Swimming Lessons

“Wake up, sweetie,” whispered Charlotte’s father, nudging her shoulder. “You have swimming lessons today.”

“Okay, Dad,” said Charlotte between yawns. “I’m awake.”

Charlotte rolled over one last time before sitting up. She leapt out of bed, put on her swimmers and looked out the window. Sparkling water lapped against the window sill. It stretched out to the horizon. Far out in the water, on the edge of a rectangular swimming pool, sat Charlotte’s swimming teacher, Denise.

“I’ll see you at the pool, Dad,” yelled Charlotte, opening the window and splashing into the water. She swam better than she’d ever swam before until reaching the rectangular pool.

“Hello, Charlotte,” said teacher Denise. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting for my dad,” replied Charlotte. “I have swimming lessons today.”

“Well then,” cried teacher Denise. “There’s no time to lose.” She tossed a dive stick into the centre of the pool. “Bring me that dive stick,” she said sternly.

Charlotte took a deep breath, swam to the bottom of the pool and grabbed the dive stick. She rose to the surface, strangely finding herself in a pond in the middle of a beautiful garden. Flowers displaying all the colours of the rainbow surrounded her. A short, plump man with a long grey beard and a pointy green hat looked down upon her.

“What are you doing in my pond?” asked the strange man.

“I’m waiting for my dad,” replied Charlotte. “I have swimming lessons today.”

The strange man thought for a moment. “Is your father a tall, handsome man with a dimple in his chin?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Charlotte with a smile. “That’s him.”

“He left a short time ago,” said the strange man. “If you wish to follow him, you’ll need to solve the puzzle at the garden gate.”

A large, ivy-covered, arched gate sat at the edge of the garden. “What’s the puzzle, mister?” asked Charlotte, but the strange man had disappeared.

At the gate, Charlotte found three beautiful vases. A tall yellow vase sat on the left, a red vase sat in the middle, and a short white vase sat on the right.

“Beautiful vases need beautiful flowers,” thought Charlotte. She picked a tall yellow Daffodil and placed it in the tall yellow vase. The vase simply vanished and the flower fell to the ground. She picked a beautiful red Hibiscus flower and placed it in the red vase, which promptly vanished. The same thing happened when Charlotte placed a pure white Franjepany in the short white vase.

The arched gate swung open and Charlotte scurried through with a mischievous laugh. She raced across an open grass field and down into a valley. Charlotte performed a silly dance as she crossed a rickety old bridge spanning a wonderful lake in the centre of the field. “This is amazing,” she thought, as she ran up the grass hill on the other side of the valley.

A beautiful young woman sat at the top of the hill staring out over the parkland. A black dog in a harness sat quietly beside her. The woman sipped coffee and nibbled on a chocolate-chip muffin. It was Charlotte’s mother.

“Mum?” cried Charlotte. “Is that you?”

“Hello, darling,” said Charlotte’s mother. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting for my dad,” replied Charlotte. “I have swimming lessons today.”

“I think he’s at the playground, down by the river,” said Charlotte’s mother.

“Thanks, Mum,” cried Charlotte as she ran down to the river bank. At the water’s edge, she found a magnificent playground. There were swings and slippery dips, climbing towers and carousels, and most impressive of all, a long, long flying fox. It seemed to go on forever, spanning far out over the river. Next to the flying fox stood a very fit young man. On his bright orange shirt were the words: “Life Guard”.

“Are you riding the flying fox today, young lady?” asked the young man.

“I’m waiting for my dad,” replied Charlotte. “I have swimming lessons today.”

The young man thought for a moment. “Is your father a tall, handsome man with a dimple in his chin?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Charlotte with a smile. “That’s him.”

“He rode the flying fox a short time ago,” said the young man. “If you wish to follow him, I suggest you hold on tight. It’s a long ride.”

The young man helped Charlotte onto the flying fox and gave her an all-mighty push. She took off like a rocket, moving faster than she’d ever moved before. Charlotte gripped the rope as tight as she could, but it wasn’t tight enough. She fell, splashing deep into the water.

Charlotte swam back to the surface, strangely finding herself next to her swimming teacher in the rectangular pool. A dive stick sat in her hand. “Well done, Charlotte,” said teacher Denise. “Your lesson is over. I heard your father calling. Swim back home, and don’t forget to keep your legs straight as you kick.”

“Yes, Miss,” said Charlotte. “I’ll do my very best.” She swam as fast as she could back to her bedroom window, climbed through and took off her swimmers. Exhausted and cold, Charlotte put her pyjamas back on and lay on her bed for just a moment.

Charlotte’s father opened her bedroom door and peeked inside. “Come on, Charlotte,” he cried. “It’s time to wake up.”

“Dad, I’ve been up for ages,” said Charlotte between yawns. “I’ve been on an amazing adventure!”

“I think you fell asleep again,” said Charlotte’s father. “We need to get moving. You have swimming lessons today.”

“But, Dad,” argued Charlotte.

“No buts. Your breakfast is getting cold. Put on your swimmers and come to the kitchen.”

Charlotte felt sad, knowing her father didn’t believe her. She reached down to the floor and picked up her swimmers. They were soaking wet. “Ah, hah!” said Charlotte excitedly. “I knew it was real.”

When Charlotte arrived at the kitchen, her father stopped and shook his head. “Why are you swimmers wet, young lady?”

“It’s a long story, Dad,” said Charlotte with a smile.