Girl Scout Camp/Give a swimming lesson

From Create Your Own Story

Swimming lessons sounds like a good chance to get some one-on-one time with one of these girls, so you follow the voice you heard.

As you approach, you see Claire waving you over. She’s standing with another girl. She has an average build, but is a few inches taller than Claire. Her pastel violet bikini is more conservative cut than most here, but still shows off her figure well. Her black hair is tied up now, but looks like it would fall quite long.

You approach asking, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

The tall girl starts, “I… um…”

“Sophie doesn’t know how to swim,” Claire says to you.

Defending herself, the tall girl stammers, “I’m from Kansas. There’s no water there!”

“It’s okay, Sophie. Do you want me to give you a lesson?” you ask.

“He’s good at helping out with things,” Claire says suggestively.

“Thank you,” Sophie says cheerfully.

“Why don’t we go to a quiet part of the lake,” you point to an area. “The water isn’t too deep there, and it will let us practice in peace.”

She agrees and you lead her over to an isolated part of the lake. You can still see the beach from here, but not any details. The water is about 5 feet deep – deep enough to work with but it will still allow her to use the bottom for support when needed.

“How do we start?” Sophie asks.

“If you fall into the water, the most important thing is that you can keep from drowning,” you explain. “So I’m going to teach you how to tread water.”

You take hold of her hands and stand apart. “Now, imagine that you’re riding a bicycle. I want you to lift up your feet and start kicking them in circles.”

The first few attempts go badly, with Sophie sinking down into the water. You continue to practice and give her suggestions and eventually she is staying up.

You progress to having Sophie use her hands as well. Then to learning how to move slowly through the water by leaning back. Soon she’s got the hang of it and looks comfortable in the water.

“But it isn’t swimming,” she says.

“I can’t teach you how to swim in just one afternoon, but this is the foundation. You aren't likely to drown now and you can move around the water some.”

Sophie drifts over to you and puts her arms around your neck. “Thanks for the lesson.”

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