The little book of Queen Weeks

My new jacket

Prompt: swimming
Roger's POV
The family holiday was going great... that was, until, the kids found where the beach was and begged to go swimming. I didn't mind the ocean, not one bit, but the kids had been swimming since they were conceived so they were like little professionals.

Me, on the other hand, I still use floaties in the pool.

I know, that's embarrassing, but if it keeps my head above the water then I really don't care how embarrassing it is. The most embarrassing part was I hadn't even told John I can't swim yet.

"Come on, Rog! Come swimming with us" John called and I looked over at him then sighed, putting my beer away in the cool box and trudging down to the shallow part, where the water only went up to my ankles.

"Can I go back now?" I asked and John shook his head and took my hand, edging further and further out until my feet couldn't touch the floor and I panicked, grabbing onto him and trying to kick but not getting anywhere.

"Rog! Hey! Calm down, calm down!" John shouted and got me back on land where I could catch my breath and calm myself, "what happened, babe?" He put his hand on mine and my cheeks burned as I looked at him.

"I-I can't swim" I squeaked and he just stared at me for a few seconds before he took me in his arms.

"Baby, I'm so sorry... I didn't know, I'm sorry"

"It's okay" I said and he shook his head at me, "no, it's not okay. You wait there a minute, I'll get the kids" he said so I stayed sat on our little blanket as he called our girls in and had them sit where I was. He dragged me up to the surf shop on the sands and looked at everything they had then at me, "would you be less scared if you had a jacket? Or would that not help?" He asked and I looked at all of them.

"That would be good... if they've got one that fits me then yeah"

John asked for one and the bloke picked one out and handed it over, "try that one on... it might be a bit small" he said so I slipped it on and he was right, it wouldn't go around me, so he gave me a slightly bigger one and it fit perfectly. "Let me check it for you" he said and came out of the little hut and checked the fit of it all, even the bit that went between my legs, then gave me a little nod, "it's perfect, that'll be forty, please" he smiled and John handed over the money and we both toddled back over to the kids.

"Pappy, what you wearing that for?" Phoebe asked and I giggled, actually feeling quite proud of my new jacket, "well, since I can't swim that well, Daddy bought me this to help me float" I said and both her and her sister looked at me in surprise then ran off to the water again.

"Shall we try this new jacket?" John asked and I nodded, slightly nervous, and took his hand as we both made our way to the water's edge. I walked in a little, so the water was up to my middle, then crouched down to test the jacket and it worked! It held me up nicely so I went out a little more and still panicked a little when my feet left the floor but I knew I could just float there and it would be okay.

It was quite nice, actually. I could still splash the kids and John gave me extra kisses when we got out, "what're those for?" I asked and he smiled as he kissed me one last time.

"For being so brave. I'm so proud of you, babe"

Even though I still used the jacket for so many years after, I got more confident with swimming and even had a few times where I felt safe enough to take it off and try and swim by myself. John was always there, too, just in case anything went wrong but it never did and eventually I could swim by myself.

I still kept that jacket, though, it was fun to just float sometimes.