Bearcat Swim Club

A Swimmer’s Christmas

‘Twas the week before Christmas, and at Sparks Center Pool
not a swimmer was swimming, which to Kate was not cool.
The water was calm, the girls’ showers scrubbed clean,
The chlorine unused in the chlorine machine.

Their suits were all hung by the fire to dry,
There would be no more goggle-marks circling the eye.
No drafting, no gasping, no dryland to fake,
The kids sighed in relief, “We’re on Christmas break!”

But as Kate looked out grimly, she knew in her heart,
“Those seniors really need to work on their starts.
They breathe off the wall, and what’s just as bad,
without extra practice, I’m sure they’ll get sad.”

“I know what to do,” the coach said with a gleam.
“We’ll continue to practice. I’ll pour on the steam!
I’ll assign them some ‘Patented Kate’s Christmas Cheer:’
with intervals, pulls, and kick drills to fear!”

So she went to her keyboard, kicked her husband off of it,
composed a new e-mail, and cackled “They’ll love it!”
“Listen, you guys!” Kate wrote with a grin,
“Your Christmas vacation is about to begin!”

“From seven to nine in the morning each day,
You swimmers will swim—and you’ll do it MY way!
Afternoons too. That’s not too far to go.
Like swimming from Canada to Mexico.”

She hit the SEND button, and from all ‘round the city
Came a chorus of groans. “Does Kate have no pity?!
She’ll make us swim fly sets, I.M.’s and more,
And if we sleep late, she’ll lock the gym door!”

But in secret they scarcely could hide their delight,
For they knew, deep inside, their tough coach was right.
Two weeks without swimming? Impossible to think.
Their suits would get moldy. Might even stink!

So the first day of break they showed up bright and eager.
Their breakfast was cold, their sleep had been meager.
Their parents were grumpy; it was cold and was raining.
But Kate was ready to pump up the training.

She gave the kids tires, old and unpleasant,
And said “Cuz I love you—It’s your Christmas present!”
And with a crack of her whip and a grin on her face,
“Merry Christmas to all! Better win that next race!”

Mike