Katharine the Almost Great: Swimming with the Sharks
More scribbling Then he looked Crockett up and down Are you trying out You’re tall You look like a swimmer I stood as straight as a diving board I was at least an inch taller Maybe two I can’t said Crockett I have Junior Rangers meetings next week Coach Geyer patted Crockett’s back Well you’re in luck kid Because the clinic and tryouts are this week That poster was hung up last week Crockett’s face brightened Really So that’s a yes asked Coach Geyer Crockett nodded Ribbit Coach Geyer pulled papers off of the clipboard Have your parents read and sign these I’ll see you both tomorrow night at seven o’clock 9
I raised my arms and pretended to swim away Thanks Coach That’s freestyle he said Don’t forget about butterfl y backstroke and breaststroke Backstroke gulped Breaststroke I gasped I’m not good at those I can’t do the butterfl y stroke at all I Don’t worry he said That’s what practices are for Fly is the hardest stroke It takes a long time to nail it He pointed to a girl swimming in lane three Look at her butterfl y He stepped closer to the pool She shoots through the water like a torpedo Must be a high school kid said Crockett When the swimmer got to the end of the lane she 10
tore off her goggles She pumped her fi st in the air Everyone clapped Everyone but me Because it wasn’t a highschooler It was a third grader And not just any third grader It was Miss Priss-A-Poo Vanessa Garfi nkle Coach Geyer’s eyes lit up He rushed over to her as he waved his clipboard Butterfl y shmutterfl y I wanted to fl utter away 11
