The First Step in the Shallow End

Chapter 1The Far Wall

At the boys' swimming lesson, Shaya stood beside the shallow-end steps and stared at the far wall.

It looked very far away.

His friend Berel was already sitting on the top step, waiting for the instructor. All the boys wore swim shirts and long swim shorts.

"Come here," Berel said.

Shaya did not move.

"I cannot swim across that."

"Neither can I."

Shaya looked at him. Berel seemed much too cheerful for someone who could not swim across.

Chapter 2What the Lesson Was

Mr. Klein, their instructor, gathered the beginner boys at the steps. A lifeguard watched the pool from his chair.

"Nobody enters until I tell him," Mr. Klein said. "Stay in our marked lesson area."

Shaya was glad about that. He was less glad that the water waited right beside his toes.

"Do we swim to the wall today?" he asked.

"Not today. First we learn how to be steady in the water here."

"But it says swimming lesson."

Mr. Klein smiled. "It also says first lesson."

Shaya looked at the far wall again. It had not moved closer.

Chapter 3One Wet Foot

Mr. Klein stood in the shallow water beside the steps.

He helped each boy enter the lesson area slowly. When Shaya's turn came, Shaya held the rail as instructed and put one foot on the first step.

The water felt cooler than he expected.

He pulled the foot back.

"Would you like another moment here?" Mr. Klein asked.

Shaya nodded.

Berel sat quietly nearby. He did not tell Shaya to hurry or splash him.

Shaya watched the ripples settle. He could see the step beneath them.

"Can you stay right there?" he asked the instructor.

"Yes."

Shaya put his foot back.

Chapter 4Both Feet

This time he kept the foot on the step.

His other foot followed. Mr. Klein stayed beside him and showed him where to stand.

Shaya's hands squeezed the rail.

"I thought everybody would already know how to do this," he said.

"They are here to learn, just as you are."

At the next part of the lesson, the boys practiced moving their arms while standing where the instructor directed them. Nobody raced. Nobody went to the deep end.

Berel's movement sent a small wave toward his own chin.

"I splashed myself," he said.

Shaya laughed, and his grip loosened a little.

Chapter 5A New Part

Mr. Klein explained the next practice and showed the boys how he would support them.

Shaya's laugh disappeared.

"I do not want to let go yet."

"Tell me what you need," said Mr. Klein.

"Could I watch Berel first?"

With the instructor beside him, Shaya watched. Berel listened carefully, tried the supported movement, and returned to his place.

It did not look like swimming across the pool. It looked like learning one small part.

Shaya asked Mr. Klein to explain it again.

Then, with the instructor supporting him as promised, he tried.

Chapter 6Not All at Once

Shaya's first try was brief. He wanted his feet back where they had been.

Mr. Klein helped him settle.

"You told me when you needed to stop," he said.

Shaya had expected the instructor to say that he had done it wrong.

Instead, Mr. Klein showed him what they would practice next time.

Shaya tried one more short turn before the lesson ended. The instructor stayed with him. Shaya listened, moved as directed, and came back to his place.

He was still not ready for the far wall.

He had done much more than stare at it.