Clear the Pool
Looking glumly at my fluro-white torso I decided it was time to begin hitting the pool. I'm not a very good swimmer nor a very fast swimmer but when its far too hot to jog I really enjoy hitting the water for some slow and almost-graceful laps. Rocking on up to my usual school pool I was disappointed to find it already closed for the day. What I liked about that pool was that it belonged to a school so there weren't many others there. And if the swim squad was training I could imagine that the swim coach was yelling at my lane as well as theirs. It was motivation enough to see the super-toned students shooting through the water like their legs were propellors. And to hear the coach roaring at them to stop diddling around was enough to snap me out of my dog-paddle quick smart.
But my favourite pool was closed so horror of horrors I was forced to attend a 'public' pool. Not that I'm a pool snob but in a working-class town like mine the local public pool can contain much more than water and chlorine. But I thought about my fluoro-white stomach once more and paid my entry fee. Entering the complex I suddenly realised the pool was only 25 metres long and every metre of that was heaving with screaming kids and teenagers. I swiftly retreated to the counter and said apologetically, "I'm sorry I didn't realise the pool was so full - I was hoping to do some laps." I was hoping to get a refund. However to my astonishment the woman replied quickly, "That's ok - we'll clear a lane for you."
Before I could respond she had gone to do just that so I obediently went into the change room. As I changed into my string bikini I heard the woman over the loudspeaker, "Clear lane six. Everyone clear lane six for lap swimming." The announcement was repeated several times before I emerged rather nervously. I didn't exactly look like a professional swimmer - I didn't even have goggles or a swim cap. The lifeguards endeavours over the loudspeaker were unsuccessful however that didn't deter her -she came down to the pool edge and began ordering people to move out of the lane. Some people looked confused. Others disgruntled. And when they saw me with my fluro-white torso stepping gingerly into the deep end they must have been a tad astonished. Who is this VIP pool-user? How did she get so pale? How come she gets a whole lane to herself?
Whatever they were thinking they were made to squish into the other five lanes. At first I felt emberassed but in a fit of selfishness I told myself this was entirely fair. However not everyone was convinced. As I completed paddling my first lap a six year old boy on the edge of my lane started shouting at me, "You have to get out of lane six! They have to clear this lane!" Standing up I retorted, "Yes I know, they cleared the lane for me!" But he continued to argue with me yelling, "You have to get out of lane six! People are going to come and make you get out!" "Yes I know! They cleared the lane for me!" The argument continued - escalating with my own frustration at this kid's attempts to boot me my out of my lane. As the argument escalated I realised that if I didn't keep swimming others would begin drifting into my precious lane space. So I kept swimming and after a few laps got out and went home.
Hey, if people want to give me special treatment, I'm not going to say no ; )
But my favourite pool was closed so horror of horrors I was forced to attend a 'public' pool. Not that I'm a pool snob but in a working-class town like mine the local public pool can contain much more than water and chlorine. But I thought about my fluoro-white stomach once more and paid my entry fee. Entering the complex I suddenly realised the pool was only 25 metres long and every metre of that was heaving with screaming kids and teenagers. I swiftly retreated to the counter and said apologetically, "I'm sorry I didn't realise the pool was so full - I was hoping to do some laps." I was hoping to get a refund. However to my astonishment the woman replied quickly, "That's ok - we'll clear a lane for you."
Before I could respond she had gone to do just that so I obediently went into the change room. As I changed into my string bikini I heard the woman over the loudspeaker, "Clear lane six. Everyone clear lane six for lap swimming." The announcement was repeated several times before I emerged rather nervously. I didn't exactly look like a professional swimmer - I didn't even have goggles or a swim cap. The lifeguards endeavours over the loudspeaker were unsuccessful however that didn't deter her -she came down to the pool edge and began ordering people to move out of the lane. Some people looked confused. Others disgruntled. And when they saw me with my fluro-white torso stepping gingerly into the deep end they must have been a tad astonished. Who is this VIP pool-user? How did she get so pale? How come she gets a whole lane to herself?
Whatever they were thinking they were made to squish into the other five lanes. At first I felt emberassed but in a fit of selfishness I told myself this was entirely fair. However not everyone was convinced. As I completed paddling my first lap a six year old boy on the edge of my lane started shouting at me, "You have to get out of lane six! They have to clear this lane!" Standing up I retorted, "Yes I know, they cleared the lane for me!" But he continued to argue with me yelling, "You have to get out of lane six! People are going to come and make you get out!" "Yes I know! They cleared the lane for me!" The argument continued - escalating with my own frustration at this kid's attempts to boot me my out of my lane. As the argument escalated I realised that if I didn't keep swimming others would begin drifting into my precious lane space. So I kept swimming and after a few laps got out and went home.
Hey, if people want to give me special treatment, I'm not going to say no ; )
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Always a most enjoyable time spent reading your posts.
Hope you're well...
Dusk