The water barely ripples. Warmer than the air above, it shimmers. Refracting and reflecting the early morning sunlight the water shows a mirror image. A toe curled around the rough white plastic breaks apart and reforms itself into a coherent picture captured on the surface.
Breezes through the stand of long-needled pines ruffle the small blond hairs on his legs. He pays them no mind. The sun at this hour seems to provide little heat. Dressed as he is for work, this could be a distraction, but he puts it far back into a corner of his mind. He has learned to shut the door on that place. That area is a box full of potential interruptions that could make his job impossible.
He reaches up to adjust the goggles. Long slim hands at the ends of powerfully muscled arms touch the rims and tug on the straps. Deftly, they are reseated and sealed to his face. Like silicone armor, they will protect his eyes from the chemical assault to come. He breathes.
Simultaneously, both hands are raised. Muscles tense along back, shoulders, arms. The wingspan is so broad it seems as if he must overcome gravity and slip into the ocean of air above him to cruise the thermals with the hawk over the trees. But no, this is stretching, ritual, mind-cleansing, preparation for entering an entirely different realm.
Powerful thigh muscles flex, his body carrying the burden of energy, waiting for the crack of the pistol to channel it. His hands fly down and then back up to parallel his shoulders, again and again. His mind is clear, open. Anticipating the starter’s command, not even visualization is allowed a single synapse. He allows only one thought, one image, one goal for this work day.
The wet blue gem swallows him, welcomes him, reminds him that this is his element. With the effortless thrust born of years of training, he glides through the water and is faster than anyone else on this day. Hardly getting wet for the speed.
He touches the other side of the pool and surfaces, a dolphin in the glittering aquamarine of the pool.
Text and Photo Copyright © 2009 CoyoteOldStyle
All Rights Reserved.
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Comments
Beautifully done. Being nearly a “water baby” myself, these are images and observations that evoke all the best feelings in me.
Rated and appreciated.
Rated. Happy holidays to you and yours. As the general likes to say,
Namaste.
R~
Rita, thanks, I hope you found it cool and warm at the same time.
Dennis, I like to think of the pool in our neighborhood slumbering under its cover, waiting for the summer heat. Thank you.
Shiral, so glad you liked this. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well.
O'stephanie, thank you for reading.
Owl, I'm glad to give us all a moment like that. Thanks!
Bill, I'll tell you about that photo some time. For now, its larger version is on my deceased Mac's hard drive. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Scanner, you found the Easter egg in this post. Good work! There'll be a little something extra in your stocking on Friday.
Merry Whatsmas to you, too, General Brady! Thanks for taking the plunge with me!
Susan, I'm not an athlete, but I know that with music I was trained to focus to a ridiculous degree. Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Trig, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it.
Merry Christmas!
Kisses,
Marcela
bike, thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you as well.
Lunchlady thank you for coming by and appreciating this.
Marcela, I want to be like that, too. Maybe we'll get the chance! Thanks!
Sparking, thank you for coming along!