A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 11

Julia watched the sea lions across the bay. Stephen sat beside her. I don't want to go home.

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.

***

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..."

***

"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..."

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 10

"It looks like Julie's going to swim. I thought she got bit by a shark." Monica shuddered.

Stop talking like I'm not here.

"Hey there, dairy queen, what's shakin'?"

Julia whirled and gave Stephen a sharp look, but Deanna laughed. Monica looked him over and gathered her minions.

"We're going to find a place for our team," said Monica. "Feel free to stay away."

"Stephen, don't make it worse for me!" whispered Julia.

Deanna pushed Julia's arm. "A slam on her DQ--I love it."

"Deanna, this is Stephen."

***

Warm-ups. For once, Julia was first in the pool. She swam her ritual underwater lap. Her lungs began to burn--so did all her worries. Time to focus.

***

No one was cheering. Bonnie Sumpter was cruising in the 500 free. Bonnie never won a race. Her competitor matched her, stroke for stroke. The two girls turned at the wall and Bonnie streamed ahead--100 meters to go--

"Bonnie-GO-GO-GO-GO!!"

Julia's mother put her hand to her chest. Julia's ecstatic leap knocked over the snack mix, and her father scooted out of range to guard his coffee. The zombied team looked up and saw Coach Benson waving and pointing excitedly--a few girls joined in.

"Come on guys!"

Julia was half-way down the bleachers before Deanna and Stephen could follow. She ran along the pool shouting, "Go, Bonnie, GO!"

When Bonnie won, the team erupted with cheering and clapping. Bonnie's triumph sparked hope for the whole team, and the cheering continued with Julia in charge. Monica watched from a distance.

"Girls, you're up soon," said Coach Sally as she marked her heat sheet. "Swim fast."

Deanna escorted Julia toward the blocks.

"Monica is in the lane next to mine."

"Don't even look her way," said Deanna.

"Julia!" called Coach Sally.

Julia turned.

"Monica has a tear in her suit. Do you have your spare?"

Of all people...

***

Julia stood behind the blocks. She stretched her legs, molded her cap, snapped her goggles--

Oh SNAP!

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.

She flung the broken goggles to the timers and teetered onto the block. Monica looked smug. That's it then. She took a deep breath. Stephen and Deanna were across the pool. Just be real. The team was near Deanna and Stephen. Deanna gestured and they all shifted to Julia's lane.

"Take your mark."

Don't fall in...

Bang!

Once again, Julia felt cold water envelope her body. She undulated to the surface and burst into butterfly. The 200 medley was Julia's specialty, and butterfly was her favorite stroke. She swam blind, but skimmed along the surface. She heard whoosh with each breath. Black markers appeared on the bottom--fuzzy, but true. Wham! She turned to her back. A blob of teammates waved her on. Focus. Relax. Pull. Monica's best stroke was backstroke--her turn to shine. Julia focused on the line of ceiling lights until she was under the flags. One--Two--Three--Four--Five--TURN. I'm half-way there...

Series 11, FINAL SERIES, will be posted tomorrow, July 31.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 9

"Come on, Julia!"

Stephen's voice was getting annoying. Thinks he's a real coach.

"Just a minute... The only thing that makes practice bearable is working with Timothy. He doesn't nag."

"What do you call his fist-banging for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'?"

"Encores."

***

Julia pulled Timothy backwards and splashed his hands.

"You're doing backstroke," she said.

He closed his eyes and smiled.

"And now the crowd is roaring..."

She prompted Stephen, who cheered obediently. Julia rushed backwards through the water and Timothy laughed. She gently stretched his arm to touch the wall.

"The winner!!"

"Come on, Julia."

Don't push it, Stephen...

***

Two weeks went by quickly.

"Aunt Georgia, he's going to say it again," said Julia.

"What's that?"

"Come on, Julia--Are you ready, Julia?--Let's go, Julia..."

