Synchronized Swimmers



Cayman Islands Turtle Farm



“Hustle up!” Coach Bochs bellowed.

Tommy continued floating on his back. Shelley barely even turned around.

Coach Bochs sighed.

“Hurry it up, gang. This is exactly why we have to change the agenda this year. Turtle races didn’t work last year. I think we can all see why.”

Shelley and Tommy continued drifting aimlessly around the pool.

“If we’re going to have any chance of drawing a crowd this year and saving our skin, we’re going to have to come up with a better plan.”

Old Tut and Greenie nodded their heads as a few more turtles slowly inched their way toward the coach. Coach Bochs blew into his whistle. Greenie pulled his head into his shell. He hated that whistle.

“Tommy! Shelley! Listen up while you make your way over here. I have an idea for a new show. The tourists are gonna love it. We’ll do a synchronized swimming routine.”

The turtles rolled their heads from side to side, assessing the reactions among the group. The more advanced swimmers dove briefly underwater and twirled a little on their sides. The old seafarers like Ceeshor laid back and relaxed. They were born swimmers. But Tut and a few other snapping turtles clenched their teeth until the coach was finished speaking.

“Count me out!” Tut snapped. “I’m not gonna flip and flop around like some kind of circus performer. You young whippersnappers can show off and balance balls on your noses like seals, for all I care, but I’m not going to be a part of it.”

With that, Tut and a few other turtles retreated into their shells.

Coach Bochs blew his whistle.

“Get back out here, Tut! You are going to be a part of this show just like the rest of us.”

“Yeah, just like the rest of us!” Tommy mocked him.

“Zip it, Tommy,” Coach continued. “We’re all a part of this. We’re going to swim, dive, roll over, advance and retreat in unison. We’re going to make the dolphins look about as graceful as puppies paddling in the ocean. You got that?”

Tut remained hidden in his shell.

“I said, ‘You got that?”’ Coach Bochs screamed.

Tut poked his head out.

“And what if I don’t?”

Coach Bochs jutted his neck out as far as it would go and leaned into Tut’s face.

“Then you might as well hold out a spoon, cause you’ll be soup.”

And with that, the turtles flipped onto their backs and started practice.