By Kelly Keene

3:43 p.m.

“40 this is 42.”

“Go ahead 42.”

“Can we get more towels?”

“Sure thing.”

“Has it been like this all day?”

“Well, I’ve only been here forty-five minutes. I doubt its been that crowded though, with this kind of weather.”

He laughed and continued swimming. 

“…it’s a bitter-sweet symphony that’s life…”

“42 this is 46.”

“Go ahead 46.”

“We could use some help back here folding towels.”

“Alright.”

“40 this is 42.”

“Go ahead 42.”

“The 46 could use some help folding towels.”

Hah. 

A small spider climbs onto my chair, struggling to keep from drowning. 

3:57 p.m.

“40 this is 42.”

“Go ahead.”

“Someone is here for the-”

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah?”

“Someone is here for the massage.”

“How many yards are in a mile?”

“Ok I’ll be right out.”

“Well it’s 71 laps. There’s 25 yards in a lap.”

“Is that 1,400? 1,500?”

“I don’t know, I could look it up on my phone.”

“Ha ha. Ok.”

3:59 p.m.

“It’s 1760 yards in a mile. That’s 70.4 laps.”

“Ok thanks!”

He continues swimming.

“Hello! Do you have a ticket?”

“Yup.”

“Thanks, have a good swim!”

“Thanks!”

4:02 p.m.

4:03 p.m.

There are three people in the pool. I mark it down in the Lifeguard Log. 

4:10 p.m.

“…I bet she’s back in the atmosphere, drops of Jupiter in her hair…”

That chubby brown bird keeps stealing seeds off that stupid tree. Too bad he doesn’t pick off all the leaves too. 

“…Tell me, did Venus blow your mind?”

4:30 p.m.

There are three people in the pool. Still. I mark it in the Log. 

4:32 p.m.

“42 this is 40.”

“Go ahead.”

“There’s a man heading towards you. He forgot his member ID, but let him in.”

“Ok”

“42 this is 46.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“We could still use some help with those towels.”

“Sure thing.”

“Bhrrrr! It’s cold today.”

“Yup.”

“Thanks! Have a good swim!”

“Is the water warm?”

“Warmer than out here.”

“Do you know how hot they keep it?”

“Usually about 76.”

“That’s not too warm.”

“It’s warmer than out here.”

“I guess.”

“Have a good swim.”

She sat with just her feet in for a few more minutes before sliding in with a large exhale. 

4:45 p.m.

The spider must have fallen back into the puddle. I don’t see it on my chair anymore. 

4:46 p.m.

4:47 p.m.

4:48 p.m.

“Bye! Have a nice day!”

“Thanks!”

5:00 p.m.

There are two people in the pool. I mark it down.

“Isn’t this weather great?!”

“Ha ha. Yeah.”

“Mind if I set my stuff here so it doesn’t get wet?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.”

There are now three people in the pool again, but I don’t bother to change the log. 

5:25 p.m.

“40 this is 42.”

“Go ahead 42.”

“I have a girl here that claims there is a, ‘weird guy’ creeping in the hallway that leads to the locker room.”

“Ok I’ll check it out. Stand by 42.”

“Ok.” 

“42 this is 46.”

“Yeah 46?”

“We need your help with towels.”

“Ok.”

“Hi.”

“Hello, do you have your ticket?”

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“Oh, and do you guys have towels here?”

“Sorry, we don’t.”

5:33 p.m.

“42 this is 40.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“The ‘weird guy’ must have left, but you really need to help 46 with the towels.”

“Ok, on my way, but 40 what’s your 20?”

“Leaving locker rooms now.”

“Ok.”

“47 this is 46.”

“This is 47.”

“We have someone in a wheelchair coming out. Can you make sure the ramp is in place?”

“Of course. Thanks for letting me know.”

5:36 p.m.

Five people in the pool. Quite a turn out. I still put two in the Log. 

“40 this is 42.”

“Go ahead 42.”

“The guy you told me to let in earlier just came from the direction of the women’s locker room.”

“Have you helped 46 with the towels yet?”

“I think they would’ve folded them all by now.”

“This is 46. We could definitely still use some more help with the towels.”

“Ok 46, I’m on my way. 42 please stay at the front desk.”

5:41 p.m.

“Traffic on the five is backed up in El Cerito. There appears to be an accident-”

“Kaiser permanente is there when you-”

“Listen in every friday for a chance to win the-”

“Love was out to get me. That’s the way it seems. Disappointment haunted all my dreams…”

5:43 p.m.

“40 this is 42.”

“What is it 42?”

“I think we have a situation… a man has collapsed on the treadmill…”

“What?! Are you sure?!”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be there right away.”

“Should I call 911?”

“Not yet, but go check him out. I’m almost there.”

“But should I leave the desk?”

“YES!! GO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE MAN IS OK!!” 

Oh. Shit. 

5:45 p.m.

“46 this is 40, please call 911 and tell them we have an elderly man who has collapsed due to dehydration.”

“Ok.”

“47 this is 40 please go to the front desk to cover for 42.”

“Already on it.”

“Thanks.”

“40 this is 46, the ambulance is on its way.”

“Great, thanks.”

5:57 p.m.

“40 this s 47.”

“Yeah 47?”

“The ambulance is here.”

“Great, send them to the Cardio Room please.”

“Ok.”

“Hello, do I give this to you?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Is everything ok? I saw an ambulance out front.”

“Yeah, a man just collapsed due to dehydration. He will probably be fine.”

“Can I still swim?”

“Of course.”

5:59 p.m.

Five people in the pool. I marked five in the Log this time. 

6:00 p.m.

6:01 p.m.

6:02 p.m.

6:03 p.m.

“Hey!”

“Hey!!”

“Sorry I’m a bit late. Did you know someone collapsed in the gym?”

“Yeah, I heard it on the walkie-talkie. Is he ok?”

“I think so.”

“Alright, well I’m outta here.”

“Ok see ya later!”

“Thanks, bye!”

As I passed through the locker room, I saw no “weird guy.” The ambulance had left by the time I got to the front. I clocked out and left through the side entrance. 

Free at last.