To the Pool

I was ready by 8.

Around 9:30 I walked out to the road and checked to see if one of the taxis I usually use
was around.
Sure enough, they were all there.
I picked the older, cool, bearded Rasta who knows my families hood well.

On the way he pointed out a little cook shop.
He slowed down yelled out his window "Miss Ginny, Soup today"

The lady in the shop said something I could not catch.
"Mon, you can get good soup there, home made every day. Good, good mon.

I got to the house and knocked on the door.

The kids were just finishing breakfast, but the driver had no problem waiting.

Soon, we were all loaded up with swimming gear and on our way.

We went to my room first, turned on the TV and they watched cartoons for a while.
There was a swimming class going on at the pool, so we waited.

Sure enough, the kids were hungry again.
We walked to a little shop and they got snacks and juices.

Back to my room they watched TV and I chilled on my Veranda.
Soon, I noticed people leaving the pool area, so I guess class was over.

"OK, get into your swim suits" time to hit the pool.

When we got to the pool, it was deserted.
The kids, asked me about the numbers along the sides of the pool.
The 3 means 3 feet deep, the 5 means 5 feet deep.
"Don't you go pass the 3"!

The little boy had questions about the pool.
"Why is it darker in the deep?
"Only grown ups can go in the deep?
If we, go there maybe drown?
"Why the color blue over there?
"if it rains, will the pool flood?,
he had a million of them.

Just swim little fellow, OK?

I was sitting and watching at first.
Then I took off shirt and I heard the little boy yell, like
Batman was coming in the water.
He wanted to hold on to me while I went in the deep.

Pull me, hold me, don't let go!
"me too", the girl yelled.

I tried to teach them swimming techniques, but they just wanted to splash and play.

I swim like a fish, but keeping an eye on those 2 was rough.
They were trying to creep closer to the deep, holding the side
to where they can't feel the bottom and then turn back.

"Stop, Get away from there,
"See the 3 foot number?
"Careful
"No, don't dive in, feet first.

When I got out, they stayed in the shallow.
One day I must teach them to swim.

After swimming, we went back to my room. The boy knocked out and the girl watched TV.

It was a good day.