Aunt Georgia laughed. Julia loved her aunt's rosy scent and mad-orange hair. Such freedom. Julia thought about the things she had done with sea glass. Last night she hurled another piece in the ocean--Stephen was driving her crazy.

***

"Look Timothy," said Julia.

A paper "Mary" tended her sheep. In the center was the "little lamb" painted on green sea glass. Julia took Timothy's hand and let him touch the bubbly texture of the lamb.

"I love the way you painted the bubbles white to make a lamb," said the aide.

Timothy smiled and played his song once more. Julia ruffled his black curls.

***

Wham! Julia splashed into the wall. That better be a good time.

"Good work, Julia," said Janice.

"That's the best yet," said Stephen.

Julia pulled off her goggles and looked at Stephen, who was holding the watch and grinning.

"Go home, load up with carbs, and sleep," said Janice.

Julia and Stephen took the long way to Aunt Georgia's--along the beach.

"I can't believe you stopped swimming. You're too good," said Stephen.

"There's always someone better... and they aren't always nice about it."

"Come on--"

"Stephen--no more pep talks."

"I was only--"

"Do you want to know why I'm here?"

Silence.

"I slammed my stupid trophy on the counter and cut my arm. I missed Nationals because of that trophy. That trophy--I didn't earn it--I got it by default when stupid Monica got DQ'd."

"Disqualified?"

"Yes... but she never lets up that she was still faster."

"But you were real."

They were quiet for a while. Stephen put his arm around Julia and squeezed.

"Is faster important?"

"I don't know anymore... Maybe it's more important to be real..."

Stephen smiled. "You can be both."

***

Here we go. The pool building echoed with voices, BEEPS, and equipment checks. Teams found territories by the pool. Julia's stomach flipped. Where's Deanna? Her parents and Aunt Georgia were in the stands talking to Stephen and Janice.

Julia's phone buzzed. Before she could answer, she heard Deanna's familiar squeal rushing toward her.

"Julia!"

Their hug erased time. My teammate is here.

"Hello Julie."

And so is Monica.

Surprise! Due to some miscalculations, there are still two series to go! Series 10 will be posted Thursday, July 30, and drumroll.... Series 11 will be posted Friday, July 31.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 8

Julia sat on a log, texting with fury. The ocean was booming and gulls were attacking the waves. A flock of pelicans flew by in formation.

***

"This is the best day ever!"

Julia tore off the wrapping paper, "a new cell phone!"

She turned it on. Aunt Georgia peered over Julia's shoulder. Wisps of orange fuzz tickled Julia's neck.

"Your dad said he sent you a text."

Julia opened the messages.

"Hey sweetie," began her father, "we are coming down in two weeks. There is a meet right there in Lincoln City, and we signed you up--"

***

This is the worst day ever! thought Julia.

"I'm not ready for a meet," she texted Deanna.

"They'll EYB," Deanna replied.

"What's EYB?" said a voice.

Julia jumped and almost threw the phone. Stephen laughed.

"Stephen, why don't you warn someone?!"

Julia's yell came from deep in her gut. Escalation to the word "warn" expended her breath and left her dizzy.

"Whoa," said Stephen, "What's up?"

Julia sighed and placed her cell phone in the front pocket of her sweatshirt. Her fingers bumped something. She pulled out the piece of green sea glass.

"My parents are meddling again," she said. "They signed me up for a swim meet in two weeks--I haven't trained in a month."

"What do you have to lose?"

"The race--my dignity."

"I didn't think you cared about dignity--that's what I like about you--your cannonball defies all dignity and it's totally awesome."

Julia looked at the green piece of sea glass in her hand. She rubbed her fingers over the bubbled texture and smiled.

"Janice did some coaching," said Stephen, "she and I can help you train."

"Do you think she can help me get into a school for occupational therapy?"

"She's always promoting that stuff."

She and Stephen walked to the water. Julia closed her eyes and felt the salty breeze whip her hair. She raised her arm to throw the sea glass and cold water nipped her toes.

