A Swimming Sensation

During my time in the mid-60’s, swimming was popular. Most of my friends knew how to swim. It did not matter about the styles of swimming. But it did matter as long as you knew how to stay afloat and to join the others for fun and play in the water. Otherwise, you could only become a by-stander and miss the fun.

            I was always the miserable by-stander since I was scared of water and yet deep in my heart I wished I could swim like my other friends.  I admired them for their ability to somersault  before diving into the water. They were like acrobats.  They were swimming like ducks. I was really amazed at their ability to do all kinds of tricks in the water. 

            Hence each time I accompanied my friends for a swim. I simply joined them reluctantly as I only wanted to be with them. That’s all.

            Finally during one of such outings and as usual, all my friends enjoyed swimming to their heart’s content.  Each and every of them tried to show off their individual swimming styles. There was nothing actually to shout about their styles since there was no qualified swimming coach to teach them the correct techniques  of swimming.

            It was really a spectacular sight to behold. I envied them so much for their ability to swim.  All of a sudden,  Apollo challenged me to a swim with him.  He showed me his skill of staying afloat with his head and body. He gave me an on the spot- demonstration like a swimming coach. He simply instructed me to continue kicking the legs in the water and  moving the hands like the legs of a duck.  It was easy to learn as he tried to convince me that I could take to water like a water duck. It sounded so simple.

            At that particular moment I strongly believed in  him. I plucked up my courage and jumped into the river like a seasoned swimmer. I could feel the water brushing against my face and body. I remembered Apollo’s words : kicking repeatedly, moving and rowing your hands continuously. True to his words, my head bobbed and stayed afloat. I was overwhelmed with joy. I could really swim like one of my friends. It was my first time staying afloat in water.  Courage and determination really worked wonders. Help and challenges thrown at me always did the same wonder and a great miracle indeed.

            However as in later years, I shuddered to think what would have happened to me if I had not come out of the water after my first dive. I might have been drowned. It could be the first and the last dive of my life. Luckily, I survived to tell this harrowing episode of my life.