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"Mummy, will you teach me to swim
today?" George asked. "I’m old enough now."
His mum smiled, "George, you’re just
a wee tortoise. You’ve got so much to learn, but I supposed it won’t hurt
to go down to the pond and have a wee swim."
"Thanks, Mummy," George said and
followed her to the water.
"All right, George, jump in," she
said.
"Just jump in? I’ll drown," George
frowned. He was feeling a wee bit frightened.
"You’ll not drown. Your shell will
keep you afloat."
George put his leg in the water.
"It’s cold, Mummy."
"Jump in!"
George leapt into the water. It went
over his face and he started to cough. "I’m going to drown, Mummy. Help!"
he cried.
"Roll over onto your back. Your
shell well stop you from sinking," she called.
George rolled over and floated.
"Hey! This is fun," he realized. He floated all over the pond, among the
flowers and reeds and fish.
"Now, George, roll onto your tummy
and use your legs to swim about."
George slowly rolled over. Water
gushed all over his face, but he didn’t worry because he knew his shell
would keep him afloat. He started using his legs to swim about the pond.
"I’m doing it, Mummy. I’m swimming!" He was delighted. "I can swim! I can
swim!"
Every day from then on George and
his mum went to the pond for a swim. |
