Life Of Two Best Friends: College CHPT 42

CHAPTER 43

Chad dove again into the water! This time I ignored everything, instead I searched for that thing. ‘What was it?’ Head bobbing? No. Shoulders rotating wrong? No. Maybe legs? No. What was I missing? Then I saw something. There in his strokes. Nothing wrong with his technique, but a habit that needed to be nipped in the butt. ‘How did Coach see that?’ I glanced over at Coach Jones. He was sitting in his chair staring at me. I held up my hand to ask without words if that was what was wrong. Coach nodded in agreement. I was right.

Chad had came into the wall.”Well…?”

“Coach was right. It’s nothing wrong with your technique. You just have developed a habit of swimming with your thumb out. It’s nothing big, but it you think of it as in terms of drag it is something you are going to want to fix, before it becomes a bigger issue.” Proud of myself, for figuring out the issue.

“My thumb? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Chad climbed out off the pool. “I don’t believe you,” Chad tried to walk away.

“Stop. You know I’m not like Bryan. I’m not out to get anyone. I already confirmed it with Coach Jones. Do you realy not want to get better?” I could have blown him off; I could have not tried to help.

“Cool your jets dude,” Chad held up his hands in defeat. “I’m sorry I’m cautious. Swimming is important and I don’t want to waste my time. I’ve got so much going on, that this is my only escape.”

I paused, “Then why do you hang around Bryan? Until right now; I thought you just did swim to be popular and stay in shape.”

“It’s…” silence. “It’s not that I’m scared, but its better to be on Bryan’s side, than against him. And you may think I’m fast; I’m unable to keep up with Bryan in a race.” Chad tore his cap off. “I just can’t let anything get in the way of my chances in swimming. And if you are on Bryan’s bad side then your college life is going to be impossible.

I laughed. “Yeah. I would know something about that wouldn’t I?”

Chad chuckled, but then it trickled off because he knew it was true. “Yeah. Sorry about that George. I know that you have been having trouble. How has college been?”

“No offense Chad, but I don’t really trust you. Especially since you pretty much admitted to still being Bryan’s guard dog,” I held up a hand, “Sorry. Not dog, but bodyguard. So, instead of telling you anything that might make its way back to Bryan; I’ll just stick to talking about swimming related stuff.” Good thing I changed my word, I think I probably would have left practice with a black eye. “Deal?”

“Deal. Okay so how should I fix my thumb issue? I can’t even feel it?” Chad looked down at his thumbs.

“I don’t know. Maybe tape it? Then at least you will get used to the feeling of how it show be.”

“Sounds good,” Chad nodded and started walking off to the office for some tape. “You should start working on your lung capacity. Do 12x25s of shooters on the 40sec. You should be able to not breathe on all of them.

I rolled my eyes, “That’s an easy set. I don’t think that will actually help my problem. Got anything else?”

“Yeah. Do them freestyle kick. That is going to kill your legs as well as your lungs. Get ready for 12 laps straight,” Chad laughed as he lefted and walked to Coach’s office.

‘You had to speak George. You just made this set impossible.’ But I wasn’t about to back off from Chad’s set. When the 60 rolled around I left the wall.

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