Chapter 6
Stacy had decided to join us. She was sitting at a poolside table watching AJ who was already in the pool and who was shouting for me to jump in and join her.
"I have to do something first," I shouted back. "Mrs. Muller I have to call my mom and let her know what's going on. Is that okay?"
"Certainly, Lance. Would you like to use our phone?"
"No, I'll just use my smartphone."
I told my mother I would be temporarily staying with the Muller's. I also asked if she had any updates on Scott. She didn't, but she said she would call me if she did. After hanging up, I walked to the edge of the pool and then dove in.
"AJ, I'm going to do some laps first. Is that okay?"
"Sure," she replied.
After swimming the length of the pool 20 times, I made my way over to where she was floating. While gazing at my muscular physique, she asked if I had come to the school to join the football team.
"No. Not really."
"Why did you come then?"
"To get away; I needed a break from… different things."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad you're here."
The phone rang and Mrs. Muller went into the house to answer it. As AJ watched her leave she asked, "Are you really a lifeguard?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever saved anyone from drowning?"
"One time I did."
"Could you show me how you did it?"
I stared at her. "Are you serious?"
"Uh-huh."
"I guess I could. Ah… swim over to the far side of the pool. Do you want to pretend to be a person who's drowning or unconscious?"
"Unconscious."
"Then swim over there and float on your back and I'll come rescue you."
She moved to the other side of the pool and began floating on her back. I swam over to her and after putting my left arm discreetly around her chest, I began to swim us both to the edge of the pool. Unexpectedly, she turned and embraced me in a hug. Then, while staring up into my face, she flashed her eyes seductively. Immediately, I felt a spike in my hormonal level! Startled by this behavior, I gently peeled her arms off from around my neck and said, "You're supposed to be unconscious, remember?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Do you know CPR?"
"Of course."
"Can you teach it to me?"
"I suppose I can."
"Let's do it over there," she said while pointing to the area where her mother had been sitting.
I followed her out of the water and watched her lay down on her back.
"Okay, the first thing you should do," I advised, "Is two inch chest compressions—30 in a row while trying to maintain a speed of 100 per minute. Actually, the first thing you should do is call 911," I remarked, now correcting myself. "Next, see if the person is conscious and breathing and then start chest compressions."
"Okay, do it."
"Do what?"
"Compress my chest, silly," she remarked while arching her back and sticking her chest out.
"Uh… AJ… I really don't feel comfortable putting my hands… you know… there."
"Then show me the next thing," she continued with an annoyed tone.
"That would be mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Unfortunately, I don't have a CPR mask on me."
"Do you really need one just to show me?"
"Uh… I suppose not."
I went through the routine of unblocking her air passages and as I glanced down at her mouth, she slowly slid her tongue out and across her top lip while again flashing her eyes at me. This caused a surge in my hormonal level! My pulse quickened as I stared at her.
"Go ahead," she cooed seductively. "My mouth is all yours."
But I was now paralyzed in dismay.
"Lance, what do you think you are doing with my daughter?" Mrs. Muller challenged in a puzzled tone of voice as she walked up behind us.
I jumped up startled and almost fell into the pool!
"I wasn't doing anything, Mrs. Muller! I mean… I was just trying to show AJ… how to do… you know… mouth-to-mouth—that is, CPR!"
"Lance, I'm a nurse and my daughter already knows CPR." she remarked with a skeptical tone while also scrutinizing me.
"Oh… that's great," I replied sheepishly while glancing down at AJ who was now sporting an impish grin.
"Let's, uh, all continue swimming," I suggested while quickly diving back into the pool.
For the next 15 minutes I helped AJ do backward and forward flips which she performed effortlessly with athletic grace—all under the watchful eye of her mother.
By now it was getting dark and so I glanced at my watch. It showed 9:45 PM. Stacy had turned on the poolside lights. I was feeling exhausted. The combination of the stress of the last 24 hours, the lack of sleep, jet lag, and the vigorous swim, had me completely spent. I was tired both mentally and physically. I swam over to the edge of the pool where Stacy was sitting and then exited it.
"I hope my daughter didn't wear you out," she remarked.
"AJ is a lot of fun. She's a nice girl. I'm really tired. If it's okay with you, Mrs. Muller, I'd like to go to bed." I yawned deeply as I said this.
"That's fine, Lance. You can leave your wet bathing suit in the upstairs bathtub. I'll take care of it later. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Muller, and thanks," I replied as I turned and left.