"Wake up, Kaia!" Riki said early one summer morning.
"Was dis?" Kaia asked as Riki showed her something while assisting her into her house clothes.
"Dada and I have a surprise for you"
"Tuplays?" Kaia's eyes grew big.
"Yes. Let's get some breakfast first then I'll show you the surprise Dada is preparing for you."
"Tuplays fo Aya?"
"Hmm. Dada and Mommy can also enjoy the surprise"
"Wow!" Kaia clapped in excitement.
---
"What do you want for breakfast?"
"Uhmm....tokolet bunnies (cereal)!"
"Okay. How about some fruit?"
"Aya wan camouflage"
"Camouflage?"
Kaia nodded and pointed to a container of fruit on the kitchen counter. "Dat wan"
"This? Oh, you mean cantaloupe"
Kaia nodded vigorously as Riki opened and transferred the container near Kaia and gave her a fork. "Can you say, can-ta-loupe"
"Can...can...camouflage!" Kaia said with a proud smile.
---
After breakfast, Kaia and Riki went down to the garden just outside the studio. "Where Dada?"
"You're here!" Niko said when he appeared from the side of the house. He just reeled in the garden hose.
"Kaia, look!" Riki said, pointing to a big, blue plastic swimming pool near the corner of their small garden.
"Wow! Was dat?" Kaia excitedly approached the toy.
"It's a swimming pool. Do you want to swim?" Niko asked.
"Simingpul?"
"Yes. See the water inside?"
"Wawa? Is tekabat?"
Riki giggled. "Not exactly. Remember what I showed you kanina? You wear your swimsuit when you go swimming"
Kaia had not seen nor experienced swimming since she was born during the lock down. Even if she had morning walks with her parents, they didn't see pools in others' homes or if they did, it was mostly covered with plants and with no one swimming in the early mornings.
"Why don't you go with Mommy and change into your swimsuit?" Niko suggested. "You can also bring some of your toys to play with in the water"
Riki brought Kaia back inside the house and got her ready for her first swimming experience. "Mammeee? Wat dis?" Kaia asked tapping on her body.
"It's called a swimsuit. You wear it when you go swimming"
"Simsoot?"
"Yes. And now, we'll put on some sunscreen"
"Is loshon?"
"Yes, like your lotion but to protect you from the sun"
---
"Wow! You look nice!" Niko said when Kaia and Riki returned to the 'pool area'.
"Mammeee en Aya wew simsoot en put loshon" Kaia reported.
---
Kaia enjoyed her first swimming experience a lot. In the succeeding weeks, she learned how to float on her back. She particularly enjoyed blowing bubbles in the water. Soon, Niko added more water to their pool and he taught Kaia how to freestyle kick. By the end of summer, Kaia could 'swim' from one end of the pool to the other side.
---
"Kaia! What are you doing?" Riki turned back to Kaia after getting her towel after a bath. Kaia was on the bathroom floor, flailing her arms and legs.
"Aya simming!" Kaia proudly said while laughing.
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a/n:
Sorry for this short and slightly sabaw, super delayed update.
