The first thing Jerry remembered about that Saturday morning was the sound of the “heat bug” outside his open window. Mom always said that meant it was going to be a real scorcher.
“Can we go swimming today?” asked Lucie, sloshing her soggy cereal back and forth with her spoon.
“Don't be a dummy,” said David. “We're all going to the pool, but we're not going swimming. We're going to watch Jerry in the swimming meet.”
“Are you going to be in that long, long race again, Jerry?” Lucie asked.
“I don't know,” he said. “I'll have to see what the coach decides when I get there.”
He couldn't tell her how much he wanted to swim in more than just one event. Placing in one of the top three positions in a number of races was how he could really help the team. After all, it was the final score that counted, wasn't it?
“You kids finish up,” said Mr. Grayson. “Jerry, I'll run you over to the bus when it's time. Why don't you straighten out your room meanwhile?”
“I thought I'd brush Yogi,” Jerry said.
“That's what I was afraid of,” said Mr. Grayson, smiling at him. “That dog is going to be down to bare skin if you brush her any more!”
“A bald Yogi!” cried Lucie through a mouthful of cereal.
Jerry could hear her giggling as he went up to his room.
It wasn't that much of a mess, but it would help pass the time to clean it up.
First he picked up all his clothes that were draped over everything — his dresser knobs, desk, chair, reading lamp, bedposts, and bookcase. He stashed some of them in drawers, put some in his laundry bag, and shoved most of the remaining pile in his closet.
Curled up on her dog pillow in the corner, Yogi watched all this activity with a curious eye.
“A place for everything and everything in its place,” said Jerry. “That's what Mom always says. Well, it's all out of sight, anyhow”
He was about to close the closet door when he noticed his baseball glove on the top shelf. He reached up and ran a finger along its supple leather surface.
The one touch was enough to trigger a flood of memories. He really loved baseball. And he still planned to play in a lot of games. But who said he had to limit himself to just one sport? And who said he always had to be on the school team? Same as swimming, now that he knew more about it. As long as he gave all he had whenever he played in any sport, that's what really counted.
With that thought in mind, he finished his cleaning up and called downstairs, “Ready!”
On the bus to the meet, the coach read off the roster.
Jerry listened as Tanya's name was called out for the hundred-yard backstroke, the hundred-yard butterfly, and the two-hundred-yard freestyle relay.
“Wow, you're really gonna be doing some swimming today,” Jerry whispered to her across the aisle to where she was sitting.
When Coach Fulton finished with the girls, he called out the names for the boys events.
Tony was scheduled for the fifty-yard freestyle, the hundred-yard freestyle — and the hundred-yard backstroke. The coach had decided to put him in after all — along with Lars and Wayne. So, despite Jerry's showing in that practice race on Wednesday, he still wasn't good enough at the backstroke after all.
But there was another surprise in store for him. He heard his name called out for the fifty-yard freestyle as well as the five-hundred-yard freestyle.
When Coach Fulton had finished reading the list, the bus arrived at the Weaver Middle School pool, where the meet was to be held. As they got off, the coach pulled Jerry to one side.
“You're probably wondering how I picked you for the sprint, aren't you?” he said, walking toward the locker room with the rest of the team. “I know you don't think of yourself as a sprinter, but we need some help in that race. And I think it'll give you a good chance to warm up before the five hundred. So, don't hold back, give it everything you've got.”
Jerry thanked the coach and ran off to get suited up.
In the locker room, he took some good-natured ribbing from some of the other guys.
“From fifty to five hundred, you've got it all, slugger!” said Lars.
“Yeah,” said Sammy Wu. “You can take a nap in between races.”
There was some, good advice, too.
“Watch out for the sprint,” said Tony. “Even though it's just fifty yards, it's a lot longer than it sounds. So pace yourself a little so you have something left for the finish.”
“Thanks, Tony,” said Jerry. “And good luck in all your races. I'm glad you're in the backstroke. Some day I hope I'm good enough for that one, too.”
“You're good enough,” said Tony. “I think the coach just wants 'old reliables' in there during this meet. You'll get your chance sometime.”
As they came out of the locker room into the pool area, Jerry got a quick adrenaline rush. It was becoming a familiar sensation.
The public address system blared out a welcome and then went on to set the stage for the competition ahead.
“This is the last meet of the season for these two teams. The Bolton Blues bring with them a strong record of five to two, having won their last three meets with outstanding scores. The host team, the Weaver Beavers, have an identical record of five to two but have won their last four meets. So we can expect some exciting events out of these two teams.”
This is where the flip-flops inside my stomach usually take over, Jerry thought. But as he stood for the singing of the national anthem, he was surprisingly calm. Maybe he didn't even have to be standing in the water for Tanya's “moment of relaxation” to work for him.
“Our first event will be the girls fifty-yard freestyle —”
“The next event will be the girls one-hundred-yard breaststroke —”
One by one, the races were run.
Tanya won first place in the hundred-yard backstroke and took second in the hundred-yard butterfly.
Lars took first place in the hundred-yard backstroke, Tony came in second, and Wayne finished third for a clean sweep by the Blues.
“The next event will be the fifty-yard boys freestyle. Swimming in lane one for the Beavers will be Jay Funchion, in lane two for the blues — Jerry Grayson …”
Okay, thought Jerry as he walked across the cold tile floor to the starting block. All the rest was preparation. This is now for real.