Just something I wrote this afternoon. I guess I'll be continuing it a bit more later, but right now, I need to go get ready to meet a friend and then work on a project for class...
"I won't let you drown." Those five words had been repeated to what Sophia thought was at least the hundredth time as she watched Megan clutch onto the edge of the swimming pool, the young girl's blue eyes wide with terror. The fifteen-year-old let out an inner sigh. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
When she'd first told Coach Abby that she'd be willing to help teach the younger kids how to swim, Sophia thought that she'd be working with the ones who could actually swim across the pool. She'd teach them how to dive and perfect their strokes enough so that they could join the regular swim team during the next season. But no. Instead of working with the older kids, she'd been shunted off to work with a four-year-old who wouldn't even put her face in the water, much less let go of the wall.
"Soapy!" The girl wailed. "I'm cold!" Despite the fact that she hated being called by this rather diminutive nickname, Sophia almost smiled when any of the little kids (many of whom could not make the f sound properly yet) addressed her by name. From across the pool, Sophia could hear Mei-ling praise her students. They were all supposed to be at the same level, but the kids that Mei-ling had were already doing backfloats with minimal support. Sophie scowled to herself. Go figure that she'd get stuck with the one girl in the entire swim program who was afraid of the water.
"You should move around, then," she answered. Truth was, standing here in the water that reached just above her midriff was getting boring and even she was starting to feel a bit chilled. For a moment, she was envious not only of Mei-ling, but also of James, who had been assigned to the diving class. Well, as a diver, he would have been naturally more suited to teach kids how to dive, but none of them were afraid of the water.
Thankfully, Sophia was saved by Coach Abby's whistle, signaling the end of the session. Still sobbing, Megan climbed out of the pool and her mom wrapped a fluffy towel that had a picture of the Disney princesses on it around her. With little to no effort, Sophia swam a rather sloppy version of freestyle over to the diving boards on the deep side of the pool, where all the other instructors had already gathered for a quick debriefing.
Before Abby could address the group, James swam over to where Sophia was treading water. "After Abby's done, I kinda need to talk to you." This comment was quiet enough so that even Mei-ling, who was chatting with Kaitlyn on the other side of Sophia couldn't hear. She nodded and then turned to wait for Abby's latest instructions.
tbc... this will definitely be getting more. I'm rather excited to see what James has to tell Sophia and how that will relate back to what she's been thinking about...
"I won't let you drown." Those five words had been repeated to what Sophia thought was at least the hundredth time as she watched Megan clutch onto the edge of the swimming pool, the young girl's blue eyes wide with terror. The fifteen-year-old let out an inner sigh. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
When she'd first told Coach Abby that she'd be willing to help teach the younger kids how to swim, Sophia thought that she'd be working with the ones who could actually swim across the pool. She'd teach them how to dive and perfect their strokes enough so that they could join the regular swim team during the next season. But no. Instead of working with the older kids, she'd been shunted off to work with a four-year-old who wouldn't even put her face in the water, much less let go of the wall.
"Soapy!" The girl wailed. "I'm cold!" Despite the fact that she hated being called by this rather diminutive nickname, Sophia almost smiled when any of the little kids (many of whom could not make the f sound properly yet) addressed her by name. From across the pool, Sophia could hear Mei-ling praise her students. They were all supposed to be at the same level, but the kids that Mei-ling had were already doing backfloats with minimal support. Sophie scowled to herself. Go figure that she'd get stuck with the one girl in the entire swim program who was afraid of the water.
"You should move around, then," she answered. Truth was, standing here in the water that reached just above her midriff was getting boring and even she was starting to feel a bit chilled. For a moment, she was envious not only of Mei-ling, but also of James, who had been assigned to the diving class. Well, as a diver, he would have been naturally more suited to teach kids how to dive, but none of them were afraid of the water.
Thankfully, Sophia was saved by Coach Abby's whistle, signaling the end of the session. Still sobbing, Megan climbed out of the pool and her mom wrapped a fluffy towel that had a picture of the Disney princesses on it around her. With little to no effort, Sophia swam a rather sloppy version of freestyle over to the diving boards on the deep side of the pool, where all the other instructors had already gathered for a quick debriefing.
Before Abby could address the group, James swam over to where Sophia was treading water. "After Abby's done, I kinda need to talk to you." This comment was quiet enough so that even Mei-ling, who was chatting with Kaitlyn on the other side of Sophia couldn't hear. She nodded and then turned to wait for Abby's latest instructions.
tbc... this will definitely be getting more. I'm rather excited to see what James has to tell Sophia and how that will relate back to what she's been thinking about...
