I Was Watching (Project Nine)

I Was Watching (Project Nine)

Each step brought us closer, just under two feet closer, to be accurate.  He was headed for the pool, hurrying to join the rest already there.  They were sitting in the shade, thank God.  He dropped his keys, the book and towel, and looked at the group.  I could see that some had no plans to move, leaning back, yakking, looking comfortable already.  The two grands were in the water, talking to (or over) each other as they bobbed on the top.  As he kicked off his sandals, I breathed a silent prayer of thanks.

He headed for the water, stepping down, holding the rail tentatively.  He's not as confident about steps  these days, it's just a given.  But quickly into the cool of the pool he plunged.  We all needed it as much as he did, I didn't need to take a poll.  The grands turned and grinned, paddling to keep their heads atop the water, with middling success.

I couldn't tell how well they were doing, since he was standing in the pool, sagging to get his shoulders into the water's cooling influence.  But he was happy, that I knew at once (and so was I).  He turned to see those sitting in the shade, teasing them about staying out and keeping dry.  They ignored him, so he stopped and eased back into the cooling water.  He didn't need them to know what he enjoyed.  But like most things these days, he found it pleased him only for a minute or two.

Soon, he had decided to step up and out, letting the water run off his chest and stomach, and down his calves, dripping from his trunks as well.   A shout made him turn, too quickly; scraping his toe, nearly tripping, too.  The youngest grand had swallowed when he should have breathed and was panicked.  He half-jumped, and didn't land, dipping below the water's surface for a moment.  He kept moving in their direction, his own panic starting up as well.  He grabbed, caught an arm and pulled, stomping his foot hard, banging the front knuckle, scraping the top as well....  Soon, neither were panicked, one was choking; soon both did.  One with some kind of physical relief--breathing air, the other relieved in his head, but just as surely feeling the relief.  All except for me, the toe, bleeding now, scraped, stubbed, and throbbing.