Quiet vs. Loud

Diving and Dates (part 1)

Rayne's POV

After a few minutes, Jackson arrived and Mark led him out to the back yard.  He looked around and when he saw me, he smiled and walked over to me.  I stood up and gave him a big hug,  then I signed "Are you ready for the dive contest?"  He signed back "I don't know if I want to dive.  You know I haven't done any diving since my accident.  Why don't I judge and you take my place in the contest?"

I frowned.  I knew that he was nervous about diving again, but I knew that he loved diving and I really wanted him to get back to it.  If he did, then maybe mom and Evan would put a pool in at your house.  But I didn't want him to do anything he wasn't ready to do.  I decided to ask Riker for help.  I signed to Jackson "I know you are scared to dive again, and I'm not going to force you.  Why don't you go sit over with Ryland and Ross while I talk to Riker for a minute?"  After he walked off, I asked Riker if I could talk to him for a minute.  We walked over to the basketball court and sat down.  "Riker, I need your help with something.  I want Jackson to dive in the contest with you guys, but he is scared to."  "Why would he be scared?  Has he never done diving before?"  

"Oh no" I said. "Jackson and I both took diving classes when we were younger, but Jackson had an accident at one of the lessons and hasn't done any diving yet.  But I know he loves it, and I thought that if you guys could get him in the contest, he might remember how much fun it is and want to start diving again."

"What kind of accident did he have?" Riker asked me with a concerned look.  

"When we were taking the class, there were a few boys in the class that made fun of Jackson because he couldn't hear.  Whenever I tried to sign the teacher's instructions to him, they would try to distract him by jumping around, or they would stand between me and him so he couldn't see me.  When he was diving, they would try to throw stuff at him while he was in the air so he couldn't complete the dive.  I tried to talk to the teacher about it, but he said he had to catch the boys in action before he could do anything.  Well one day, Jackson was attempting a really complicated dive, and the boys were jealous that he had almost learned it and they couldn't even come close to getting it right.  So Jackson was up on the board, and right as he left the board, the boys took a mirror and reflected the light coming in the window so that it got in Jackson's eyes.  Of course, it blinded him, and he just hit the water.  When he hit the water, he got the breath knocked out of him, but since Jackson can't talk and couldn't even breathe, he couldn't get anyone's attention.  Fortunately, after only about 30 seconds, I came out of the locker room and saw him in the water.  I dove in and got him out.  When he finally got his breath back, he told me what had happened.  I translated for the teacher, and when he asked the boys about it, they were sp scared about what had happened that the confessed.  They were kicked out of the class.  But by then it was too late.  Jackson told me that he was done with diving.  He never wanted to be in a position where he couldn't get help if he needed it.  That was almost 3 years ago, and he hasn't done any diving since.  I can barely get him in the pool.  He will get on a float, but he won't do any swimming.  I want to give this back to him."

Riker just looked at me for a second.  "I don't know how I can help.  I mean, if he won't dive for you, his own sister, I don't know why you think we can get him to do it.  We just met him."

"I know that, but I think if he see all of you having fun in the pool, it will be just what he needs." I told Riker.  

"Well," Riker said after a few minutes "I think I might have an idea.  What do you think about us having a few swim races just to get him in the pool and swimming, then we have the diving contest.  He will still be the judge, but he also has to tell us what kind of dive to do.  When he gives me a dive, I will make it look like I can't do it.  After I have tried a few times, I will take you and him off to the side and ask him if he will show me the dive.  I will make it look like I just don't want to fail in front of everyone."