Embrace your fears

The day is lovely and the heat has driven not only Calico Jack to the water with the promise of escaping the heat but also a fiery orange pup that eyes the water with uncertainty. He calls out a greeting and she replies in kind as he slowly swims over, the smile on his lips never faltering as he deftly cuts through the water. Her reply to his statement about it being a great day for a swim has the boy pausing a moment to hum softly before he replies, “Hot day, cool water, good company… why, yes. I think it is a grand day to go swimming!”

A laugh fills the air he continues on, eventually coming to stand close to the pup while giving her plenty of personal space. Calico’s posture is inviting, his words light and calm as he encourages her to talk with him while his body is remains relaxed. His tail wags slowly behind him and it sends fat droplets of water every which way. His question is met with another and he laughs softly, the water and wonderful day only adding to his enjoyment of life. The pup offers her name and Jack dips into a bow, saying, “Calico Jack, at your service. It is a pleasure to meet you Karaka.”

Straightening up from his flourish of a greeting, the boy beams a smile and shrugs his calico painted shoulders as he says, “Maybe not obvious but, when I see someone staring at the water the way you were, I can tell something is up.” A wink is tossed to the pup and he casually steps out further until his paws no longer tough the bottom. Slowly, he spins his body to face the pup, long legs effortlessly sweeping through the water in wide arches back and forth, as he keeps his head above the water.

It is effortless for him because he has spent so much time swimming. But, Calico Jack remembers what it was like, standing on the beach of his home and trying to work up the courage to take that first step out into the crashing waves. Now, as he looks at Karaka, the uncertainty that paints her features, the boy knows that he will be spending the day teaching her how to swim. Smoothly he glides back over to the girl, wading into the shallows until he is standing in front of her.

“I have spent my whole on a beach and I learned to swim in the ocean the moment I left my den. If you wish, I can teach you the basics of swimming.” His smile is gentle and when, she voices her agreement, the boy quickly settles into teaching mode. Keeping his voice light, Jack says, “Okay, first things first. You cannot be afraid of the water. Yes, it is big and seems scary but, if you respect it, it will show you wondrous things.” It is true and Calico Jack loves to explore the kingdoms that reside underneath the surface.

Tilting his head slightly, he hums a moment before saying, “Now, let’s walk out a little way until the water is up to your chest. When you feel comfortable, I will have you dunk your head underneath so you can get a feel of what that is like when you swim. Don’t worry. I will be right beside you and I promise not to let anything bad happen.” True he is a former Pirate, now turned Raider, but Calico Jack does not have a mean bone in his body. Plus, he is teaching her which means she is kind of… in his care.

He doesn’t know her parents but he silently promises them nothing bad is going to happen as the girl puts her trust in him. Slowly, they wade out further, the pair halting at certain points to allow the girl time to adjust to feel before going out further. Finally, the water reaches her chest and Jack calls a halt, turning his icy blue gaze to peer down at her, he happily says, “Great job, Karaka! Okay, now, when you are ready, I want you to put your head underneath the surface. I am right here. Remember, you do not have to stay down there long.”

Karaka is extremely brave and plunges underneath the crystalline surface of the river, holding her breath for several seconds before reemerging. The boy praises her, suggesting she wait a few moments before trying to stay down a little longer. They repeat this process three more times, with Jack encouraging her to hold her breath a little longer each time. On the final round, he instructs her to open her eyes, informing her that it will sting but help when she starts to swim. When she reemerges, the boy praises her again, pointing out how brave she is.

After that, they rest at the edge of the water and he regales her with stories of the things he has found underwater. When Karaka is ready, the boy leads her further out, this time standing in front of her and walking backward so she can see his face as they go. He had shown her the strokes to make with her arms and instructed her on when to begin paddling but now it is time to put talk into action. The further out they go, the deeper the water gets and Jack continues to encourage the pup until, suddenly, she is treading water. With Calico Jack’s paws still touching the bottom, the boy grins warmly and offers happy exclamations.

He continues to coach her, gently guiding with legs and paws, offering pointers where needed and praise everywhere else. They go ashore and rest before returning to try out the moves again and Calico Jack is happy to be there with Karaka. The sun traces its path across the sky and the pair stay in the water for a long time. Only when the girl’s stomach growls and the happy fog of exhaustion begins to tug at her mind does Calico Jack call it a day. He escorts the new swimmer back to her parents before bidding them all farewell and happily leaving to go back to his new home.



WC: 1040
Total WC: 2139 / 1500

*Permission to PP Karaka given by Sea


"Calico Jack"