I was so excited. I just got my WSI (water safety instructor) and my first job was at the Y. Not only was I a lifeguard, I was a teacher. I thought, hey this is a great skill, and an even better way to navigate summer while still earning money. So here are 11 little ones on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water. Toddlers at best. BOys and girls in different styles and colors of swimwear, waiting impatiently as I began to instruct the class. 11. So I take a little girl first. She’s begging to go first. She says she already knows how to swim. So I drag her over to the pool for a minute and she says “let me go! I can swim!” So I decide to give her a shot at it. And she can swim! She was not kidding around, that’s when I see something colorful at the bottom of the pool, heed the edge where the kids are lined up, waiting. 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Oh my god it’s a swimsuit I see. It’s a little boy. I have to put the little girl on the ledge first. I dive under and see that it’s the Down’s syndrome kid. I get ahold of him and come up for air. He’s yellow. I instinctively whack him on the back and he spits out some of the water he has inhaled. I’m looking at him. He’s looking at me. He looks like he’s going to cry. Then he starts to laugh. I am relieved. I get him on the ledge, flag down the lifegaurd on duty and he takes over. I don’t teach anymore kids how to swim that summer.