Laura - Underneath Surface Love

I recall that there were many people watching us to make sure we were going to be okay. All of the children, like myself, were taking swimming lessons at the YMCA. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, maybe even neighbors, were all there to watch these seven year old and nine year old kids, as they tried to brave this new experience. And I was one of them.

I remember starting out real slow with my teacher, whose name was also Laura, just like my mom. She was patient, attentive, and warm to me. All her strength lifted me into the water as I started to panic. She waited, patted me on my back, whispered close to my ear that “I can do it, because I’m brave,” and that “she was watching me extremely close.” Soon, I felt that I was able to do it. She’d watch, and watch, all of the kids at the same time. It was her, and everyone crowding the pool, closely watching their kids. Then of course, there were also the lifeguards there to watch. But there was one thing that Laura, the strangers, and the lifeguards weren’t expecting: What my curiosity would lead me to soon after the class ended.

I was interested in knowing just how to swim alone like my older sister (who was in a higher level swimming class, and who is two years older). I took my floaters off, drifted far away from everyone who’d know who I was, and tried to swim on my own. Laura was around the pool still, but was with her next class. And it was crammed, so no one could have suspected my actions anyway.

I was scared.....but I managed the first step of taking the floaters away from my arms. Once done, I started to flap, trying to observe my sister and swim at the same time. It was interesting to me, but at the same time, scary. Once I recognized my fear, the feeling became overwelming. I started going under, and I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see the surface again. I was certain I was going to drown - so much so, that my heart started sinking along with me…

But there, steady and familiar, was there a hand grabbing and pulling me up from way under the water in that deep end. I couldn’t see right away, nor even could conceive that she was there, but she was… Laura… or-mom. She finally gripped my whole body and took me out of there, running with me to the benches. She was drenched, and in one of the only nice pair of clothes she ever wore. Her dark hair was clean-looking, slicked back from her brave face, a face that was nonetheless scared. She held me close, as my sister was there next to us watching, confused and shaken. The crowds stared unsure, and as did teacher-Laura as well. My mom melted into my face, and told me that now she was “watching me even closer.”