MY IMORTAL FAMILY

9

Dana arrives at campus and heads into his office. Since it is the extended break the university is quiet and he decides it is time for him to think about what research he is going to undertake. He scrolls through a few papers that have been published but he can’t think of anything. He checks his calendar to see if he has any meetings that day and he leaves the office. He then drives out of campus and heads in the direction of the ocean. He then stops by a coffee shop and buys himself a cup of Irish coffee and biltong. He finishes and continues his drive to the ocean. He stops and parks his car. He takes his shoes off and pulls his sleeves up and walks on the beach. He walks for approximately thirty minutes along the beach. He then stops and looks around. He notices that the beach is empty and that no one is observing him or anyone nearby so he stands with his feet shoulder with apart and takes a few deep breaths. He then begins to move his hands and the tide of the ocean begins to change from a calm one to a choppy one, Dana repeats this movement again and once again the tide of the ocean reverts back to calm. He then begins to move his hands and the this time instead of the tide changing there’s bits of water standing up and the water comes to him and he immediately puts the water back after he notices that the water he had brought to him had a few crabs in them. “No I don’t want to hurt any animal today, just need to clear my mind” he says. He then lets out a little grunt and he puts his hands in the air, this movement causes the water in the ocean to also stand. He then puts his hands down and the water goes back down. Once again he stands with his legs shoulder width apart and he breaths in and out. He repeats this three more times before he motions his hand to the water as if he is calling it. Pockets of the water slowly approach him and he stands as if he were about to embrace someone and the water covers his body. He feels the water on his body. The water is now covering his face and eyes but the salty water of the ocean does not affect him let alone enter his eyes. He then tenses his body and the sky blue water that has covered his body begins to glow and change into a shade of darker blue. This is an exercise that Dana uses to heal himself and helps clear his mind. He has also used this technique in his youth to help heal Casey’s sprained ankle when he was younger. He then pushes his hand forward and the body of water returns to the ocean. His mind now clear he heads back to his car. He puts on his shoes and drives back to campus.

