Amid splashes, laughter, and shouts of “Marco” “Polo”, a whistle blows.

“Adult Swim!”.

There’s a collective groan as reluctant swimmers begrudgingly make their way to the side of the pool.

A toddler in her puddle jumper shrieks as her dad wrestles her out of the water.

After quick snacks of soggy pretzels, melted granola bars, and carrot sticks (poor Charley),

anxious kids line up at the the deep end.

Impatiently waiting, slyly dipping in a toe, jokingly nudging friends towards the edge.

Everyone screams and scatters as a wasp buzzes overhead.

Ten minutes, may as well be a lifetime.

Can the second hand on the old clock above the lifeguard stand move any slower?

Then the lifeguard grabs her sunglasses and begins her slog back to her perch.

Stopping, she turns around, she’s forgotten something.

Finally settling into her chair, she begins adjusting the umbrella.

She scans the pool area, “No running!”

As the whistle comes to her lips, excitement fills the air.

The whistle blows, “Cannonball!”