Staring at the ocean she wished she hadn’t been such a scaredy cat back when she had the chance. More than anything she wanted to swim. But she couldn’t. She had never gotten in. And at the age of 28 it was probably a bit too late. She eyed the tanned man in the red shorts and asked, “Is there any way to learn without getting in?”
Taking off his sunglasses the lifeguard confirmed she was beautiful, too bad she was so dumb.”Come again?”
“I just thought that maybe there was a contraption that could make me a good swimmer before I got in? I’m pretty sure if I knew I wouldn’t drown or make a fool of myself I’d be a good swimmer. But I’ve never left the shore for fear I’ll drown..”I’
“You’ve never gotten in?” He repeated.
“Never.”
His heart softened. She was scared. Turning he pointed toward the kiddie pool. “You should start there. And after you wade around on your own for a few minutes sign up for an instructor to get in the shallow end of the pool- with you. You won’t drown. You may go under but you’ll learn…Do it. You should get in – now…”
“Now?” She worried.
Smiling he returned his glasses to his nose. “You can’t swim from the shore.”
The shore. That was it. She had become a shore sitter. Risk adverse, she’d designed a life avoiding failure. But she was tired of sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else adventure and her continue to do what she’d always done. Was leaving the shore as easy as he made it sound to be? Was it nothing more than being willing to fail?
“Just get in. ALL IN.”
” I’m finally going to get IN- right now.” She giggled.
He smiled. He liked her courage. Maybe she wasn’t so dumb, after all. ”After you’re done – want to get some lunch?”
“I’m IN. I’m ALL In.” she said over her shoulder as she jogged toward the kiddie pool.
I’m In- Are You? Satire
