KIDS' STUFF

	Flying with the Dolphins

S/C  Dorothy Mitchell, S.
Publication Committee

Susan flew home, swim towel flapping, wet hair bouncing in the 4 p.m.
sun, excitement popping like First of July crackers.  'Mum! Dad!"  Bare
feet flew up the walk and through the open door.  "Guess what I've been
doing!  Just guess!  It was simply cool!  Absolutely, perfectly,
divinely cool!  Tommy, you should have seen me!  Oh Mum, we've just got
to get some, too, please?  Oh Dad, please say yes?!"

Dad's warm eyes crinkled at this burst of enthusiasm.  'Well, Susan,
your Mother and I...."

"Oh,Dad, it was just like....flying with the dolphins!", and she flung
out her arms and flopped into a chair.  "It wasn't so hard after
all....really!  Actually, it was super easy.  Catharine and her dad
showed me how to get up on the skis and..." "....and you fell flat in
the water!", hooted Tommy, and ducked as a cushion flew his way.

"And, little Brother, if you'll let me finish, Catharine's dad said I
was a natural!  Did you know that he was a champion water skier, and
that Catharine's brother is on the National team?  Well, anyways, I was
actually flying over the water.  Just like with the dolphins!  Oh, all
right", as Tommy floundered onto the floor and buried his face in the
cushion, "I did fall to start with...sort of gracefully....but..oh, do
let's get some water skies, Dad!  Please?!!  You know that uncle Ned
told us we could use his power boat, any time we wanted.
So...please?!!"

Mum and dad looked at each other.  Their mouths twitching.  Tommy
grinned.  He had been part of their day's surprise, but he didn't say
anything,  Spoil the next few minutes' fun?  Never!!

"Susan, you father and I are happy that you had such a wonderful day,
especially when you had the chance to try something new.  But there is
more to water skiing than just getting up on skis and ...flying like
the dolphins!"

"Oh Mum, what more can there be?  And if I can learn, why even little
brother can learn... and you and dad, too, of course", Susan added.

"Well", said her dad with a chuckle, "that's kind of you, but let's see
what mum had in mind.  To start with, how many should there be in the
boat that is towing the skier?"

"And what should be their most important responsibilities?" asked mum.

"where should you ski, and where not, and when?" continued her father.

"What does this flag mean? and her mother held up a quick sketch of a
white diagonal on a read background.

"And", questioned her father, "what if you see a log or a swimmer, or a
shadow under the water?"

"and", quipped Tommy, instinctively ducking, "are you going to eat
nothing but fish now
...just like the dolphins?"

Susan threw up her hands.  "Okay, you win!  If I learn all those
things, will you buy water skis?  I can get Catharine's dad to teach
us.  And what's so funny, little Brother?"

Tommy dove for a desk drawer.  "May I, Dad?"  He drew out two
application forms and waved them triumphantly in the air.  Susan
grabbed one, stared in disbelief, then shrieked with excitement.

"Yes", grinned her dad, 'we bought skis this morning, and this water
safety course will help you both use them more safely.  And yes,
Catharine's family can help you.  In fact, you'll see them next
Saturday, when the course starts.  They will teach you the answers to
all those questions and a few more besides.  Now, can someone who has
flown with the dolphins manage to eat hamburgers?"

(Okay, what are the answers?)

From:  The Port Hole/Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.