suit on.”
I try to pretend that I am angry with him. However, I was never a good actress and suddenly I start laughing too. Really, I had walked into the situation and knew being thrown in could be a true possibility. Do not get me wrong I love the water. According to my parents I was asking to go swimming at nine months of age. However, at the age of fourteen, swimming before 10am is not what I call my cup of tea.
I swim over to the side of the pool. I am dripping from head to toe. My hoodie sweat shirt feels like a lead weight, my shorts are clinging to me and there is water in my ear. I try to hop on on foot, but it is so use.
I hear Matthew and Christopher calling to me, I turn around and hear “come swimming, come swimming”. I know this is a battle that I have lost and the only choice I have is to join them. I scurry up the steps and quickly change into my swim suit, ready for a day of swimming.
This is how I spent my summers as a child, swimming in the family pool and with friends and family. Really what more could I have asked for?
