Unarmed

9: Training

"Let me get this straight," said Izzy, weighing the option that Haggy had just given her. "You want me to compete for you in the Olympics. And if I win you a medal, you'll let me keep my arms?"

Haggy nodded. "Yes, you must swim for us in the OGOLs"

"The what?"

"The OGOLs- the Olympic Games Of Landor. Our family usually wins everything but the swimming event-"

"Why do you mean by your 'family'?"

"That is how we divide our world for the games and crisis'. Like countries back on Earth, but smaller and more close knit, everyone knows everyone."

Izzy nodded.

Haggy continued, "so if you can win us that 1st place White Medal, you're off the hook."

"Ah" said Izzy, trying to process the choices she had been given. Win some worldly sports challenge, or loose her arms. The odds did not seem to be in her favor but Izzy always took the advice of Ms. Frizzle when she was in peril: 'Take chances, make mistakes!'

"I'll do it." Decided Izzy.

Haggy bared her crooked teeth in what Izzy guess was a smile. "Good good," she said, "practice starts tomorrow and the Games are next week."

That was a bit less time than Izzy was expecting, but she would have to make do.

Haggy lead her to the practice room the next morning after a lousy night's sleep of lying on fluffy bushes. The pool that she was to swim in was similar to the pools back on Earth. It had lanes, separated by twisted lily pads, floating on the surface. The only major difference was that the pool had hills. The bottom of the pool curved upwards and the water went with it. This defied all the rules of gravity that were known to Izzy, but she was learning to just accept things and move on.

The first day was brutal, swimming up and down hills and around obstacles. But Izzy survived, and that was what mattered.

Haggy had hired a hard-core swim coach for Izzy who conditioned her to the max every day. Fortunately, he hated Haggy almost as much as Izzy and they had a lovely time trash talking the old fart when they were on break. Things were finally looking up and the Games were right around the corner.