"You may miss an opportunity to create a work of art... "

Julia stopped her throw, but momentum lobbed the sea glass into the surf.

"Get it!" she cried.

She splashed and tried to keep the tide from taking her treasure. Stephen sloshed his hand around and found it once--twice--

"Got it."

Stephen stood dripping and triumphant. Julia reached out to reclaim her prize, and he clutched the token to his chest.

"Are you going to race?" he prodded.

Julia's cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out in exasperation and read the message from Deanna.

"DO IT!"

She looked at Stephen.

"Ok," she said, "You may be sorry once you're the coach."

Stephen placed the sea glass in her hand and curled her fingers around it.

"What's EYB?"

"Eat your bubbles. Usually it's EMB--"

"Eat my bubbles... "

His laughter was joined by the chorus of gulls and Julia felt a spark. She had a goal again...

Series 9 will be posted Tuesday, July 28, and the final Series, 10, will be posted Friday, July 31.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 7

"What were you thinking?" whispered Stephen.

"I wasn't," she answered, "story of my life."

Julia followed the occupational therapist ("Janice" according to the name tag) into an alcove while the aides lowered Timothy in the pool with Stephen.

What now?

"Stephen told me you're interested in volunteering," said Janice.

"Yes..." here it comes--you're outta here!

"Well," Janice shuffled some papers.

Oh snap, she is writing me up...

"You need to fill out some paperwork to make it official, and there's an orientation..." she looked at Julia, "you might not want to do cannonballs in the therapy pool."

"Oh... no, I mean yes, I'll not do that..." just shut up, Julia.

"I saw you with Timothy yesterday. I think you have a real knack with him. Have you worked with fragile children before?"

"No."

"If you are interested, there's a growing need for aquatic occupational therapists."

Janice stood up and held out her hand, "Welcome aboard, Julia."

Julia shook Janice's hand. Yes!

Julia sat by the pool and filled in the required fields of information. She fidgeted while Stephen pulled Timothy through the water. Janice gently stretched Timothy's arms. Stephen held Timothy upright, and bounced him up and down. Julia scribbled faster.

Timothy's session ended before Julia turned in her papers, but she was able to push his wheelchair out to meet the van. He had a musical toy. One button--his favorite--played "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Any time Julia pushed a different button, Timothy frowned and pounded the toy. He'd push the button for "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and grin profusely.

"Mary had a little lamb," sang Julia.

Timothy laughed. When she stopped singing, he pounded his tray. The exchange continued until the van arrived, and Julia sang goodbye. She looked through the window--Timothy was fussing. One of the aides got his attention, and he smiled again.

"You've got a boyfriend," sang Stephen.

She punched his arm and dove into the lap pool. She spent the next hour diffusing her pent up energy. She began to "feel" the water again, moving with a swiftness she hadn't experienced since her injury.

***

"I'm starving," Julia bit her sandwich.

"You should have eaten breakfast," said Aunt Georgia.

"I thought I was toast after my cannonball," said Julia.

Aunt Georgia rolled her eyes. Julia pulled the tumbler of sea glass toward her, and picked through the pieces.

"I wish I had my cell phone," she said, "I'm so used to texting Deanna everything. She probably thinks I died or something."

"That reminds me," said Aunt Georgia--she hopped up from her chair and scurried out of the kitchen.

Julia smiled. She must be part cat. She found a green piece of sea glass embellished with bubbles. She rubbed her thumb over the texture.

Aunt Georgia appeared with a small package. "This came for you today... "

Series 8 will be posted Sunday, July 26.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 6

Julia looked at her artwork. The water colors faded and deepened--imitating Siletz Bay. She ran her fingers over two painted hands--one grasping another above the waves. She felt the rough, shimmering sea glass; crushed and glued to the painted paper. Shafts of moving light from the sea glass mobile traced it all--it was fulfilling.

