Water and Rescue

Lake Michigan from Lake Bluff

When Lydia was playing in a shallow pool about four inches deep she stumbled and fell face down into the water. The problem is she did not stand up.  She kept her face submerged in the water.  She was very young.

Her father was watching her and saw what happened.  He got up out of his chair, stepped into the water and lifted her. He and his wife wiped off the water.  Lydia smiled.  That was enough water play for today.

It wasn’t a dangerous rescue.  Some rescues are routine, but imagine the consequences if they had not happened.

Linked to Carrot Ranch October 30 Flash Fiction Challenge where Charli Mills offers the theme of “life savers on any body of water”.

A short story of mine, “Unexpected Call”, appeared in Whispers and Echoes. I am grateful to Sammi Cox for accepting it.

All that blue at the horizon is Lake Michigan

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

18 thoughts on “Water and Rescue”

  6. A close friend from high school became a first-responder and she said the number one call they answered was for children drowning in similar situations. It really shook her up. Well-crafted into a story.

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  7. Pingback: Life Savers « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

  8. My stepson married when he was in the military. They lived in a beautiful place, didn’t have to worry about housing, and everything seemed to be great. But the moment there was hardship, he couldn’t take it.

    When he got out of the military they didn’t have an income and lived in subsidized housing. He left his wife and at the time she had a 4 year old and an infant to care for. Exhausted, she fell onto the couch after shopping. Her 4-year old took the opportunity to open the back door and jump into a neighbor’s pool. She ran out when she realized the door was open. He was face down in the pool.

    This was only a matter of minutes. Unlike her husband, she was a very responsible mother. Her son was pronounced brain dead but he was on life support for months before she had to decide to “pull the plug.”

    People don’t know how many children die this way each year. It’s the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/143/5/e20190850

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