Today was swimming/clinging day with Isaac. I'm getting used to the familiar faces at the pool. I'm getting even more familiar with the etiquette of not making conversation with women in her swimming costume. Unknown to me, a conversation should only last 2 levels. Question and answer. Never even dream of elaborating on what you have just said otherwise you will get the "i'm really not interested and I really have to go" look as the mum uses their child as an excuse to get away as if their child is playing with a samurai sword left by the pool side. I joke but I am guilty of this too.
So today I was determined to get there early. I am already known as the late dad and have decided to break the habit by getting there early. Isaac seemed to settle down more and there was the smallest improvement from last week. Even though he benefited from our better time keeping, I can't use him as my reasoning for wanting to be early. It was purely to prove to myself and the other mums that I can get there on time. I would say this is true for others too.
So all through the class I was humming "I was early " in the tune of Frere Jacques and karma decided to exact revenge while in the pool and I noticed that my locker key had come off. I looked around and couldn't see it. I knew it would be near as the kids hardly create a wake with their paddling and it is a shallow pool. The teacher noticed I was even less coordinated than usual and asked if I was ok. I said I dropped my key and another women said "Oh it's here. I noticed it earlier and......" I'm still waiting for the end of the sentence. At that point, the other mums glided away in perfect formation like a team of synchronised swimmers and left one of their own to explain her actions. I got the feeling that the other mums saw the key too and avoided it as if it were green kryptonite. Then she said "sorry, you'll have to go and get it. I don't want to get my hair wet." She moved back in line with the others and I picked it up with my foot. This was a mum who I and my wife knew before swimming. I thought at the very least she would stick together when times got tough. It was difficult to get changed with the knife still stuck in my back but at least I know where I stand now. I now know two things about mums at the pool. Firstly, It always bothered me how women appeared to look like they had suckers on the underside of their feet in the pool, while I was slipping all over the place. Now I know they were working furiously beneath the surface to prevent their hair from getting wet. Secondly, the changing room floor is so dry because mums don't shower after they swim as they don't want to get their hair wet.
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