With a grin, Charlie started moving toward the boards at a brisk but safe pace. I followed after him. We got into the line for the smaller board, and I rubbed my hands together with excitement. Something about diving made me happy. The water seemed to be calling me home in the way it caught the lights. He did the usual cannonball, making a big splash.
Once it was my turn, I hurried onto the board and performed a perfect dive like I'd seen others do on TV. Usually I chickened out at the last minute, afraid of a belly flop. This time I leaped into the air and gave in to what my body felt like it needed as the air rushed over my skin before I cut straight through into the water. There was a moment of disorientation - the water felt quieter than it should, as if I had gone deaf. Instead of the noise I expected, there was a deafening silence that almost hurt. The sensation quickly faded as I gave in to the feeling of swimming, my body undulating naturally rather than kicking with my feet. In that moment, I wasn't a human swimming. I was a dolphin again, the memory of joy and power from the dream overlapping with what I was doing now.
I burst through the surface, wincing as I go from deafening silence to the piercing sounds of kids playing. It's like someone just cranked the speakers to full volume right next to me. For a second, the noise is so loud I almost miss Charlie's laugh as he stares at me.
``When did you learn to dive and swim like that? Have you been secretly coming here when I wasn't watching?''
I shook my head. ``Just felt right,'' I said, unsure if I should mention the dream. It might sound silly.
I looked over at the high dive platform and took a deep breath, it seemed so high up, but I didn?t get the same virtigo I usually do, more of a challenge, something fun. And not something to shiver in fear over.
He frowned. ``You sure? You always end up embarrassed when you go up there and have to climb back down. I know it bothers you.''
I chuckle. ``I know... but I want to give it a shot,'' I say as I head over and start climbing up, resolute and determined. I walk to the edge and look down. The usual vertigo that would make me retreat in embarrassment is muted, leaving only joy behind. My whole body feels like a loosely taut spring, energy humming just beneath the surface.
I leap off into a dive. For the few moments in the air, I feel like an eagle - or, I guess, more accurately, a dolphin. The water isn?t something to fear; it?s something to relish and look forward to.
I almost forget to put my hands in front until the last second to break the surface. I dive deep, gliding near the bottom. Caught up in the moment, I make the mistake of trying to open my mouth.
A rush of water fills it, and I choke, spitting it out as I surface coughing.
Charlie jumps in to help me to the side, and with some effort he gets me onto the pool's edge, where I sit, coughing.
He looks concerned. ``What happened? You were doing so good?''
I give a small, sheepish grin. ``Apparently, trying to open your mouth underwater is a bad idea.''
He winces and shakes his head. ``Let's get you home. You going to be okay?''
I nod, already feeling better. ``Yeah, just caught me off guard.''
Leaving the water felt strange. It had felt like home, and the absence left me shivering slightly. Too embarrassed to say anything or answer questions, I stayed quiet. Charlie, on the other hand, looked relieved but still concerned.
We only have to wait a few minutes before my mom and sister leave, having seen us at the pool. Mom asks if we're okay, and I nod as we drive home. Sarah keeps talking about swimming, her chatter filling the car and keeping things light.
Once we eat a quick bowl of soup, Charlie and I play some Bomberman and Contra on the NES until it's nearly time for him to go home. I glance out the window and see snow starting to fall.
``Hmmm, looks like the snow is here. How about I walk you to the bus?'' I said. He nodded, and I ran down to tell my mom, ``Walking Charlie to the bus!''
Charlie and I started walking through the snow. He looked at me with a bit of concern. ``You seem different today?'' he repeated.
I nervously kicked the snow. ``Nah. I just had a nice dream last night about swimming around as a dolphin. Never experienced anything like it, so that's why I wanted to go swimming.''
He laughed. ``Wait - you, a dolphin? I thought your whole thing was birds and eagles.''
My face reddens as I feel embarrassed. ``Hey, I have no control over my dreams. Most of the time they don't even make sense. This time it just... felt real. Nice though. Had a couple of dreams the previous two nights too, but I don't remember what they were about. Just that I wish they'd been real.''
I wanted to tell him that it was more than a fantasy or a weird dream, that it felt real. But how could I tell him that when I wasn't even sure I believed it?
He grinned. ``Well, if you have any more interesting dreams, tell me about it tomorrow.''
``Sure, and hope the movie is good tomorrow,'' I said.
I waved goodbye as he stepped on the bus and headed back home. The snow was coming down even harder, feeling odd against my skin, which made me think about being a dolphin in winter. I wondered what winter would feel like as a dolphin, would the cold still feel strange or would a body built for water even notice. These thoughts stuck with me until I made it home and had dinner.
Later, my sister and I ended up playing some Super Mario Brothers 3 - the only game she could play, and not too well, but she still had fun. After an hour she had to go to bed. I worked on my math and finally managed to finish it just before ten.
I went downstairs to say goodnight to my mom and dad. I kissed my mom goodnight, but when I went to my dad he asked me to come over and talk for a few minutes.
``Is everything going okay at school?'' he asked.
I nodded. ``Yeah, no big issues. Why do you ask?''
``Your mom says you've been late to school a few times. Just making sure you're not trying to avoid it.''
I laughed. ``Nah, I just spend too much time reading before bed. If I find a really good book about animals, I'm up till two in the morning easily.''
He chuckled. ``Well, I'm glad you read a lot, but it's still a good idea to get your sleep.''
I smiled. ``Speaking of which, that's what I'm here for. I was coming down to say goodnight.''
With a hearty laugh, he said, ``Well goodnight.''
I went upstairs, curious about what kind of dream I might have next. Would it be more involved than last night, or was I just being silly?
