Page 62 of Waiting for Ru
“Okay.”
“Jump!” Jasim ordered.
Ru leapt. The change from being in the air to being engulfed by water came faster than he’d expected. He felt and heard the splash as they both went in. When his feet touched the bottom, he did as Jasim had said, bent his knees, then pushed up, and a moment later, his head broke the surface and he laughed. Jasim was still holding his hand and tugged him to the side.
“How was that?” Jasim had water pouring down his face and Ru wanted to lick it off.
“Fun. The water was fizzy. All those tiny bubbles on my skin as I went down. I want to do it again without you holding my hand. I want to float under the water, but be ready to get me, okay?”
“Okay.”
Ru hauled himself out. He adjusted his shorts which had bunched up at the top of his thighs and looked down to see Jasim watching. Ru took a deep breath and leapt out. He could feel the bubbles again, and when he opened his eyes under the water, he could see them sparkling. He felt lighter and this time he didn’t try to get to the surface, but let the water keep him in its embrace. Long before he’d run out of air, he rose up, not brought there by Jasim.
He laughed but as he dropped his legs down, he went under again and swallowed water. Jasim hauled him up and pulled him to the side. Ru was half-laughing, half-choking.
“Thought maybe…could breathe…underwater. Seems not…a merman.”
“Let’s see if you can swim, you lunatic. Come to where it’s shallower.”
When they were standing at the other end, Ru looked round. “Where are my colourful floating toys?”
“You’ll have to make do with me.”
Ru listened and watched as Jasim showed him how to move his arms and kick his legs, how to position his body in the water, and what not to do.
“Start here so you only have to cross half the pool to get to the side. You don’t need to breathe to start with. Concentrate on what you’re doing with your arms and legs. Reach and pull. Head in the water.”
When Ru reached the side without putting his feet down, he turned and grinned. “That was easy. I’m obviously a natural.”
“You splashed so hard, you half-emptied the pool.”
Ru growled. “So how do I breathe?”
“As your left arm pulls back through the water, tilt your head to the side and breathe on the left. One, two, three, breathe. Rhythm is the key. Have a go.”
“What? All the way across?”
“You can put your feet down whenever you want. You’re not frightened of the water. It makes a huge difference. My older brother’s attempt to teach me to swim meant I wouldn’t go near the pool for months.”
“What did he do?”
“Threw me in the deep end. Swim or drown. When I didn’t swim, he had to save me.”
Ru set off, arms swinging, legs kicking furiously, and snatched half a breath before he pressed his lips together again and put his face in the water, but he could see what he needed to do. When he reached the side, he turned and swam back.Oh God, I’m swimming!
He stood up at the far edge, panting, and Jasim was right next to him.
“I hope sex is as easy,” Ru whispered and set off again.
He stopped at the other side to cough up the half of the pool he’d swallowed, but he loved this.
“I want to learn how to dive,” Ru said.
“Not in this pool. It’s too shallow. Plus, you hit your head yesterday. I think you’d better practise swimming a little longer first. How about swimming a length?”
“To the deep end?”
“I’ll be next to you.”