Funny, she hadn't paid much attention to Stephen before--sandy, unkempt hair, hidden under a hoodie. He wouldn't catch the eyes of most girls, but Julia couldn't stop thinking about his hands. He used his hands to help others--his grasp of her hand, holding Timothy--this initiated a feeling of tenderness in Julia.

"The fool made me lose my cell phone," she said out loud, "I can't even call Deanna to tell her about him--"

"Julia?" Aunt Georgia peeked around the door.

"Oh... hi Aunt Georgia."

"Stephen's coming to dinner," said Aunt Georgia, "says he has a 'humungous' salmon to share..."

***

That's the biggest fish I've ever seen. Julia held the door open as Stephen walked in. She followed him to the kitchen.

"Wow," said Julia, "that's amazing."

"I know! Ten pounds! It almost took my pole."

"I wonder if he found my phone..."

"One way to find out," Stephen plopped the fish on the counter.

Julia turned away and laughed. "I'm glad you're the one cleaning it."

He cut into the fish, and Julia tried to ignore the sound of sawing flesh while she made a salad.

"Will you look at that."

"What?" Julia peered into the mess on the counter.

"I think," he tugged at something and rinsed it under the faucet, "this guy had a strange lunch."

He held up a piece of sea glass. It was orange, opaque, and softened by years of rolling in the waves.

"Someone made this into a lure. I have never seen that before," said Stephen.

"If I had my cell phone, I could take a picture..." said Julia. "It didn't work as a lure--you caught the fish."

"Well, Mr. Fish ate it."

Stephen marveled some more while Julia went back to making salad.

"It's orange, see? That makes it look more like an injured fish or something."

"Why not just use an injured fish?" she asked.

"Can't re-use and recycle injured fish..."

"Ok, ok," said Julia, "Aunt Georgia would be proud."

***

"Aunt Georgia, I'm going to the pool," called Julia.

The screen door bounced as Julia ran off. Therapy day. Timothy was scheduled this morning, and Julia wanted to help.

"Slow down," said Stephen as she burst through the door.

"I just can't wait to work with Timothy again."

She walked up to Timothy's wheelchair, "Ready to swim Timothy?"

Timothy smiled. His aides took him to the changing area, and Julia joined Stephen at the therapy pool. She executed a celebratory cannonball.

When Julia emerged, the occupational therapist was waiting with crossed arms.

"I'd like a word with you."

Series 7 will be posted Friday, July 24.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 5

Julia looked at Aunt Georgia, who was scrambling eggs with flair. "You're so different from my mom."

"How's that?" asked Aunt Georgia.

"I don't know--like, you didn't totally freak last night. My mom would've had the entire rescue squad blaring at the scene..."

Aunt Georgia snickered, and the two laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

"Everything is so serious at my house--I like it here," said Julia.

"It can get edgy here too," said Aunt Georgia. "Your mom just needs a different kind of order than I do. Sometimes my method is chaotic."

"I like chaotic," said Julia.

Julia chose her next piece of sea glass---blue, with cut edges. She used Aunt Georgia's art supplies, and penciled a canvas. She studied her hand. Stephen's grasp... Water colors began to flow over her sketches.

"Aunt Georgia, do you have a hammer?"

"Yes... in the shed."

"Great!" Julia ran to the shed with her painting and piece of sea glass. "Do you have any glue?" she called from the shed.

***

I can't believe I'm at a pool. Julia stood at the edge and dipped her big toe in the cold water.

"I'll push you in," said Stephen.

"Hey, I let you drag me here."

She dove in. Julia closed her eyes during her ritualistic swim underwater. It got her in trouble at swim club unless she managed to be first in the pool--a rare occurrence. She undulated like a porpoise the full 25 meters.

Flip-turn. Julia began a lilting free style. She saw Stephen approaching in the next lane. She pulled harder. Why do I care? She let off. Stephen pulled ahead. She knew he was pushing himself, but she pushed harder. It's just Stephen. Julia winced. Just Stephen?

