Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Red Badge of Courage: Part 4
Today Max announced, "I'm not afraid to go to the swim meet any more."
That alone would have made the first swim season worthwhile.
But there's more.
Backstroke. Final heat of 5-6 year old boys. Only three lanes occupied. Gun sounded.
Max looked like a swimmer.
Face out of the water.
Arms straight. And moving.
Feet kicking.
Max touched the wall first.
Earned a blue ribbon fair and square.
For more than effort.
Then freestyle.
All six lanes full.
At the quarter mark, the boys are bunched together.
At the halfway point, it's still anyone's race.
Max is breathing to the side.
Face back in the water.
Kicking.
Everyone finishes together, more or less.
Max's ribbon is maroon.
But he swam a helluva race.
After the meet, as we prepared to head home, Max asked for a little more time.
"I want to go tell Peter he swam a good race."
Peter, Max's classmate, who in some ways is a man among boys. Knows how to play poker. Can break a board with his hand. Swims in the first heat with the 6-year olds.
"Because I want to be a good sport."
Yep, the season was definitely worth it.
That alone would have made the first swim season worthwhile.
But there's more.
Backstroke. Final heat of 5-6 year old boys. Only three lanes occupied. Gun sounded.
Max looked like a swimmer.
Face out of the water.
Arms straight. And moving.
Feet kicking.
Max touched the wall first.
Earned a blue ribbon fair and square.
For more than effort.
Then freestyle.
All six lanes full.
At the quarter mark, the boys are bunched together.
At the halfway point, it's still anyone's race.
Max is breathing to the side.
Face back in the water.
Kicking.
Everyone finishes together, more or less.
Max's ribbon is maroon.
But he swam a helluva race.
After the meet, as we prepared to head home, Max asked for a little more time.
"I want to go tell Peter he swam a good race."
Peter, Max's classmate, who in some ways is a man among boys. Knows how to play poker. Can break a board with his hand. Swims in the first heat with the 6-year olds.
"Because I want to be a good sport."
Yep, the season was definitely worth it.
1 Comments:
Very good work!
I like your pictures too!!!
Congratulations...
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