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Abby LOVES to swim. On Labor Day every year, the
neighborhood pool (to which we and about 50 other families belong), has a
big party, called the ÒLabor Day Races.Ó All Summer (2002) long, Abby practiced swimming, and she
was determined to swim one of the ÒsillyÓ races that required kids to swim
across the pool w/o touching the bottom. She was all set by Labor Day. Only trouble was, the event was almost cancelled, as it
was only about 60 degrees that day.
The poolÕs not heated, so this made for some very cold water, too. Somehow, the event was NOT
cancelled. As it got closer and
closer to the time for the Ònoodle race,Ó where kids of any age could jump
in & swim across on a noodle, Abby became more and more excited. When the race began, Abby and the
other kids jumped into the water.
Several of the children (including Abby) began to cry because the
water was so chilly. BUT,
AbbyÕs parents quickly told her theyÕd wrap her in a big warm towel at the
other side if she just swam across as sheÕd planned. She steeled her courage & swam
the fastest her parents had ever seen to the other side--without touching
the bottom! When Abby got out
of the water, she was surely not crying--just very cold, and very, very
proud!
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Later in the day, when it
was time for the Òpenny raceÓ where kids collect pennies off the bottom of
the pools (large & shallow) to turn in for candy at the eventÕs end,
Abby suddenly didnÕt seem cold at all anymore! She, and her friend Madeleine (Snyder) had plenty of
candy, toys, and even prize ÒribbonsÓ to show for their hard work by the end
of that day.
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