Bridget Learns To Swim

Hello future readers!

Today some of us went to the lake for a swim. Even though Bridget got a super new swimsuit for camp, she was afraid to use it, 'cos she didn't know how to swim. Kim and I had to talk her into coming with us.

"Come on Bridget, please come with us. I promise I won't let you drown", I said to her.
"I dunno Julie", she said looking behind her off the end of the dock, "That water looks awfully deep."

"It's not that deep by the platform", I told her. "Learning to swim isn't so tough. I could teach you."

"Besides how much fun is it sitting on the sand watching everyone else has fun in the water?", Kim said. "You don't wanna be left out every time all of us go swimming. You'll have lots more fun if you could join us.  Please Bridget?"
"Oh, OK....but I still don't know about this."

So we all walked down to the lake together. Bridget was really scared. Kim and I held her hands as we went into the water. It only comes about up to your chest near the platform, and the gets deeper as you go further out. So we walked all the way to the platform and helped Bridget climb up on it and sit down. Wendy, April and Robyn were already there splashing around and having a ball.
"Watch me dive off into the water, Bridget", Kim said, and she jumped in.

"See? It's a cinch!" Kim called out as she floated past us.

"I can't do that, Julie!", Bridget whispered to me.
"Don't worry about it", I said. "Let's just sit here a while and watch the others."

.

Then I dove in and hung onto the edge of the platform.

"Come on in, Bridget. You can hold onto the platform and we can practice kicking out feet."
She whined a little, but Bridget slid off the end of the platform, held onto the side and I showed her how to kick her feet.

"See that's not so bad", I told her. "Now let's practice kicking on our backs. I'll hold you up."
"Are you sure about this?"
"The water is only chest deep, remember? If I lose my grip on you, just stand up."
"OK."

"OK, back on our tummies again, only this time, hold onto my hands instead of the platform."
"But I'll go under!"
"No you won't. Just pretend I'm the platform and kick your feet like you did before."
I held onto Bridget's hands as she kicked her legs (really hard!), and the slowly I let go.

Her head went under for a minute. I held her hands again.
"Don't let go!" she screamed.
"I have to let go or you won't learn. This time when I let go paddle your arms. You can do it."
"No I can't!"
"Yes you can Bridget. I'm letting go now. Paddle!"
She went under again, and then came up paddling!
"I'm doing it!"
"YAY! Go Bridget!"

She swam around the platform a couple of times. I couldn't believe she learned so fast! She didn't even need a kickboard! I climbed back up on the platform. to watch her swim. Then April said, "Hey look at Bridget! She's floating on her back!"

Wow! She really was! Somehow she got turned over and was floating on her back!
"How does it feel, Bridget?" I called out.
"Outta site!" she called back. "I can really swim! Thanks Julie!"

I was super proud of her! Now Bridget won't be afraid to swim in the lake or go to the pool back home! Summers will never be the same for her! They'll be better! Go Bridget!

Until tomorrow, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman