A note to the reader: This story takes place during the mid-1980s. Those were very different times. Fashion and language were different. We didn't worry about seat belts or STDs. The drinking age was 18 and pubic hair was all the rage. The only sexual fear was getting pregnant. I have tried to be as historically accurate as my aging brain can remember. Thank you to WokeUpOneDay and LindsayMurray for editing and reviewing this manuscript. Although there is reference to earlier times, all sex is between characters who are at least 18 years of age.
During my last two summers in high school I managed to land a lifeguard job at an upscale country club that paid twice as much as the local lake. I would have loved to work just up the street from our house, but the town had instituted a minimum age requirement of 18 for insurance purposes. The nice thing about the country club gig was that I got to meet some incredibly beautiful women.
The problem was that they were all out of my league. Once a rich man's daughter either saw the beat up old Rambler I drove or found out that my family wasn't wealthy, I became persona non grata. The other issue with that job was that the lifeguards ended up doing all the shit jobs no one else would do. Things like emptying trash barrels loaded with maggoty food, cleaning the nasty restrooms at the end of the day, or cleaning up a little kid's puke from poolside. That September as I went off to university, I decided it would be my last summer as a lifeguard.
Over Christmas break, one of my good buddies, Jerry, asked if I was interested in taking the head lifeguard position at my hometown's lake. Jerry was planning on applying as a lifeguard, but wasn't interested in the top job. He thought that if I got the job that he would be hired. The pay wasn't as good, but the position promised to be a lot more laid back. I applied for the job citing my previous job experience, had a phone interview in February, and received a letter in March telling me I got the job.
After finishing my last final exam, I reported to Town Hall and was given a stack of applications. I knew several of the applicants; the Finn sisters and Jansen brothers from high school, and of course Jerry. One of my first tasks was to hire my staff. I needed seven lifeguards and had 16 applicants. I talked to my supervisor, Lorraine, and floated the idea of a skills test to weed out some weaker candidates. She thought it was a good idea and I called all 16 and told them to be at the lake at 8 AM on Saturday ready to swim.
Saturday dawned clear and bright, but cool. When I got to the lake at 7:30, I discovered that the water temperature was quite chilly. I found a thermometer and measured the water at 59°F (15°C); not exactly mid-summer fun temperatures. Lorraine showed up fifteen minutes early to observe how I conducted the test.
As the applicants started showing up I went around and introduced myself. One of the things I loved about our current fashion was that, unless you were older, women's bathing suits didn't have breast pads. It led to a lot of nippage, especially on chilly mornings like this one. Most of the swimsuits were made from thin material and pubic hair was definitely in. While all the women shaved so that their hair wasn't exposed, it was not unusual to get a nice profile view of a bush on top of a mons as seen through a wet suit. The pleasant view of some labia hiding under that ultra-thin material was also a frequent occurrence.
The first people I met were the Finn sisters. Kathleen and her older sister Becky had swam on the high school swim team and I was sure they would ace both tests. They were slightly taller than average with the broad, muscular shoulders that one earned through hours in the pool. Their figures were lovely in their competitive racing suits, slim hips and average breasts with prominent nipples in the chilly air. They could have passed as identical twins with one exception: their hair. Kathleen had stunning red hair, while Becky was a dark brunette: classic red and dark Irish.
Kathleen exclaimed, "Pat, so good to see you!" She gave me a hug. Becky gave me one as well. Their breasts pressing into my chest.
"How was college?" I asked.
Kathleen said, "Not a bad as I thought it would be. It helps to have a big sister to help you out."
A shorter, shapely, buxom brunette approached us. She introduced herself as Juliana Hildegard. I saw the Jansen brothers, Jake and Jonas, arrive and I shook their hands as well. By eight o'clock, 13 of the 16 applicants had showed up.
Lorraine observed, "If they can't get to a job interview on time, you probably don't want them to work for you."
I checked my watch, time to get to work. I called out, "If everyone could gather around."
The group came over. Jerry said, "You're not going to have us swim in this are you? That water's freezing."
I stated, "Fifty-nine degrees in fact." In a louder voice, "Thanks for coming down this morning. I met some of you. My name is Pat Sullivan. I've been hired as the head lifeguard for the coming summer season. I have to fill seven positions. There are 13 applicants left, all of you." I pointed to them. "I am going to ask you to do two easy swim tests this morning. For the first one, you will swim from here to the first raft, then to the second raft, and finally back here. I think it is about 100 yards all together. So, not hard. It isn't a race, just a swim."
Someone in the back called out, "But damn cold."
I said, "When we start on Memorial Day weekend, the water won't be much warmer."
Julianne asked, "What's the second test?"
"I'll have a victim..." I used air quotes. "Swim out to the rope line. The person being tested will swim out and do a non-equipment rescue. When the rescuer is almost to you, I want the victim to submerge. Pull them up and get them in. Everyone will get a chance to be the rescuer and the victim. Two simple tests that you had to do to get your lifeguard certification. Any questions?"
Someone in back shouted out, "So if we don't want to do it?"
"Then you don't get the job."
"I'm outta here."
I observed, "OK, we're down to 12 applicants." Many laughed. "Let's do the swim first."
I stripped off my shirt and walked to the water's edge.
Kathleen came over, "Pat, why are you swimming? You already have the job."
"Leadership by example."
"That's cool."
A shorter fellow said, "Maybe we should go in two heats so we don't run into each other."
I replied, "Good idea. What's your name?"
"Owen."
"Thanks Owen. Good idea. I need six of you to swim with me." There were four female applicants and they all stepped up. "I need two of you gents."
Jerry and Owen stepped forward.
I shouted, "Ready?"
Then without waiting, I ran and dove into the water. The initial shock of cold water nearly knocked the wind out of me. I thought,
Go, Pat go! Set the example
. I started pulling as hard as I could, thinking the exercise would overcome the cold. I saw the Finn girls pass me, but I reached the first raft in third place and pushed off for the second. I looked to see where everyone else was and I had a nice lead. I reached the second raft then headed for shore. I looked up and the Finns were already walking out of the water. I reached standing depth and stood up.
As I emerged from the water Kathleen tossed me my towel, "Don't get all the way dry. It will be easier when you go in again."
"If you say so, coach."
Kathleen and Becky were sporting some very nice nipples and I could detect abundant pubic hair on their modest mons. Julianne came up next to me also nipped out. She grabbed a towel and started drying off. Jerry and Owen were emerging from the water. The fourth woman, who I learned was Peggy, reached the shallows. The first heat was done.
I yelled, "Next group. Go!"