Her lapse in concentration gave Stephen the victory. He was grinning and huffing at the wall when she glided in.

"You let me win."

"Maybe..."

"You should help me in the therapy pool--" he looked at the clock, "geez, I'm late!"

Stephen was out of the pool in one swift movement. Strong arms... Julia staved her thoughts and followed him to a smaller pool across the facility. Stephen got in the water and held his arms open to a boy hovering over the water in an odd chair-lift. A girl turned a crank to lower the boy and chair into the water where Stephen maneuvered him into floating position.

"Julia, come meet Timothy," said Stephen.

She stood next to Timothy, whose curved spine pushed everything aside, and caused his ribs to bulge. Stephen's hands were underneath Timothy's head and upper back to support him in the water.

Soon Julia was holding Timothy.

"If you twist, you can guide him through the water to stretch," said Stephen.

Julia imitated Stephen. She looked at Timothy's glistening black curls. It must feel good to get out of that wheelchair.

Timothy didn't talk, but he smiled, and Julia felt a funny tug in her heart.

Series 6 will be posted Tuesday, July 21.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 4

"You throw like a girl."

"What?" Julia turned and peered into a familiar face.

"Aunt Georgia said you'd be here. She said you like the sea lions across the bay."

"Stephen?"

"Who else?"

"I haven't been here in a long time," she said.

"'Heard you are a big swimmer."

"I was."

"Was?"

She didn't feel like talking, and let the wind drown the words. The sun made its quick descent behind them as she stopped to pick up an agate. Sea lions nestled for the evening across the bay. The chilled air prompted Julia to head toward her aunt's house.

"Want to go for a boat ride?" asked Stephen.

"Now?"

"It's nice at night. I have a blanket and lantern in my boat."

Julia was intrigued. They found his rowboat and pulled it to the water. Once she settled in her seat, Julia wrapped the Pendleton blanket around her shoulders. Lights from Stephen's lantern, Moe's restaurant, and various hotels reflected serenely in the water.

Suddenly Julia felt the buzz of her cell phone. She pulled it from her pocket as Stephen lifted the oars from the boat's bottom. An oar popped the phone from her fingers, and her startled gasp made Stephen turn. The second oar swung into the phone, which sailed into the water.

"My phone!"

Julia stood up--the boat toppled. She lurched forward and grabbed Stephen's shoulders.

"MY PHONE!"

"I'm sorry..." said Stephen. He attempted to steady himself.

She was livid, and pushed him away. She turned to look in the water when Stephen fell on the seat. Julia felt sharp, cold water surround her. She struggled to free herself from the Pendleton blanket...

A fun-filled day of body-surfing came to an end as Julia found herself rolling in the sand-laden wave. She and Deanna had timed each wave meticulously. They body-surfed into shore without mishap--until this wave. It was more powerful than Julia expected. Her elbow, chin, and hip took turns skidding along the ocean floor. She rolled into shore bleeding, shaken, and thankful for the hands that pulled her from the California surf...

A hand grasped hers. Julia wasn't completely numb yet, and she squeezed her hand around Stephen's. Unfortunately the blanket was still around her feet. Julia made one last attempt to kick it away, and pulled Stephen in beside her.

"Oh geez, oh geez," sputtered Stephen.

"Grab the b-b-boat," stuttered Julia.

Julia couldn't speak. She could barely move or feel anything but the jarring sensation of her chattering teeth. She and Stephen managed to get back in the boat, and back to shore. Someone from a nearby hotel witnessed their calamity, and met them with blankets and warm cocoa.

"You weren't supposed to throw yourself in the surf, just the sea glass," said Aunt Georgia.

Julia looked up and saw her aunt standing with arms akimbo. Light formed a fuzzy, orange halo through Aunt Georgia's hair. Julia raised her mug, and managed a feeble smile.

Series 5 will be posted on Friday, July 17.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 3

Julia flung clothes on her bed where Deanna was lounging, texting, and occasionally helping.

"California was chill," said Deanna.

