(This story is based on true events.)
Back Dive 1 – Sarah tries a back dive with Sullivan's help.
"To get an 'A' in this class, you have to do a back dive off the low board."
Sarah listened intently to Coach Hart as she sat on the edge of the diving well along with the rest of her class. Her friend Janet snorted into Sarah's ear, "Woah! That's going to cause a big problem for people!"
Sarah continued looking directly at the coach as if she were listening to him while she whispered back to Janet, "I've never done a back dive, but it looks easy." Janet showed that she obviously didn't think so, by rolling her eyes and smiling knowingly.
Coach Hart continued, "I know this is a life guarding class, but I think it's important that you appear comfortable around a swimming pool. Maybe I'm biased since I'm also the diving coach, but you should at least be able to do a back dive if you expect to instill confidence as a life guard."
Janet always had a side comment for Sarah, "I'm not going to college to become a lifeguard! I just want an easy 'A'." Coach Hart glanced meaningfully in Janet's direction but she ignored him and continued whispering, "Luckily I grew up around a swimming pool so I can do one, but it was scary to learn."
Sarah was not intimidated. She had managed to become a pretty decent swimmer even though she had not been a city girl, and she was not afraid. She had been doing front dives off the low board since this summer class had started a couple of weeks ago, and noticed that even little kids could do a back dive.
The sun was blistering hot for this 2:00 pm class. Coach Hart stepped back into the shade of the cabana as he gave basic instructions for beginners.
Sarah looked to the other end of the pool. The university swimmers who were in town for the summer worked out at the same time as Sarah's class. Janet noticed where Sarah was looking and asked, "Is he here?"
They both knew exactly what Janet meant, and Sarah answered, "No."
On the first day of class Sarah had developed an interest in one particular guy on the team, when everyone was in their street clothes. He was handsome not in a cute way but in the masculine way that made her catch her breath. Since that day Sarah had seen him on campus and realized that it was also his style that had gotten her attention. He did not appear cocky or even obviously confident like his friends. From a distance he just seemed capable and authentic. Sarah had hoped to maybe meet the guy, but mysteriously he had never shown up for a swim team workout.
Janet commented, "It's probably good that he isn't here today. You wouldn't want him around in case you look like an idiot up there on the diving board." Sarah glared at Janet who chuckled merrily at her own sense of humor.
The pavement was hot, so people waited their turn while staying seated on the side of the pool, or even in the water hanging onto the side. As Sarah waited her turn she paid close attention as Coach Hart patiently talked one guy into falling backward off the board head first. The next two, a female and a male, did not need Coach Hart's help. They were both able to do the trick with a "spring" into the air, even though they looked uncoordinated.
It was Sarah's turn. With a slight smile the confident eighteen-year-old hurried across steaming pavement and climbed the few steps onto the wet diving board. She walked with poise to where the handrail stopped then took small steps to the end of the board as it bent downward.
Everything was fine until Sarah began to turn her back to the water. Suddenly three feet above the water seemed like three miles! She froze while standing sideways on the end of the board with her hands out from her sides in a crouching position.
Coach Hart recognized his cue, "Sarah, just turn around and do a back bend into the water."
Sarah was partially turned toward the coach but she was concentrating on her footing. As she struggled to raise her surprised-looking eyes to see the coach, the diving board began to vibrate violently. She squinted against the sun's glare, knowing that Coach Hart was somewhere in those shadows. "Coach, I'm a country girl! I've never done a back bend!"
Up until that comment Sarah's classmates had maintained composure over her predicament. But the country-girl excuse ignited loud gut-wrenching laughter from them all. At least Janet yelled encouragement playfully above the roar, "Come on Sarah!"
Sarah could hear Coach Hart say to someone, "I can talk her through it." Then he spoke directly to Sarah, "First, turn around and let your heals hang off the end of the board." Sarah was able to do this with very small shuffle steps, as if she were on the edge of a very windy cliff. "Now raise your hands above your head and look straight back...No, don't turn your head left or right. Lift your chin straight up."
Sarah looked straight up to the sky and became disoriented. She stumbled around on the board and her classmates let out a gasp of concern for her.
"Be careful!" The coach took a long deep breath and continued. "Now, I'm going to count to three and at the count of three you start falling backward off the board. Ready? One...Two...Three!" Sarah remained frozen on the end of the board with her hands up and face tilted to the sky.
"OK Sarah, let's do this again. Look up...Put your hands over your head... One...Two...THREE!" Sarah was like a motionless statue facing upward and rooted to the end of the diving board.
Coach Hart was clearly irritated. "Relax Sarah." Then Coach spoke to whoever was standing next to him, "Okay, okay, go find out what you can do with her."
A large muscular leg stepped out of the shadows and Sarah realized this was not someone from her class. Coach Hart announced, "Sarah, this is Sullivan. He's a diver on the swim team, and he wants to help you."
Sarah's first impression of this guy was slight surprise at the amount of exposed skin. Those swim team suits were extremely small and this close view was becoming even closer as he moved toward her. He was muscular without being too bulky. The sun reflected off his naturally bleached hair causing it to almost sparkle.
This was definitely distracting Sarah from her fearful predicament on the end of the diving board. Without thinking about it, Sarah noted a few physical traits she tended to admire in a man. He had wide relaxed shoulders, and some body hair. The collar bone and chest combined for a very nice shape. His long arms accentuated the all-important forearms. And even though it was distracting to see a man almost totally nude, Sarah was able to admire the lightly tanned skin tone.
