Swimming in the Clouds

I got home late from work yesterday, and my mom gave me a message from 'our new neighbors'. Apparently Trish had stopped by to see if I could go with her family to the lake today. I was stunned to find out that my mom had said that she wasn't sure. I had worked a long day, and might be too tired. I could only gape at my mom in a complete loss of words as my heart just stopped. It was too late to call and tell them I could come, but I would have stayed up all night if I needed to catch them before they left. I was able to drag out of my mom that they were about seven o'clock, and immediately set my alarm for six and dove into bed.

I am not sure if I slept or not last night. I was so excited when my alarm went off that I forgot anything except to dive into my trunks and a t-shirt and run out onto the porch. There were a couple lights on at Trish's house, but there was no sign of anyone loading their boat, so I went back in the house and wolfed down some cereal. I then sat looking through the front curtains until about ten to seven when I saw Trish's mom and brother carry a load of towels out to their boat. I then stared for another ten minutes when I saw Trish come out of the house start looking through the boat for something. I sprinted to the front door and casually walked over to her house. She saw me as I crossed the road and waved me over to the boat.

We found a life-jacked and a set of skis that fit me, and then went into the house to help carry stuff out to the boat. Her parents were nice, and her brother was even pretty cool. I could tell he was going to destroy me on water skis just by the way he talked about it. I guess he was pretty excited cause he couldn't stop talking about this time he was going to this trick or that trick. If I wasn't so excited to be hanging out with Trish I probably would have been terrified to tell them that I had never been water skiing before.

When Trish's father hooked up the truck, I noticed that they also had a jet ski in the back of the truck. I remember thinking that it was too bad they didn't have two. As it turns out, I couldn't have been luckier that they only had one.

I did what I could to help unload the boat, but having never done it before I actually just stood where Trish told me to stand and then did my best not to look like I had never been on a real boat before.

We drove straight to the middle of the lake and Jake, Trish's brother, jumped into the water with only one water ski. I started looking for the other one, but Trish just threw him a rope and held an orange flag in the air. When Jake waved his hand, Trish dropped the flag, and her dad slammed on the gas. It is a good thing their boat has padding around the edge, and that Trish has good reflexes or I would have gone swimming right there and then.

It turns out that that is how you start water skiing I guess because about a half hour later I was in the water with two water skiis and a ski rope in my hand. When I waved that I was ready I saw the orange flag start to drop, my heart lept, and I went head first over my ski tips into the water. by the time I found the surface of the lake they almost had their laughing under control, and the boat was almost back to me. Apparently I did pretty bad because even their mom was fighting back laughter. I was not so much humiliated as I was thrilled to get back into the boat and drain my lungs of the lake water.

I was just about to grab the boat rail when Trish tossed the end of the rope to me and promised that her dad would start a little slower this time. I did my best to stop sputtering and coughing and swam back to the skis. Jake was obviously bored by the time I got my feet into the skis and the skis pointed at the boat. I heard Jake yell something about lean back just as I signaled ready. I locked my knees and leaned back. I stood on the water just long enough to see the front of my skis go under the water, then everything went black. I regained my senses in time to break the surface of the lake before my lungs burst. This time I didn't seem to have much water in my lungs, but by nose was running like a faucet and my face was numb. time as the boat drifted by I think I saw some real concern in their eyes. I found out later that I had actually attacked the lake with my face twice, and almost got the best of it when I let go of the rope and went under.

After a couple more tries I got up for the length of the lake, but I had never asked how to turn. Jake had made it look like the skis just turned for you. So when the boat turned I just went right on past until I ran out of rope when I was yanked right out of the skis. I am sure I was not the only one glad to have me back in the boat, but it was a small consolation when Trish threw a towel around my shoulders.

I shivered a bit wondering where the wind had sprung up from when Trish stripped off her shirt and shorts, and dove in. I think that must have been when I stopped breathing. I remember hearing a snort from the front of the boat where Jake and their dad was, but I had lost the use of my neck as I watched for Trish swim out to the skis. It must have been about the time she signaled ready that I realized that I wasn't breathing, and my had mouth fallen open and was about to start drooling in my lap.

I reestablished my breathing for a moment until the boat burst into action. When I got back into my seat Trish was cruising, up on both skis tossing her hair out of her face. I tried not to stare, but she was sanding there flexing every muscle in her tight little frame with only a tight glistening swimming suit covering most of her torso. I was once again not breathing, but this time it was because I was preparing to be struck by lightning. I kept waiting for my eyes to burn away or her dad to throw me out of the boat, but nothing happened. She cornered and started a run back up the lake before felt the pressure in my lungs and began force feeding my lungs. My eyes still sting a little from not blinking for almost twenty minutes.

Trish did eventually let the rope fall and we watched Jake for while. I politely declined another chance to attack the lake with my face, but sat stunned as, once again, Trish stripped off her t-shirt and shorts, and took another spin around the lake.

I remember we ate lunch on the docks, but I don't remember what it was. I think there were chips, but only because I dropped them in the water and watched the little bluegill eat them. At that point I was ready to die and pass away completely content with my life, but her dad brought the truck down and dropped the water ski into the water. He offered Trish the keys, and told us to have fun while they tried to find some fish.

It could probably hold three people easily, but I guess it was just understood that just Trish and I were going. She warned me hold tight, but I was having a hard time just putting my hands on her waist. She gave it a little gas, and I almost went swimming. I then took a deep breath and placed my check against her back with both of my arms around her waist. I think that was the moment that we actually left this planet. We drove around in the clouds for a while until she banked a bit too hard and we both splashed back to earth, and once again I had forgotten to breath.

I sputtered and coughed my way back to the surface were I found the water ski circling around to kill us both. I must have made some kind of noise because Trish started laughing and told me to just wait there. I quickly realized that it was stopping as it circled. As we climbed back on, I tried to keep my red face hidden.

This time I was actually able to hear her, as she pointed out various spots on the shore. We were quickly laughing freely and having a blast. She even let me drive a little, but we eventually went back to the docks where Jake and their dad had five different fish already on the line.

Their dad challenged us to race across the bay and back while he and their mom loaded the boats. Jake and Trish must have had a long standing competition because when we said go I surfaced swimming at a moderate pace, and found myself quickly loosing ground to both of them. I ducked my head and dug in. I occasionally looked up, but they were always pretty close, and just pounding the water.

At the far side I stopped to congratulate myself for winning when they both spun and started for the docks at full speed. I was amazed at their fierce competition, but being a pretty good swimmer myself I was able catch them just as we reached the starting dock. Their mom was there to declare me the winner by a hand.

When we got back they said I had to stay for the fish fry, and with a quick trip to let my mom know, I was back with Trish sitting around watching their dad fry fish on the barbecue. It was almost dark when I left, and Trish gave me a hug to say goodbye, and wouldn't you know it my lungs quit again. When I got home I restarted them, and my mom asked if I was sick. Apparently my face was kind of blue.

I told my mom that I was tired and better get to bed early, but in truth I just wanted to sit alone and let the day sink in. I can say without any hesitation that today was the best day of my life.