Stephen pulled out a gold chain. He swung it like a pendulum to reveal the orange sea glass.
"The lure."
He hung it around her neck. Julia lifted the sea glass and admired it.
"Stephen--don't you want this for fishing?"
"No, it looks nice on you."
She kissed his cheek. "This means more to me than my medal."
He looked at his watch and sighed. "We have to get to the pool."
***
They opened the door, and Deanna ran to greet them.
"Come on guys, the Spartan dude is here."
She pulled Julia away from Stephen and toward a growing crowd of people.
"Is the whole team here?" asked Julia.
"It's a team party--"
"Hi Julia," said Janice. "Someone's here to see you..."
"Timothy!"
Julia ran to her little friend.
"We won't be able to stay long--there's too much excitement--I thought you'd like to say goodbye."
Timothy played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and Julia felt a sob rise to her throat. She kneeled beside his chair.
"Mary had a little lamb..." sang Julia.
Tears escaped the corner of her eye and she gave Timothy a hug.
"Have you made a decision?" asked Janice.
"I sure have."
"I hope it's a yes."
The Spartan dude.
They opened the door, and Deanna ran to greet them.
"Come on guys, the Spartan dude is here."
She pulled Julia away from Stephen and toward a growing crowd of people.
"Is the whole team here?" asked Julia.
"It's a team party--"
"Hi Julia," said Janice. "Someone's here to see you..."
"Timothy!"
Julia ran to her little friend.
"We won't be able to stay long--there's too much excitement--I thought you'd like to say goodbye."
Timothy played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and Julia felt a sob rise to her throat. She kneeled beside his chair.
"Mary had a little lamb..." sang Julia.
Tears escaped the corner of her eye and she gave Timothy a hug.
"Have you made a decision?" asked Janice.
"I sure have."
"I hope it's a yes."
The Spartan dude.
***
Julia stood breathless and dripping in front of Coach Sally.
"That was an outstanding swim, Julia."
"Thanks Coach."
"I'd like you to meet Mr. Woodright. He is a recruiter for San Jose State University."
"The Spartans?"
Mr. Woodright smiled. "Yes, My friend Janice Vinaldo called and said a diamond in the rough was swimming in her pool."
"You know Janice?"
"We swam together in college. Young lady, you have wonderful technique and strong times. I'm getting a line-up to replace my Junior and Senior girls in the next few years..."
"That was an outstanding swim, Julia."
"Thanks Coach."
"I'd like you to meet Mr. Woodright. He is a recruiter for San Jose State University."
"The Spartans?"
Mr. Woodright smiled. "Yes, My friend Janice Vinaldo called and said a diamond in the rough was swimming in her pool."
"You know Janice?"
"We swam together in college. Young lady, you have wonderful technique and strong times. I'm getting a line-up to replace my Junior and Senior girls in the next few years..."
***
"My best friend's been recruited," said Deanna.
"Janice went to San Jose State for her degree in occupational therapy," said Julia.
"You should have seen Monica's face," said Deanna.
Julia's father hugged her. "We are so proud of you."
"Hey Julia," said a voice, "picture for the yearbook?"
"Yeah--just a minute."
Julia threw her cell phone to Deanna and looked at her dad.
"Come on C.B., you only live once!"
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Get your camera ready," said Julia.
"Oh, a picture," said Julia's mother.
"THREE!" yelled Julia.
She and her father performed synchronized cannonballs into the pool. A roar of approval echoed throughout the building and splashes ensued as teammates joined the celebration.
"My best friend's been recruited," said Deanna.
"Janice went to San Jose State for her degree in occupational therapy," said Julia.
"You should have seen Monica's face," said Deanna.
Julia's father hugged her. "We are so proud of you."
"Hey Julia," said a voice, "picture for the yearbook?"
"Yeah--just a minute."
Julia threw her cell phone to Deanna and looked at her dad.
"Come on C.B., you only live once!"
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Get your camera ready," said Julia.
"Oh, a picture," said Julia's mother.
"THREE!" yelled Julia.
She and her father performed synchronized cannonballs into the pool. A roar of approval echoed throughout the building and splashes ensued as teammates joined the celebration.
***
Julia poured colorful sea glass into a jar on her dresser.
"Aunt Georgia, I'm going to miss you."
Julia still smelled rose perfume.
"You'll be back," said Aunt Georgia. "Make your own tumbler of sea glass--full of works in progress."
Julia fingered her orange pendant and smiled. She began a text to Stephen.
"Your kiss..."
Julia poured colorful sea glass into a jar on her dresser.
"Aunt Georgia, I'm going to miss you."
Julia still smelled rose perfume.
"You'll be back," said Aunt Georgia. "Make your own tumbler of sea glass--full of works in progress."
Julia fingered her orange pendant and smiled. She began a text to Stephen.
"Your kiss..."
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