Coloring A Faint Spirit Red
Stories
56 Stories For Preaching
Strain and the absence of hope walled any smile from Karen
McCarthy's face. When the young mother first brought her son to
the swimming pool, her new neighbor's stiff, flat voice had
haunted Jan. Karen agreed to bring Billy swimming when Jan
offered to take turns holding him on the blue float board. Jan
had a second motive. Maybe a few laps in the water would also
relieve her friend's daily cresting of tension.
The cerebral palsy that caused the little boy's body to
stiffen and flop had damaged most of his brain. The eight-year-
old was incapable of speaking or walking. He had an aversion to
touch and could barely see. However, he could hear and he could
splash at the water.
Billy loved the relaxing water. Each time he kicked and
splashed, Jan sang him a praise. She modulated her voice in non-
stop talk, slipping into his ear an occasional quiet, "I love
you, Billy." She soon learned their pretending to be a tug boat,
complete with toot-toot sound effects, unlocked his laugh.
Gradually, the pool also released his mother's smile.
The daily swim became a habit that winter. As Jan gained
Karen's trust, she often left the blue board by the side of the
pool and supported Billy with her arms. After a time, the child's
body answered by relaxing into her strength.
The three would play in the water until Billy's lips turned
blue. Then his mother rolled her son into a beach towel before
diapering and dressing him. One cool afternoon, Jan suggested
they take turns changing back into their street clothes in the
locker room. Jan could watch the child sitting on the pool chair
across from her.
"I'll just slip on his socks and tennies while you're getting
dressed."
Billy accepted her jostling his feet into the socks and shoes.
Then he grew aware of his mother's absence. The last thing Jan
wanted was tears. With calm talk, forgetting that Billy did not
like to be touched, she lifted him onto her lap. His still swim-
softened body also forgot. Billy leaned into her relaxed muscles.
"Well, Billy," Karen's surprised voice interrupted. "You look
like you're enjoying that."
Karen reminded Jan that the child ordinarily stiffened at
touch.
"Yes," Jan said. "I remembered that as I was lifting him into
my arms. I guess we were both so relaxed we forgot."
McCarthy's face. When the young mother first brought her son to
the swimming pool, her new neighbor's stiff, flat voice had
haunted Jan. Karen agreed to bring Billy swimming when Jan
offered to take turns holding him on the blue float board. Jan
had a second motive. Maybe a few laps in the water would also
relieve her friend's daily cresting of tension.
The cerebral palsy that caused the little boy's body to
stiffen and flop had damaged most of his brain. The eight-year-
old was incapable of speaking or walking. He had an aversion to
touch and could barely see. However, he could hear and he could
splash at the water.
Billy loved the relaxing water. Each time he kicked and
splashed, Jan sang him a praise. She modulated her voice in non-
stop talk, slipping into his ear an occasional quiet, "I love
you, Billy." She soon learned their pretending to be a tug boat,
complete with toot-toot sound effects, unlocked his laugh.
Gradually, the pool also released his mother's smile.
The daily swim became a habit that winter. As Jan gained
Karen's trust, she often left the blue board by the side of the
pool and supported Billy with her arms. After a time, the child's
body answered by relaxing into her strength.
The three would play in the water until Billy's lips turned
blue. Then his mother rolled her son into a beach towel before
diapering and dressing him. One cool afternoon, Jan suggested
they take turns changing back into their street clothes in the
locker room. Jan could watch the child sitting on the pool chair
across from her.
"I'll just slip on his socks and tennies while you're getting
dressed."
Billy accepted her jostling his feet into the socks and shoes.
Then he grew aware of his mother's absence. The last thing Jan
wanted was tears. With calm talk, forgetting that Billy did not
like to be touched, she lifted him onto her lap. His still swim-
softened body also forgot. Billy leaned into her relaxed muscles.
"Well, Billy," Karen's surprised voice interrupted. "You look
like you're enjoying that."
Karen reminded Jan that the child ordinarily stiffened at
touch.
"Yes," Jan said. "I remembered that as I was lifting him into
my arms. I guess we were both so relaxed we forgot."