"Yeah, until I wiped out in the surf," said Julia. She flopped beside Deanna.

"That wasn't so smooth," said Deanna. "You missed finals, and Coach Benson almost cried."

"He doesn't know how to cry."

"I got sunburned."

"Deanna, we are always in trouble."

"He laughed at your skilled placement of bunnoriffic cupcake."

Julia laughed, "That was an accident."


Julia's stitches were removed and she refused to swim. Her mother arranged a trip to Aunt Georgia's, and the cell phone became Julia's tether to Deanna.

"OMG! She has an orange fro!" texted Julia.

"No!" replied Deanna.

"O--" Julia's mother snatched the phone.

"Give me a hug!" Aunt Georgia's rose scent diffused the impending confrontation. Kinky orange hair tickled Julia's face, and she melted into her aunt's embrace.

Books, shells, and art filled the small beach house. Julia found her room and sat on the bed. A mobile of sea glass hung in the window and created moving pastel swatches on the wall. Julia texted Deanna, read a magazine, and finally dozed off to the buffered kitchen conversation.


A knock on the door woke her. Aunt Georgia ushered Julia to a kitchen nook, and the smell of baked bread and clam chowder eliminated plans to skip dinner.

"Where are my parents?"

"They went out to eat. They'll stop and say goodbye afterward."

"Uh-huh."

"They adore you, Julia."

Julia shrugged.

Aunt Georgia walked to the fireplace and lifted a tumbler of sea glass. She brought it to the table.

"Pick out a piece of sea glass," she said, "What do you see?"

"A broken piece of glass--" Julia's cell phone buzzed. Aunt Georgia placed a hand over Julia's.

"I need to answer--"

"What can it become?"

"What?"

"Sea glass--what can it become?"

Julia sighed. "Eventually it's just another grain of sand."

"Hmm," said her aunt.

"They're all worn down to be alike."

"Oh?" Aunt Georgia walked out of the kitchen. Julia sopped her bread in the soup and pondered the woman so unlike her mother. Aunt Georgia returned with a few grains of sand and a microscope.

Julia peered through the scope--each grain was unique.

"Every day I want you to choose a piece of sea glass and do something with it. Each piece is a work in progress. Accept it as is, or throw it back in the sea. It's your choice. Tumbling can soften the edges, but there's a chance it will break. You may miss an opportunity to create a work of art."

"Do something with it?"

"Yes."

Julia held the piece of sea glass and stood by the roaring waves. She felt wind's fury, looked at the jagged edges of gray-white glass, and hurled it into the sea...

Series four will be posted Tuesday, July 14.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 2

Julia refused to join the conversation between her father and Head Coach Benson. She tried to hear it while she watched the boys swim, but the bandage on her arm was uncomfortable, and she was hungry from skipping breakfast. She didn't have her cell phone (her mother's discipline).

Discipline! It was an accident!

Mrs. Johnson walked over. She is always at the pool.

"What happened to your arm, Julia?"

"This?" Julia pretended to admire her bandage. "Shark attack."

Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow, "Are you still going to Nationals?"

Julia's father appeared, "It looks like we're staying home this year."

"That's awful..." she looked from father to daughter, "I... guess I'll see you..." She walked away and Julia's father sighed.

Julia had never seen her father cry. I wonder how close he is.

Coach Benson turned away as Julia and her father walked to the car. Minutes passed in the hot front-seat, and Julia's stomach flipped in the silence.

"You may have missed your chance, Julia. You're a junior this fall."

"It was an accident--I got five stitches--remember?"

"A little work can yield a full scholarship, Benson said so."

"Sally is my coach, dad, and she doesn't really like me."

Frustration was building, "She helped your technique--you just don't like to be told what to do."

"You swim at 5:30, go to school, swim again, and then do homework..."

He rubbed his knee. "It's only worth it if you make your goals. You had goals, Julia, why throw them away now?"

"So, I'm throwing goals away, because I accidently cut my arm?"