Brock is in class when he hears the bell ring which prompts their teacher to say “alright guys, time for you guys to go for PE”. Brock and his classmates respond by packing their books and taking their swimming gear. The class then makes a walk from their class to the swimming pool area. They arrive and their PE teacher then says “okay guys you know the drill, change into your swimming costumes and shower before you get in the pool. I will find you guys in the pool you have five minutes” and Brock and his classmates go to the changing area. After a few minutes Brock steps out of the changing room and heads to the shower area and he begins to shower. The school Brock attends has three swimming pools. A small swimming pool for beginner swimmers and the younger students, a medium sized pool for intermediate swimmers and those who are too big for the small pool but not yet confident for the big pool. The big pool is for good swimmers, those who are in the swimming team and those who are just simply confident in the water. Brock walks past the big pool and as he is walking past he puts his bag by the spectator area and he proceeds to stretch. Unbeknownst to Brock as he stretches out the water in the big swimming pool begins to stir as if someone were shaking the water. Once done with his stretches he says “which pool are we using today” “everyone else is using the medium pool but I want to see you in the big pool” responds the teacher. He the puts his whistle in his mouth blows it and says “everyone in the middle pool” and everyone gets in the pool except Brock. “Today we are going to be doing kicking techniques, so I want each and every one of you to go to the wall and practice your kicking technique” instructs the teacher. “When I blow my whistle you guys start kicking, when I blow again you stop” adds the teacher. He then turns to Brock and says “I want you to swim one length in the big pool and then you get out and walk this side” says the teacher. “But before we begin, I want you guys to get out and come watch Brock, I want you guys to observe what he is doing in the pool” says the teacher. The students take a few minutes to exit the pool and they watch Brock. Brock is feeling a bit nervous since the whole class and the teacher are watching him, “ alright Brock go” and Brock dives into the pool and utilizes the freestyle swimming stroke. The teacher is in awe at how perfect Brock’s diving technique. He then says “notice how he is lifting his head out of the water to breathe before he continues swimming, it’s all in one motion, and he doesn’t stop midway to breath. No wasted movement, which is how I expect you, guys to swim”. Brock is out of the water and he heads to the other side where everyone is. “Alright guys you can get back into the water. Brock do what you did again, but I want you to listen, I am going to watch the class, you just keep repeating this drill, I will attend to you soon” says the teacher. Brock simply nods his head and does what he was instructed to do. After about forty minutes into the lesson the teacher yells “those in the medium pool free swimming time” and the kids play as he turns his attention to Brock. “ okay kid, I want to let you know that I am timing your loop now, so swim as fast as you can” as he says this the team swimming coach walks in “ oh and the team swimming coach is going to take a look at you” he adds. The swimming coach then says “listen Brock just relax, I want to see how you do in a race like situation, so when I blow the whistle swim as quick as you can” and Brock just nods. He is nervous; the swim team wants him as well. He clears his mind, to the point to where he is so focused that he can hear the water only. The whistle is blown and he jumps into the water and starts swimming. “Impressive dive form” says the team swimming coach. They observe Brock swim and he reaches the end and walks out to two of them, the teacher looks at the stopwatch and he is shocked, and he shows the team swimming coach who is also shocked. “Good work Brock you can join your classmates” says the teacher. “ what did I tell you this kid is talented, and I hear he is doing well in the academic department too” says the teacher “ yeah he is something else, how old is he” asks the team swimming coach “ he just turned eight years old in March” replies the teacher. The team swimming coach then puts his hands behind his back and says “ well if this kid stays interested in swimming we could be looking at not only a national swimming champion but an Olympic swimmer, you saw the time he posted, that is quick even for swimmers in their late teens and he is only eight” “ yeah but you could have competition from the football team, I know he is training with the school team” replies the teacher, the swimming teacher then shrugs and says “ I don’t see no reason why he can’t do both” “ well he is still a child so we want him to be like a child, also I don’t know if his father will let him do two extra curriculum activities, his studies may suffer” replies the teacher “ I suggest you write a recommendation letter to his parents” adds the teacher. They shake hands and the swimming coach leaves. The teacher then checks the time and says “alright guys time to change”. Brock gets out and showers before he gets his bag and heads to the changing room. Once Brock is done changing he goes to the spectator area and waits for his classmates. “brock the swimming team may want to offer you a spot on their team” says the teacher “I don’t know, I enjoy swimming for fun, not competitively” replies Brock “well when we timed your lap weren’t you swimming as fast as you can” asks the teacher “I was but I was also starting to get just a bit tired” replies Brock “well kid I thought I should let you know you swam a twenty one, one, Brock. That is an Olympic time” says the teacher “well I will talk to my dad” replies Brock. He then waves his hands at his classmates motioning for them to head to the next class. This motion by Brock is accompanied by the water in the swimming pool flying out of the pool and splashing everyone except Brock.

The class is being prepared for their nap time.  Roman lies on his towel and prepares to take a nap. The school cat walks in the class and passes by Roman, who proceeds to hug the cat.  The preschool teacher then walks in the class and notices what looks like a stray cat sleeping on Roman’s towel. She then kicks the cat out. Roman is shocked as to why he is being picked up and taken out of the class. The teacher proceeds to chase the cat away and then she turns her attention to finding Roman. She walks around the class room trying to find Roman. She then goes to the bathrooms to look for him and she notices they are empty. She then looks in other classrooms and she can’t find him. Panic begins to set in now as she is worried and she starts to cry, “are you sure no one came into the class” asks one of the other teachers. “No” she says with tears in her eyes. “Let’s call the police” suggests the headmistress. “Wait isn’t don’t call the police, I found him”. The teachers rush over to where Roman is seated and the teacher asks “where have you been, did anyone take you” “ no” replies Roman “ then how did you get here” the teacher asks “ you put me here” replies Roman “ I only took the cat the out” says the teacher “ well none that matters, what’s important is that Roman is safe. Get him and put him the class so he can take a nap too” instructs the headmistress.