Swimming Rules

You must get out of the pool if it rains.

This rule was pounded into my mind when I was little, right after "You must wait 30 minutes after you eat to swim," and before "Wear a t-shirt to cover up that two piece."

My mom would not move on the rain rule.

I tried telling her that I was already wet, so a few rain drops would not make any difference. She did not buy it. It was not the rain that worried her, it was the lightening that often accompanies afternoon storms in Florida.

I do remember one rainy afternoon swim clearly. My friend Amber and I went to her cousin's house. All the adults were busy in the kitchen cooking, and we were going to swim. It was already late afternoon, and her cousin's room was nearly dark when we changed into our suites, because she had replaced all her light-bulbs with black lights.

We swam, and jumped, and splashed, and underwater somersaulted. Then the rain started. With no thunder, and no lightening, and most importantly no parents outside, we stayed in the pool.

I floated on my back, watching the sun sink and the sky turn a brilliant shade of pink behind the clouds. Feeling the rain gently falling on my body. Cool drops on a hot day. It was glorious.

Now that I am the mom, I hear those words sing-songing out of my mouth.
"You have to wait 30 minutes!"
"Feet first, first time!"
"Is that rain? Time to get out of the pool!"

But occasionally, when there is no thunder or lightening, I will stay in the pool for just a few extra minutes.

Because I know the secret all moms try to hide from their kids.

There is nothing better than floating on the water, and feeling the gentle rain fall. Especially on a hot, summer day.

Red Writing Hood Prompt: Rain

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