I Should Not Have Made It

I should not have made it.The skies were incandescent blue; the kind of blue you only see after a storm flushes the sky like the reboot of a computer screen. The waves were large and rolling, with a light land breeze that gave them a nice curl. The currents were dangerous for tourists. I am strong. I am invincible and yes, I am a woman who beats men at things and they hate it. The lazy gym muscled beach lifeguards seem so slow when they do their swimming. They lack the flexibility to take their muscle-bound arms in a proper stroke and throw them in sidearm because their arms don’t bend. They seem to hate getting wet. A kid accidentally splashed one after he did his swimming workout and he whined that he just had his shower and he would be salty all day.

I got a cramp. I should not have made it, no one average could have made it. I made it.

I swam competitively, many years ago. I could beat lifeguards without half trying. Without even using my arms. I would enjoy taking a kick board in the pool and flutter kicking along side a man who was swimming, beating him to the wall with just my legs.

The lifeguards were rescuing some tourists who had gotten themselves in trouble. I could not see them, but I could hear them. Whenever they made a rescue, they made a big deal of blowing their whistle in continuous rapid toots they called a “run whistle.” One would get on each side of the lifeboat and drag it into the water. The third man on the team would grab a float and run into the water and swim towards the person. I felt a profound sense of compassion for whomever they were rescuing. It must have been so embarrassing to have 3 young men blow a whistle and charge into the water to save you, the way a policeman would charge after a common criminal. It would be embarrassing because most of the time people get in trouble by being stupid. The internet is full of videos of people at national parks who tried to put a bear.

I should not have made it, but for my superior swimming talent and knowledge of the ocean. I used my legs, my six-beat flutter kick that was the best on the team. I did not remember bringing the float, but there it was. I grabbed it and I kicked. I saw the boat, maybe those lifeguards could use some help, I wondered. So young, inexperienced.

As I came to the beach I saw there was a crowd, just like back in my racing days. Still, it was embarrassing as I got up and they clapped.

“Get off me” I said as the lifeguard offered to help, like they do. Always blowing their annoying whistles.

The people kept clapping and I noticed that the lifeguard boat was out. Maybe they were necessary. I may have been a little harsh calling them lazy. They had three people, 2 in the boat and one on the shore.

They had a float just like mine, but with a float on it that the man in the stern was pulling into the boat. Their float was kind of like mine. Somehow, I lost mine. It would turn up; I would look for it when I caught my breath.

The lifeguard on the shore was telling people to stay out of the water until the rescue was complete. He chatted with different people. One man slapped him on the back. Another shook his hand.

“Hey lifeguard,” I asked. “Who did you rescue? I didn’t see anyone in the boat.”

Then man looked at me quizzically. He was dripping wet, and maybe 18. That meant he was low man on the 3-man team. They were lifeguards, but they hated getting wet. The one who went in the water and swam on the rescue was the low man. He was shorter than me and built like someone who spent a lot of time lifting weights. He was only about 5 foot tall, with short arms, not built like a swimmer, and his arms stuck out at an angle because he was too muscle bound to put them down. I could take him in a race.

He just walked away. I followed him.

“Who did you rescue,” I asked again.

He paused for a long moment.

“Sometimes, people don’t know they need to be rescued. We can’t get them to get in the boat. They just ignore us and say they are fine.”

I was indignant. This was unconscionable. This could not stand.

“You just left some poor soul out there to drown? That’s crazy.”

He again looked at me with this stare, as if my hair were on fire.

“No ma’am.” He walked away and helped the other lifeguards put the boat away. He blew an all clear on his whistle to let people back in the water.

I followed him like ugly on an ape. I cannot stand people who cannot accept reality. You need to tell that person that the rules are the rules, you have to get in the boat, I don’t care if you’re embarrassed. Get over it. I am not usually the person who speaks out. Someone needs to speak up for the people who need help but won’t take it. Just because someone has no grip on what is going on, if you are in a job where you protect and serve, you need to do your job. I followed him.

“I want an answer young man.”

He sighed.

“Ma’am, sometimes people don’t know they need to be rescued. We tell them, hey you’re fine, but here is a float why don’t you just hold on and kick for awhile. Then we pull them in with the rope on the float.”

I thought about it for a long minute, and then I saw it. I must say, I was a little embarrassed.

“You are not lazy. You guys take care of the people who can’t swim like me. I am glad you are here.”I didn’t go looking for the person they rescued, so as not to add to their embarrassment.

It was time for me to go home and watch my program. I have a guilty pleasure. I like those court TV shows where ridiculous people can’t see what is right in front of them.

I never found my float