Chapter 11

“You are not giving up your chance to make the varsity squad,” said Lanh as she led Don to Mr. Mach’s office.

“Lanh, I can barely walk, there’s no way I’ll make backup for the JV squad...”

“We’re not going to try out for the JV squad so get that out of your head.” She was on a mission, and she couldn’t be deterred. She knocked on the door to Coach Mach’s office and waited for him to answer. Then she knocked again, harder.

“IN!” boomed Coach Mach. They opened the door and Coach Mach was sitting at his desk eating lunch. “Can’t a guy get a sandwich in peace?”

“We want the swimming pool,” said Lanh.

“And people in hell want ice water. Why do you want my swimming pool?”

“I intend to rehabilitate Don’s injuries and prepare him for his position as top swimmer on the varsity squad.”

“It’s a little late for that...”

“We will try out in September like everyone else. Just leave the position at the pop of the list open for Don.”

Mr. Mach looked at this little fireball and said, “Nguyen, you’re medically excused from PE. What are you going to do?”

“I will be coaching him,” she said. “I’m going to need a whistle and a stopwatch.”

Now Coach Mach started laughing. “Campbell, is this your idea?”

“This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you coach,” said Don.

“We will need the pool for an hour at least three days a week until exams are finished,” Lanh continued.

Mr. Mach wasn’t able to stop the chuckles that were escaping. “Ok, you have the pool from end of classes at three thirty to four thirty.”

“We work for a living sir; we have to be milking the cows at four and prepping the restaurant for the dinner rush at five. We were hoping for last period on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, that way we wouldn’t interrupt the swim team when they finally try to catch up with us.”

“That’s when Campbell is scheduled for PE ... oh. Ok, I get it but when we have swimming you will attend, and I will have a student teacher watching you at all times.”

Lanh leaned across the teacher’s desk and shook his hand. “Sold! Coach, you just got another gold medal to hang on your trophy room wall.”

The next day, Don and Lanh showed up at the pool, Don was wearing his swim team speedo, and Lanh, who was used to Don’s playfulness and splashing, was wearing a swimsuit as well. Cindy Hansen was a student teacher assigned to observe their training. She sat on the bleachers and did her own homework for SUM@B. “What now coach?” asked Don.

“Stretch out and get up on the starting block,” said Lanh sternly.

“Yes ma’am,” said Don, who stretched his arms and legs. He couldn’t wait to get in the water. He had six weeks of workouts before he ran into Joshua Grimes, and he missed it greatly. He stood on the starting block and Lanh called, “Give me ten laps! This is a warmup, work but don’t kill yourself. Ready?” and a loud chirp of her whistle and Don was in the water. It felt good to be swimming again. It didn’t take long to get the timing down and before he knew it, he was able to hit the flip turn dead on and kick off like a superhero. However, he was swimming alone. He was used to swimming with a pool full of other swimmers, so he kept time with them.

Ten laps were up and back 10 times, or 500 meters. He was tired and breathing hard when he finished, and Lanh jumped in with him. “What’s next coach?” asked Don as he put his arms around the wet, warm Vietnamese beauty.

“In and outs,” grinned Lanh. Don groaned, but it was part of swimming. An in and out was a lap swum at a sprint pace, then you climb out, get on the block and do it again. It was both exhausting and fun at the same time.

“How many?” It was hard to concentrate with Lanh’s body pressing against him.

“Only ten. Are you ready?” she asked as she rubbed her tight body against him.

“Let’s do it,” said Don. Don pulled her into his arms and gave her a long, romantic kiss that only ended when Cindy blew her whistle. The kiss left them both gasping and aching for more. They climbed out of the pool and Don stepped over to the starting block. Lanh got her clipboard, stopwatch, and whistle off the diving board where she left it. Then she noticed something.