Hollywood Journey

No Swimming

"Nols come here, I need to get you dressed."

I pull the toys out of his hands, getting his attention as he slowly let's me dress him.

"Okay, when Marie gets you to the pool you BETTER swim.  I don't want to hear that you didn't do anything.  Especially since me and daddy can't take you today.  Willow is going to tell me if you aren't good."

"But the water coooooooold."

"Well it wasn't cold here last night.  I don't want any excuses today."

I turn to move on to Zane, only to see him in the process of trying to wake up Brooklyn.

"Zane!"

I sigh, realizing way too late that my yelling can easily wake her as well.

"She up now." He rolls his eyes, sitting in front of me "Your fault."

"You shouldn't have been trying to wake her though, I've told you that before."

"I wake Elle tooooo." He smirks, dragging out his words to make himself sound cuter "Earlier."

"Yeah, I know you did.  And you got in trouble for that too."

I get him on my lap, fighting with him to get the swim trunks on since he has been against swim lessons from the moment they were first suggested.

"Hey, look at me."

He stands in front of me, eye level since I'm still sitting.

"I want to hear that you listened to everyone today, okay?  No playing around and no screaming.  You love swimming at home, you need to learn how to swim for real now."

"Noooooooo."

"Zane, if I have to leave work and come out there you will NOT like it.  Daddy is still upset with you for not doing lessons yesterday."

"But I scared."

"Honey you'll be fine.  You know the teacher, he would never let you get hurt."

"Jay?"

"Yeah, it's Uncle Jason, remember?  You love him."

"Hey Zane," Marie walks over to us, handing me Janelle "I bet Uncle Jason has some treats for you today since it's the last day!"

"I think Marie's right, buddy.  He's going to be so proud of you if you do your whole lesson."

The boys don't seem convinced, but Marie and Willow quickly pack them up in the car while I get the girls ready to go to work with me for the day.

"Be good boys, okay?  I love you."

I wave to them as they leave, turning around to get myself ready while the girls relax.

Marie's POV:

"Guys look, everyone from your classes are here already!" Willow tries to get the boys excited as we literally drag them into the pool area "Uncle Jay is over there waiting for you!"

"Willz my belly hurts.  I can't swim today."

Nolan stands in front of her, holding his belly as if it's going to explode on him.

"Mommy doesn't let me swim when I'm sick."

"Yeah, you look terrible.  Like the worst bellyache ever." Willow rolls her eyes, pulling him closer to put on sunscreen "If your belly hurts so bad then I guess we can't stop for icecream after lessons are done."

Zane's little eyes light up as he hears this, jumping around in front of me.

"Icecream!"

"Yeah, only if you do your lessons.  Otherwise your mommy said only Willow and I get icecream."

As soon as we get them slathered up in sunscreen, we let Nolan run over to play with his friends while Zane's lessons start.

Willow sits at the edge with him so I can keep an eye on Nolan, but I can see right away things aren't going well.  Zane has a tight grip on Willow's legs, not wanting to move at all.

"Zany look at them!" She points to the other kids that are kicking their legs around "They're having soooo much fun!"

"No!"

"Here Zane, it's your turn." Jason swims over towards them, reaching out for Zane "I'll hold you, I promise."

Zane let's go of Willow, but refuses to kick his legs like he's supposed to, and repeatedly kicks Jason in the stomach instead.

"Zane, if you aren't good I'm calling your mom and dad." I walk over, making sure he knows I'm serious "They want you to take these lessons so you can be better."

After complaining that the water is freezing, he starts screaming in Jason's face, acting like he is killing him by keeping him in the water.

Jason eventually tells Zane he can get out, and he runs right over to Willow and I thinking we're going to be helping him.

"Save it." Willie quiets him as he follows us around crying "What are you going to tell your mom and dad?  They're going to be really mad."

"Nofin!"

"Oh you're telling them something." I get my phone out as I get a text, seeing that it's from Jen.

"How's everything going?  Are they listening?"

"Well, Zane's throwing a fit... could definitely be better."

"Tell him you're going for icecream and if Nolan is good he can get some.  Zane can watch the three of you eat and see what he's missing."

"We tried that.  He says he doesn't like icecream anymore.  I told him he has to take a nap as soon as we get home and he threw himself on the ground."

"Good, ignore him for now.  If Jason let's him back in good, but don't let him get attention.  He needs to learn."

I look up to see that Nolan is now laying next to where Zane is flipping out, trying to calm him down.

"Zany you swim. Mommy and daddy want you to!"

"Nooo!"

"But you havvvveee too!"

"Nooooooooo!" Zane smacks Nolan away, crawling up into a ball.

Willow and I get Nols ready for his lesson now that it's starting, watching in amazement at how good he's listening to everything.

"Look at how easy it is, Zane.  Nolan's doing so good today."

He doesn't budge from where he's still complaining about everything he can think of, not wanting to acknowledge how good his brother is doing.

"You were great today!" Willow and I congratulate Nols as he gets out "You're going to be such a good swimmer!"

"I know!" He smirks. 

We leave for our icecream, listening to Zane complain the whole way there about how mean and rude we all are for not giving in to him.

"We love you, Zany but you need to listen."

"Nope."

"Well, have fun talking to your mom and dad."

"I will."

He looks across at us with the cutest smart ass grin, making it almost impossible not to give in.

"You're so lucky you're cute."