Unwanted

The next few weekends of rookie school and training were to take place for the dude.  He would travel to the city for the weekend rather than stay during the week.

He did not at the time realize how challenging life would be to maintain his health along with a full time job.  He thought, he would have had a place to park.  He thought, he would have had a place to shower.  He thought, he would have had access to a refrigerator.  He thought, he might at times utilize a kitchen.  He thought, he would have access to a toilet.

Unfortunately for the dude, when he left his grandparents' place the morning of the try-outs for possibly the best job in the world, they told him not to return.  They said lifeguarding wasn’t a real job - despite them for years mentioning the local beaches were struggling to be fully staffed, attempts to goad our dude into a job.

At the try-outs our dude performed well enough for the oldest participant.  He talked with the chief at the starting line of the swim event.  The chief asked if the dude had anything under those shorts because the pockets will act as parachutes causing more drag than necessary.

Our dude admitted to wearing a swim brief that doesn’t fit well and his balls might fall out.

The chief said, “Well, nobody would want to see that, but it’s worth the risk to increase your swim speed.”

Emboldened, our dude dropped his shorts.  In a bit of good fortune, a ladybug landed on our dude at the starting line of the all important five hundred meter (500 m) box swim.  The ladybug reminded him of a past love.  He thought how lucky he was to have such a visitor at such a place at such a time.  

After the tryouts and welcome ceremony, our dude drove back to the town of his grandparents.  He ate out at a local restaurant, waiting until dark.  He drove to park at his grandparents figuring if he was not welcome, they would have locked the gate.

The next morning, his grandfather asked, “What are you doing here?  You shouldn’t be here.”

Our dude didn’t bother responding to a man mostly deaf.  When the dude departed, he locked the gate behind him, vowing never to return. 

Our dude returned to the city for some onboarding paperwork that morning.  After the meeting, the chief requested a moment with the dude.  He mentioned because of the dude’s failed attempt last year and successful attempt this year, he was inspired to send an email encouraging those who did not make the cut to keep working towards their goals.