Swim

A rural Saskatchewan summer

Reality has set in.  We were really spending the summer in this place.  The kind of place I thought only existed in movies.  A place where things to entertain a 14-year-old are limited. Where the local store owner has never seen a drive though window.  Where the only radio station plays old fashioned country music. Where my friends in the city can send letters to me - general delivery.  Staying in a trailer that should have burned down years ago when it was abandoned.  It is a true testament to 1970s nylon carpeting that the abandoned cigarettes simply burned themselves out, rather than taking this carpet and wall paper covered monstrosity with them. The gas leaks, so we cannot use the stove. The yard is overgrown.

But this is my summer and I will make the most of it.  We walk to the beach to swim or read in the shade.  Mom sometimes takes us to the big lake, where there are some boys to flirt with. We collect large rocks from a road construction area and build our own fire pit (is this stealing or helping?).  We learn to cook everything on a grill or in an electric frying pan or an old coffee warmer. And the store owner, Pearl, is a funny old woman with a kind heart and a brash attitude, who gives us candy when we sit and visit. 

As we are talking one day, Pearl notes that I am a very good swimmer.  I brag that I can swim the 1500m in tournaments.  She tells me that a girl a bit younger than me tried to swim across one of the local lakes and got about half way.  Fowler Lake is just under 3 km.  She issues a challenge: Can I do it?

Of course I can! Years of swimming and the confidence of youth make me certain of it. So it is decided; the following evening, when my dad returns from work, my sister and I will swim the lake.  My dad borrows my uncle’s little aluminum boat; with the kind of outboard motor you drive from a handle attached directly to the motor.  It is fully equipped with all necessary safety equipment, including some ancient looking life preservers. We launch the boat and my dad drives us to the far end of the lake. My mom is with us, not so sure about this endeavor; they will stay with us the whole time.

The thing about any distance sport is that you have to get in that space.  That space where the world shrinks down to a single thing: keep moving.  It is the closest I ever get to mediation.  The problem that became clear to my parents early on, takes me a bit longer to notice: my sister is struggling.  She is falling behind, forcing my parents to use the boat to move back and forth between us.  This becomes more challenging, as the sun is starting to set.  I have reached my meditative state and can’t change my pace.  So mom and dad keep going between us (I will find out later that they eventually give my sister a life jacket, as they don’t want to leave her to check on me).

The swim takes on an out of body quality.   A beaver joins me at one point, swimming beside me for some time, before disappearing under the water.  I have a moment of concern, searching my brain for what beavers eat and wondering if my toes look like little fish in the water, before remembering they eat young tree and branches.  I alternate between a front stroke and swimming on my back.  I notice the stars start to come out and how startlingly quick it is getting dark. My parents continue to check in, asking if I want to stop.  I am confused; I can do this forever.

As the dark shadows of trees draw nearer, I realize there is a small problem.  The lake is surrounded by steep shores populated by thick pine trees.  The only place to climb out is the boat launch.  Which I can no longer see.  Pretty soon lights begin to appear, not too far ahead, first two, then four, six.  People are waiting for me and they are turning their truck lights on so I can see.  I adjust my course and head for the boat launch.  I arrive before my parents, who are still with my sister.

As I am getting closer, I feel something hit my hand.  I realize the water is shallow enough that I am scraping the bottom of the lake bed with my hand. I do not know, until I try to stand, how incredibly tired and weak I am.  I can swim forever, but walking proves to be a challenge.  I am also now aware that the air got much colder when the sun went down.  My uncle wades into the water, carrying a blanket, which he wraps around me.  The locals are laughing and congratulating me. They’re drinking tea and coffee from thermoses and offer me some, which I accept.  I am quickly bundled into a truck, with the heat on full.  As I look around, I see that a few dozen people are standing around and talking, watching the goings on, sharing hot drinks.  Some have brought lawn chairs and are busy visiting.  Pearl is in the truck with me, laughing heartily, telling me the only reason we were allowed to try this in the evening, was because everyone assumed we would give up in the first hour.  I have been swimming for two hours!  Eventually, my sister gives up and gets into the boat with mom and dad.  We all go back to the nasty old trailer and enjoy a large supper.

The summer moves on and the story of my lake swim becomes part of my family lore: just another crazy thing part of a ridiculous summer. I return to this place, to stay in another scary old trailer 24 years later.  My cousin is getting married.  Pearl died a few years ago and the store is closed.  There seem to be fewer people living around it.  Like many other rural communities, it appears to be dying.  We take part in all the usual wedding festivities: a ceremony by the lake, a pig roast, a dance at the hall.  People from the community are friendly and I ask me how I am related.  When I explain I am related to my cousin, through her dad’s family, one of the women instantly asks “Are you the little girl who swam Fowler Lake?”. The story has become part of the lore of this community as well; perhaps it is not dying as quickly as I first thought.

Author's Note

Any feedback is welcome.
And did you have to Google "Saskatchewan"?

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a great story of youth & also the way an event like this becomes woven into the lore of a place. Your writing is very well done with almost no typos or grammar issues, easy to follow, everything clearly stated in a balanced mix of sentence structures. Really love the description of swimming as zen (I've done lots in my life & I love the mesmerizing relaxation of it). Really love the whimsy of the beaver following along . . . very fresh & surprising thoughts about what a beaver eats. I also love the end of the swim, uncle with blanket, everyone sitting around partying & watching -- great realistic details.

5th paragraph: "It is the closet I ever get to mediation." . . . think you mean "closest"

Last paragraph: "There seem to be less people living around it." . . . "There seems to be fewer people . . . " might sound a little better.

