The Swimming Lesson

          Dina was sitting on her parents' front porch, sipping her Pepsi and feeling sad. Her mother, Connie, opened the front door and looked around.

         "Where are your sister and brothers?"

         "They're over at the Peters'. They're inviting kids over to swim in their new swimming pool."

         "Why aren't you there? After all, you're Andrea's best friend. Why don't you go over there and see what's going on?"

         Dina knew the reason why she wasn't invited to the swim party. But to appease her mother, she did as she was told. The Peters lived across the street, and two houses over from the Kessingers Andrea was a year older than Dina. Her brother, Trent, was four years younger that Andrea. He was friends with Dina's brother, Porter. The Peters had recently had a new baby girl, Lorina.

         Dina went to the backyard. The gate was closed, so Dina called out for Andrea. She came over to greet Dina. She opened the gate to let her in. Dina's younger siblings were all there, as well as, some of the other neighborhood kids. Andrea's mother, Linda, came out of the house and told the kids to go get their swim suits on. As the other children were leaving, Dina and her siblings also went back home to get ready and ask permission.

         "Mom, can we go swim at the Peters's? Mrs. Peters invited all the kids over and told us to ask if it was okay."

         "Well, if you promise to be careful, and look out for each other. Dina, I want you to be in charge. I want you to look out for your brother, Donny. He is the youngest, but I also want to you to keep an eye on Porter and Diane. You're thirteen and the oldest. Porter, Diane, and Donny need to be watched. I'm asking you to do this, Dina. I want you home by 4:30 for dinner."

         All the kids ran happily with towels and goggles and could hardly wait to get to their appointed destination. Porter ran to the side door and knocked. The other neighborhood kids were already there. There were fifteen kids in all. Mrs. Peters answered the door and told the kids they could go in the yard. When she looked at Dina, she shook her finger.

         "Dina, you're not invited to the swim party."

         Dina looked at her best friend's mother in shock. What had she done in the last half hour that cost her an invitation to the get together?

         "Why not?"

         "I can't take the time to watch you and make sure you don't get hurt. Your mother said that you have a brain disorder and I don't want you to hurt yourself."

         Mrs. Peters ushered Dina's siblings to the yard while asking Dina to leave. Andrea came over and wanted to know where Dina was going. She looked at her mother, bewildered.

         "Why is Dina leaving, Mom? I want her to stay. She is my best friend."

         "I don't have the time to supervise Dina. She has a brain disorder and I don't want to be responsible if something were to happen to her."

         "I hate you, Mom. You always ruin everything for me."

         "Keep it up young lady and you'll be sitting in your room instead of swimming."

         While Andrea stomped off, Dina went home crying. When Dina arrived home, Connie asked what happened. She wanted to know where her other children were.

         "What happened? Where are your brothers and sister?"

         "They're still there. Mrs. Peters said that I wasn't invited. She said I had a brain disorder and she didn't want to be responsible for me getting hurt. She said she didn't have the time to watch me. She said she could watch Porter, Diane, and Donny. Why not me?"

         Connie hugged her daughter and knew what she had to do. She told Dina she would be right back. While Dina changed her clothes, Connie marched over to the Peters to have it out with Andrea's mother. When she arrived, she was met with amazement.

         Connie knocked on the side door of the Peters's house. Linda Peters, Andrea's mother and the woman who made her daughter upset, answered.

         "Hello Connie. Is there something I can do for you?"

         "Where are my children? They are going home. If you won't accept all of my children in your pool, then none of my children will contaminate your pool. You had no right to hurt my daughter in that way."

         "Then go get your brats and leave us alone."

         Connie entered the yard. Diane was the first to see her, and wondered where Dina was. She ran to her mother, soaked to the skin.

         "Come see me Mommy. I can dive real good."

         "Get your brothers and your towels. We're going home."

          Diane didn't understand what was going on. Was it time to leave already? Porter was perfecting his diving skills, while Donny was playng keep away with the other kids with a NERF ball. The boys heard their mother's voice and swam to the edge to exit the pool. As they descended the ladder, Porter asked if it was 4:30 yet.

         "No, it's not 4:30. It's time to go. You have a pool of your own to swim in. I don't want any arguements. Just let's go."

         Just as Connie was gathering her kids and their belongings, Linda was coming out of her kitchen with her youngest daughter in her arms. As Connie was passing, Lorina smiled at her. She returned the smile. Linda tuned her baby's face away and opened the gate to show the intruders out. The kids couldn't believe what just occured.

         "Is Dad home? Is Dina sick? Why does Diane, Donny, and me have to leave?"

          By the time Porter asked those questions, the family was back in their own yard. The kids were all puzzled and confused. Connie sat on the back porch and gathered her kids around her. Dina came outside, brushing her hair. Everyone sat on the porch waiting for Connie to speak.

[indent}"The reason I had all of you come home was because of something that Mrs. Peters said to your sister, Dina. She made her feel bad and that's not right. You know that Dina has hydrocephalus, right? For some reason, Mrs. Peters seems to think that Dina can't swim because of her challenge. We all know that's not true. She wasn't fair in letting you in and not Dina. Do you think it is ok for you three to have fun and not Dina?"

         All the children chimed in no. They also shook their heads as they said it. Connie continued with her speech.

          "I'm not saying that Dina and Porter can't be friends with Andrea and Trent. What I am saying is that Andrea and Trent can't swim in our pool without their mother being here to watch them. Do you all understand?"

          The children nodded in unison. They walked away with their heads bowed and Diane looked back and ran over to hug Dina. Dina looked at her mother and had tears in her eyes.

         "I'm sorry for being so much trouble, Mom."