"You don't seem to care."

"It used to be Deanna and me. Now, I swim with divas." Her voice rose, "I'm going crazy with it, Daddy. I can't reach your goals!"

He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Julia looked at his crumpled form. He had goals. When his knee blew, it wasn't due to foolishness. Her tears reached her chin.

"I love you, Julia. I want you to have the life I couldn't."

"What if it's not the life I want?"

Silence took over. He turned the key.

Julia sat with the big yearbook in her lap. "Look at Daddy! He's way up high."

"That's the high dive," said her mother.

"What's he going to do?"

"Turn the page."

There was a picture of her father curled in a ball, midway between the high board and the water. His teammates were yelling their encouragement. The next page displayed a picture of his teammates holding a sign blazing the words: WE'LL MISS YOU CANNONBALL--YOU'LL BOUNCE BACK--YOU'RE NUMBER ONE! Next to the picture was a newspaper article announcing why her father wasn't competing in State Diving that year--a blown knee. COMMUNITY SENDS SUPPORT TO STATE'S TOP DIVER.

There was not a newspaper article for Julia--no team to cheer her--no clear goal to cling to...

Series 3 will be posted Friday, July 10.

A Tumbler of Sea Glass: Series 1

Julia saw the blood before she felt it. Two drops brightly adorned the porcelain sink. A warm trickle made its way down her arm, and she marveled at the absence of pain. Broken glass shimmered on the counter where her trophy lay in pieces. She grabbed a towel to stop the bleeding, and looked at her pale, streaked face in the mirror. Oh, darn, she thought, I won't be able to swim tonight.

"What are you doing now?" Her mother pushed her way in the door and stopped, "What have you done?"

"Mom, it's--"

"Oh, my God!"

"I'm fine."

"Why did you do this? John, call an ambulance!"

"Mom, really..."

Her father ran in and looked at Julia's arm. "She doesn't need an ambulance, Susan."

Her mother was near hysterics, and her father said, "Susan, go get the bandages, and let me handle this." He looked at Julia, and gently swabbed the wound.

"What now?" he asked. "Nationals are next week, and you may not be able to swim." He shook his head. "Coach says recruiters will be there."

Julia looked at the broken shards. "I don't care."

"She's always in trouble," said Julia's mother between tissues. She delivered the bandages. "Last night Sally should have kicked her off the team."

Father sighed, and began to wrap Julia's arm...

Her mother said, "Julia, bring this cupcake to Coach Sally."

Julia rolled her eyes, hung her fins on two fingers, and carefully balanced the cupcake in her palm. She shouldered her duffle and grabbed her backpack with the other hand. When she got to Coach Sally's desk, Julia dropped the fins to place the cupcake down on the only available spot, a chair. She was going to move it, but her duffle fell and she heard familiar jibes of "teammate" Monica.

"Julie, it's your turn to bring in the lane lines."

(I hate it when she calls me Julie.) "Well, I'm getting ready to go Mah-nee-kah, so maybe next time."

"Coach, shouldn't Julie do her part?"

"Are you bolting again Julia?"

"I..."

"No excuses, Julia. Move your tail in there."

Julia did as she was told. Her mother was chatting with the "others" anyway. She stripped back down to her suit and cannonballed into the pool, sending a spray of water into the talking women. She heard muffled protests as she swam further underwater. When she came up for air she saw Coach Benson smiling.

"Ruffled more feathers, I see," he said.

She grabbed the line and shrugged. Deanna swam in front of her, pushed her under, and initiated another water tussle. Coach Benson walked away shaking his head. Julia finished her chore, and as she climbed out of the pool, she heard Coach Sally's shriek and the boy team's laughter.

(What now?) Julia saw Monica pointing, and then she saw Coach Sally's frosted butt.

Julia heard her mother's sobs in the next room, and wished it were yesterday. What now?

Stay tuned for Series 2, to be posted Tuesday, July 7 by 6pm.