Sunday
"I can't believe I'm stuck escorting you to the pool."
"It's not like I'm gonna follow you around or anything. You won't even notice I'm there."
"Easy for you to say. I can't just ignore you. I'm *responsible* for you, according to Mom."
"You make it sound so horrible."
"Trust me, it is."
"I bet I could do it. Hey...why don't I?"
"Do what?"
"We could pretend I'm the older brother. I'll watch you instead."
"Well, it's fine with me. That way I can have fun and you'll be stuck worrying."
"YEAH! OK little Eric...let's go get your Pokemon swim trunks on, OK?"
"Do what?!"
"Put your swim trunks on. They're your favorite, remember?"
"My *Pokemon* swim trunks? I don't think so."
"Remember? I'm the responsible one. Now Com'on!"
"Oh, excuse me, we're 'pretendin.' Sure. Let's put on my *pokemon* swim trunks."
"You're so slow sometimes."
"No, you're crazy, but whatever."
Brian found pokemon swim trunks in Eric's dresser. "Here ya go, Eric."
"I...those really have pokemon on them..."
"They're your favorite, remember?"
"Right..."
"You'll be the coolest six year old at the pool!"
"Yeah!"
"Here's your swim shirt, too," Brian said, offering him a Pokemon shirt.
"'kay"
"Now, lemme change and we'll get going."
"When we get to the pool, I'm gonna, gonna, jump over the diving board, and make a big splash!"
"Whoa there, little guy, we have to get there first. Here're your Barney sandals."
"Let's go! Let's go!"
"I'm coming!"
Eric fidgeted the entire way to the pool, and as soon as he got there, dived into the water making a small splash. "Did you see my splash!"
"Yeah! I'm surprised...most Six year olds are afraid of being that high up."
"Not me! I like splashing. You make one now!"
"OK" Brian did a cannonball off of the high dive.
"That was a big splash! Will I be able to make splashes like that someday?"
"Of course! I'm just bigger then you, is all. Wanna go swim in the kiddie pool?"
"Yeah"
"OK...com'on, but don't run."
"Come on!"
"Don't run! We'll both get in trouble."
"I wanna swim!"
"OK OK Swim, then!"
"don't go too deep, though."
"But I'm a good swimmer!"
"Yeah, but you're not very big, and I'll get in trouble if you get hurt. So be careful, OK?"
"I'll be careful. And I won' dive unless you're watching."
"Good." Brian sat on the steps watching Eric play. "Tell me if you're getting tired, too."
"I'm having fun! Can I dive again?"
"Sure."
"Yeah!" Eric dived in again. "That splash wasn't as big." He raced around to the board and dived again. "Yeah! Did you see that!"
"You're a good diver!"
"I'm gettin tired."
"Wanna go home?"
"Yeah."
"OK. Mom said we had to walk."
"But next time, I'll be bigger, so I'll make a bigger splash!"
"Here's your towel"
Eric ineffectively tried to dry himself off.
"Just wrap it around your shoulders."
"'kay."
They began the walk back home. "Y'know Eric, those trunks really fit you."
"Thanks. Wait. Where did these come from?"
"I wouldn't wanna wear them, myself. But you had a blast."