The Summer I Learned to Dive - By Shannon McCrimmon Page 0,47

and placed his two palms together. Suddenly, he dove head first into the water. It was a perfect dive. Water splashed onto me. I wiped my eyes. He bobbed up from the deep depths of the lake. His head and bare shoulders exposed.

“Now you try,” he said encouragingly.

I stood pensively, doing exactly what he told me not to do, over thinking. I raised my arms above my head and placed my palms together, trying to imitate Jesse. I looked at him for guidance.

“Come on, Finn,” he said enthusiastically.

I dove into the water, not as gracefully as Jesse. I swam quickly to the surface, nearly out of breath from fear. I coughed loudly and tried wiping water out of my eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asked concerned. I couldn’t see him; my eyes were clouded with water. He took my hand and led me to the rock, helping me up, lifting me with no effort.

I sat on the rock and waited for my eyes to stop burning. He sat patiently next to me. “That was great. Ready for another?” he asked. I thought he was joking, but his tone was serious. He shook his wet hair out of his face and smiled at me. His smile made my heart melt.

“I don’t think so,” I said and coughed.

“Finn,” he started.

“No,” I said more adamantly.

“You can’t quit after your first time. You’ve almost got it. Just give it a few more tries and you’ll have it,” he said trying to coach me.

“It’s not what I thought it would be,” I said.

“You can’t have expectations. You just have to do it. If you go into it expecting something, then you’ll always be disappointed. Just dive.” He smiled and stood up. Quickly and beautifully, he dove into the water, with little effort. He made it look so easy.

“I know you’re not a quitter,” he teased. “Do I need to call you one from now on?”

I rolled my irritated eyes at him. “Fine,” I grumbled. I stood up too annoyed to think about what I was doing. I dove into the water, this time a little neater, a little cleaner. I swam to the surface of the water. My eyes had been closed, so no water lingered in them. Jesse waded in the water, grinning at me.

“That was good,” he said. “I knew you weren’t a quitter,” he added. I glared at him and hoisted myself up on the rock. I sat on it, my feet dangling in the water. He swam up to me, close to my feet. His hand touched my foot.

“Want to do another one?” he asked eagerly. It was hard for me to concentrate. The touch of his hand on my foot made me feel woozy.

I stood up, without saying a word, and quickly dove into the water again except this time with more ease, nearing perfection. It would only be a matter of time before I would have it. I felt triumphant. I felt like I had conquered the world. I smiled broadly and confidently.

Jesse dove into the water right behind me, shouting “woo hoo” as he dove. We were having fun. Diving wasn’t scary. It could be exhilarating and liberating. Doing something without planning could be exciting. I swam toward the rock again and lifted myself up, ready to take the plunge once more.

Chapter 13

They were dressed up again, holding Tupperware dishes in their hands.

“Where are you off to?” I asked.

“Just seeing an old friend,” she said.

“Can I come?” I asked. I wanted to spend more time with them. Plus, I was curious about this friend they saw every Sunday: this friend that they brought food to and made a point to dress up for.

“No honey, but thanks for asking.”

“I don’t get to see you and Grandpa much anymore,” I said. Since I had made friends, my social calendar had filled up.

“I know. But you’ve made friends and that’s what people your age should be doing, not hanging out with two old coots,” she said and smiled.

“You are not old. Grandpa may be, but you aren’t,” I joked.

“What am I?” my grandfather asked walking in on us.

“Old,” Nana replied.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he said.

“We’ll be back later today,” she said before they walked out the door.

***

Time had flown quickly. As each day passed, I felt closer to my grandparents like there had never been a distance in time between us. Talking and being around Jesse felt natural, like breathing. Our conversations were fluid, seamless without a lull or lack