[Shannon]

Thank you for the kind words and for reading!
Thanks suggestions are spot on, and will be made, one I get to my desk top!

[Kathy Van Kurin]

"Swim"
Shannon,
I did look up Saskatchewan and it was really interesting. From the large area of forests, to sand dunes to summer temps of 100 and over to the zero temps in the winter and more it sounds like a really lovely area and even a little mysterious.
After reading up on it your story made even more sense. Many lakes too.
It's inspiring how this story contains so many memories you were able to retain from youth. It sounds like a happy time and an experience which was good for you and your family. The out of doors is so special and what a setting for this tale!
anyway bye for now and I look forward to another great read Shannon.
blessings,
Kathy

[Shannon]

Thank you Kathy. You appear to be a very loyal reader, even when I was away. I have attempted to add or change this one several times but never seem to get it quite right.

[SweetNutmeg]

Well, this is a year late, but... Wow. You are so economical with your language and minimalist with details about the bigger picture. I love that you allow us to imagine so much on our own. This is sparse and trim, yet rich in small details that make it come alive for me. Very good job!

[Splatman73]

It's short and there's not a lot of information, but it works well. It focuses the reader on the swim, like your main character does when she enters her focus. It flows well from the beginning where the only thing ahead is a long dull summer, to the store owner who sets up the challenge, to the final moments reaching the shore, to the end where she returns years later. Great Job.

[Shannon]

I tended in these early ones, especially, but even now, make an event or a place into a primary character of sorts. I think it creates a bit of a paired down feeling.

I appreciate your read and comments regarding flow.

[Samuel Dickens]

Reading this was a pleasure. Maybe because of my own youthful adventures, I saw the scenes as if I'd been there, experiencing them with you. (I was also a strong swimmer) When you went back later and saw how things had changed, I smiled a sad smile.

[Shannon]

Thank you Samuel. Appreciate your thoughts. Yes, rural communities are slowly disappearing, along with these simple pleasures.

[LastMonth]

Great, Great, Great, Great.

Ahem,

Favorite paragraph was the part when you explain about swimming. About 'Any distance sport', I found myself glued to the screen, wondering almost aloud - 'Ohshit, this might be useful'. I jog alot, long distances mostly. And I think that the way you put it, 'Meditative' is a perfect description. You need to stop thinking about the goal, and just get into the rythm. I also did my fair share of swimming, though admittingly none of it was too good. Mostly it was in context of drowning ships and military drills. (Don't worry, nobody drowned my ship.)

Now, the story itself is written in a way that lures me to know more about it. Which is why I found the last paragraph, the 'Epilogue' so satisfying. There's a tinge of remorse when you think about the dying community and the way all good things must come to an end, yet we must remember and keep in mind that the next part of the evolution is not necesserily a bad one. I bet quite a few people felt bad when people stopped using carriages with horses. ''But think about all the horse breeders! What will they do?''

Your story conveys change, more then anything.
Yet it also shows how some things can grow and immerse entire populations, and how we can be 'Bigger then life'.

Like that little girl,
Who turned into a legend.

Thank you for the story.

[Shannon]

This has to be the best review I have ever received. Not just because it is positive. But it is specific and so well written it is practically a story. Good to have you on here again.
Tell me, any suggestions or ideas?

[LastMonth]

Currently on the tail end of my night shift. I'll need to sleep on it.
Also, thank you.

[Shannon]

Time zones. So simple in theory, so confusing in real life!
Have a good night. And thanks again.

[Inject Positivity]

Such beautifully painted descripted picture... A well told story that really grabs reader's attention...

Another thing that stood out for me which I didn't notice the first time was it's details... A story of achievement and commitment... Inspiring too... Well done S...

Sincerely
Dhiman

[Lyn Anderson]

I love this story. It is funny how we are wowed by others' accomplishments but rarely our own. A wonderful coming of age story. And I know exactly what you mean about distance sports, there comes a point when it's just you and the goal.

[Shannon]

Thanks. It was a little of fun. The end was especially gratifying. I appreciate you stopping by to read!

[Candace Cloud]

We all go back to the nasty old trailer and enjoy an (a) large supper.

I have done that in the past in my writing change an adjective and forget to change an to a.

I felt like I was fourteen again and pictured myself in that trailer - I spent many summers up north in Michigan with that same feeling. However, I was never brave enough to go swimming across the lake. Great story!

[Shannon]

Thanks, Candace. I have no idea how I missed that so many times. I appreciate the review and I am glad you could relate. It was a small lake... ☺

[Papaya]

I love this story. A legend is born!
The details, you're so good with the details I felt like I was there cheering for her (you?)

[Shannon]

Thanks so much Papaya. I am always looking for the sweet spot for details.
It was totally me. And the follow up was true, too!

[Papaya]

That's awesome. Great to have stories like that!

[Jacob Clifford]

Fun story. I like the setting and I like what information I have about the characters, even though it's not much. I'm not always a fan of stories that are told so passively, but I get that a memory-story can't be told like a fictional one.

I can't imagine swimming that far. I've never had much swimming experience, but I know that's quite a distance.

I know Saskatchewan is a Canadian province (but I wouldn't have been able to spell it on my own). I thought everyone did, but apparently it is not so.

[Shannon]

Thanks Clifford. This is an older one, for me, so am considering it might be time for a little revision.
Most people know Toronto and Vancouver. So, especially if you are American, you know more about it than most people
. About the size of Texas, with only about a million people. Recently, Deadpool mentioned it and since Ryan Reynolds he even said it correctly.