         "You're no trouble at all. Your challenges aren't your fault. Nobody has the right to be unfair and get away with it. I will always make sure things are fair in this family."

          A week after the discrimination, Dina, Porter, and Diane were swimming in their pool. Their backyard also had a chain link fence with a gate. The gate was always kept closed because of the Kessinger's cockapoo, Sandy. Porter was sitting on the pool's ladder, while Diane and Dina were swimming underwater. Donny was in the kitchen eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

          Trent and Andrea came to the gate, and peered inside the backyard. Sandy came to the gate, barking and wagging her tail, happily. Porter heard his friend's voice and looked up.

         "Hi Trent. How are you?

         " I'm ok. Can we come swim in your pool?"

         "I guess so. It's ok with me."

          Andrea looked at Dina after she surfaced. She was hoping that she would receive the same answer from her.

         "Dina, can we come swim with you?"

         "What about your own pool? Is it broken?"

          "No. Mom and Dad are gone. Marie is staying with us. She won't let us swim until they get back home."

         Not remembering what had transpired a week earlier, Dina offererd an affirmative answer that complimented Porter's. They were sure their mother wouldn't mind.

         Connie was cleaning the kitchen and had one ear tuned into her children's activities. Once she heard more children out in the yard, she quickly looked out the window to see who was there. Once she viewed the sight, her face flared.

          "Donny, you stay here, understand?"

         Donny nodded. He looked out the kitchen window and saw Andrea and Trent in the pool. His mother ran out there and started yelling at them. He did not know why. He sat back down at the table and finished his milk. He could hear the yelling very well. It was as if there was not a window seperating the outside from the inside.

         "What are you children doing swimming in our pool? Andrea and Trent, I want the two of you to get out of the pool this second."

         At first, Andrea could not understand why her best friend's mother was so angry. Was it something she did? Was it something Trent did? She motioned to Trent and they both silently exited the pool. Once they descended the ladder, Connie shook her finger in their faces.

         "Why are you swimming in our pool? Did your mother send you here to see what I would do? Didn't she tell you that you were not allowed to swim in our pool without her watching you? Is your pool broken?"

          Trent was on the verge of tears and Andrea was shaking out of fright. By this time, Dina, Porter, and Diane had also exited the pool and tried to find out what was going on. After hearing and witnessing his mother's tirade, Porter remembered what happened at the Peters the week before. He turned to Diane and Dina and told them that Andrea and Trent could not swim in the pool without their mother being here.

         "Don't you remember when we could not be at the party at their house? Mrs. Peters would not let Dina swim unless Mom was there to watch her."

          "I wasn't there. I don't remember. Andrea is my best friend. Does this mean that she cannot come here anymore?"

         Connie, with tears in her soft, brown eyes, turned to her oldest daughter and told Dina that she and Andrea could still be friends. She even reminded her of the conversation they had on the porch last week. Once Dina heard what her mother said, she thought back to the prior week's conversation.

         "Dina, I am sorry for what our mother said to you. She was mean and I do not like her."

         "It is not your fault, Andrea. I still like you a lot, and would hope we could still be friends. I do not have many friends.

         Porter and Trent looked on at their sisters interaction. Wanting to make peace between themselves, they followed suit. Diane had gone into the house to change her clothes. She came back out and asked Connie if she could ride her bike. Connie shook her head affirmatively. While Diane was getting her bike out of the garage, Linda Peters came to the gate, looking for her two eldest children.

         When she saw her children conversing with the Kessingers, her body tensed and she opened the gate and let it fly. She ran over and grabbed Trent and twirled him around.

         "What are you doing here? I thought I told you that you were not allowed to be friends with Porter. I also told your sister, Andrea, that she could not be friends with that brainless girl."

          Hearing Linda Peters' depreciation of her daughter, Connie stepped in between mother and son. She just had about enough of Linda's desparaging comments and put downs. She was going to set her straight about Dina and, if she could, life with a challenged child.

          "Your children are friends with my children. Dina is not any different that you or I. While it is true that she cannot walk like we do, or see as well, she manages as best as she can. She can swim, Linda. As a matter of fact, it is good therapy for her and she enjoys it. She has been in deeper pools than yours and has done well. All you need to do is give her a chance. That is all I ask."

         "I do not need to give anyone a chance. My rule still stands. Dina is not welcome in our pool. That goes double for the rest of your children."

          Just as the women were talking, there was a scream in the street. Everyone went to see what had happened. When they arrived, Connie was met with the most horrific sight. Her youngest daughter, Diane, had been run over by a car while riding her bike. Linda had her cell phone with her and offered immediately to call 911. While they waited for help to arrive, Porter noticed that Sandy, their dog, was missing. No one noticed the gate was left ajar. She had run out after Diane and was following her. A different car had hit her. She died instantly.

         "Sandy!"

          Porter ran to her side, lifted her face off the cement, and cradled her head in his lap.

         "Please wake up. Do not die," he cried.

         He did not know what to do. Should he stay with Sandy or go to his sister's side? The ambulance finally arrived to care for Diane. Linda knew Connie would have to go to the hospital with Diane. She offered to look after the other kids until Connie returned.

          Connie looked at Linda with relief in her eyes. She was grateful for her neighbor's help.

         "Thank you Linda. We'll take care of Sandy later."

         "It is the least I can do. This afternoon has shown me that you can lose what is precious to you in an instant. We will be thinking of Diane and waiting for your return. "

         Connie returned to an empty house. The kids were still at the Peters's and it was 3:00 A.M. Diane was stabilized after having emergency surgery to amputate her badly mangled left arm. Now she has two challenged children. She just sank in her chair and cried.