Swimming
Picture above: ETHS campus
At first, there is a bud. Then slowly it develops into a flower displaying its stunning colors and sweet fragrance. So too were David’s teen years starting out just as a bud waiting to bloom. Evanston Township High School [ETHS] covers the student population from all of the city of Evanston and a small part of the village of Skokie [making the Evanston Township]. ETHS was built to hold the almost 5,000 students, plus its faculty and staff, making it the largest high school facility under one roof [In 1975, the largest high school campus].
Gym classes were divided into two to three week activities. For an example, there be two weeks of basketball, three weeks of soccer, or two weeks of baseball. During winter, another section was two weeks of swimming. ETHS had two pools: A high school state competition size pool; and the other, a smaller shallow pool [pictured left]. This was the part of gym class that David abhors - the swimming section. David was not alone on this matter, even the jocks loathed it. Maybe those are too strong of words. Instead of abhor, a better choice might be distress, dismay, and dread for the swimming class. In other words, fear.
Gym classes were divided into two to three week activities. For an example, there be two weeks of basketball, three weeks of soccer, or two weeks of baseball. During winter, another section was two weeks of swimming. ETHS had two pools: A high school state competition size pool; and the other, a smaller shallow pool [pictured left]. This was the part of gym class that David abhors - the swimming section. David was not alone on this matter, even the jocks loathed it. Maybe those are too strong of words. Instead of abhor, a better choice might be distress, dismay, and dread for the swimming class. In other words, fear.
Picture above: ETHS two swimming pools
As everyone undressed in the locker room, no one knew what section the other students in the locker room were going to. As the locker cleared out, only those for the swimming section remained behind. For swimming there were no gym shorts. No jock strap. Nothing! Not even swimming trunks. At ETHS, all the gym classes were segregated by gender. The girls swam in bathing suits, and the boys swam in their birthday suit -- nude.
It was one thing showering with your classmates. One jumps to the showers, dip in the stream of water, and then grasp a towel on the way out of the shower. But a full 45 minutes being stark-naked with your classmates makes one apprehensive.
It was not just irregular for David to walk out of the locker room naked, it was freaky weird. His biggest anxiety was making a wrong turn and walking into the school’s public hallway full of clothed passersby going to their classrooms. He followed the bare butts ahead of him, and they led him to a narrow hallway that had shower heads covering the total ceiling that were streaming water on to all who passed. Outside this short showering hallway, David was grateful that the butt-boys led him into the swimming pool area. The air was much warmer and humid than the locker room which felt good on his wet body. There was no horsing around as the boys usually did before and during gym class. None of the boys spoke. The only sound in the pool area was laps of water hitting the side of the pool, the passersby’s wet feet hitting the white floor title, and the swimming coach calling out, “Stay away from the water.”
The coach was a tall older man wearing black gym shorts, a white tee-shirt with a silver whistle attached to a black lanyard around his neck. A dark maroon baseball cap covered the top of his thick gray hair making David wonder if he was bald underneath the cap.
“Sit down on the bench along the wall,” the coach cried out.
David continued to follow the butts in front of him with the pool to his left. On the other side of the pool, there was another class with another swimming coach barking out the same commands. On three sides of the pool was stadium seating. This seating started about twelve feet above the pool. Along this twelve foot wall was a wooden bench with boys sitting garment- less. The fourth wall had no seating, just a wall to the ceiling. The fourth wall had an alcove that housed a smaller shallow pool.
It was one thing showering with your classmates. One jumps to the showers, dip in the stream of water, and then grasp a towel on the way out of the shower. But a full 45 minutes being stark-naked with your classmates makes one apprehensive.
It was not just irregular for David to walk out of the locker room naked, it was freaky weird. His biggest anxiety was making a wrong turn and walking into the school’s public hallway full of clothed passersby going to their classrooms. He followed the bare butts ahead of him, and they led him to a narrow hallway that had shower heads covering the total ceiling that were streaming water on to all who passed. Outside this short showering hallway, David was grateful that the butt-boys led him into the swimming pool area. The air was much warmer and humid than the locker room which felt good on his wet body. There was no horsing around as the boys usually did before and during gym class. None of the boys spoke. The only sound in the pool area was laps of water hitting the side of the pool, the passersby’s wet feet hitting the white floor title, and the swimming coach calling out, “Stay away from the water.”
The coach was a tall older man wearing black gym shorts, a white tee-shirt with a silver whistle attached to a black lanyard around his neck. A dark maroon baseball cap covered the top of his thick gray hair making David wonder if he was bald underneath the cap.
“Sit down on the bench along the wall,” the coach cried out.
David continued to follow the butts in front of him with the pool to his left. On the other side of the pool, there was another class with another swimming coach barking out the same commands. On three sides of the pool was stadium seating. This seating started about twelve feet above the pool. Along this twelve foot wall was a wooden bench with boys sitting garment- less. The fourth wall had no seating, just a wall to the ceiling. The fourth wall had an alcove that housed a smaller shallow pool.
David found a place to sit and watch the other raw boys march in. Like David, most boys walk awkwardly, not knowing what to do with their hands, or slightly curving their backs as if they were able to fold themselves and cover their nudism. All did not know where to look. Most eyes were fixed to their feet. Few walked concealing their male organ with both hands; some just sheltering it, and others clutching it for dear life. One skinny boy walked in holding his member tightly with one hand and his other arm superimposed across his chest. What was he hiding? His chest was flat as a board. The only lumps were from his ribs. Very few walked in as if they didn’t have a care that they were in the parade of skin suits. One guy walked in with his chest out as showing pride in his bushy package.
All the boys across the pool sat in a way trying to mask their schlongs by either crossing their legs; or leaning forward with their elbows on their thighs and their hands folded between their knees; or sitting straight up, legs together, and hands folded on top of their laps. One boy sat differently from the others: At the very end of the bench, he was leaning back with his legs open and one arm on the top of the bench’s back. He seemed so unbothered by the setting of unclad boys. He had black curly mop of hair and dark eyes. His tan chest was defined as if he might work out to some degree. His thickset thighs were woolly with black hair. What David noticed the most about this boy was below his tan line; how snowy white his skin was, a black line snaked down from his bellybutton to the concentration of black hair around his pecker. He sat as if he was flaunting it, except the twins were nowhere seen in the bush that surrounded his pecker.
The coach whistle sounded, “Pheww!”
”I’m Coach Terhune, head coach of the Aquatics department. Some rules of the pool,” said the coach. He did not yell, but his voice carried in the large area. “Never get into the pool without me or another coach in your sight. Two, you will be assigned a swimming partner. Do not get into the pool without him. You are to watch your partner at all times. Three, if you hear the whistle once.”
He raised the whistle from his chest to his lips. “Pheww!” sound the whistle as he blew.
“That means stop anything you’re doing and listen. Stop talking. Stop swimming. Stop playing. Stop and listen! Now if you hear a long whistle like this.”
Again he blew the whistle. “Phewwwwwwwwwwwww!”
“That means stop whatever you’re doing and get out of the water.”
Again he blew, “Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!” His hand let go of the whistle and it drop to his chest as the black lanyard must have done many times.
“That means everyone out of the pool immediately. Got it!”
Then through the same doorway that David had entered came in five boys that had swimming suits on. They looked alike except their hair color varied. They had broad shoulders on their medium torsos with flat stomachs, and when they turned, they showed large back muscles. It was notable to David that they had no underarm hair. In all, they were hairless except for the top of their heads.
“These gents here,” the coach said referring to the suited boy, “are from the swim team and are to assist me in our swimming classes. If they tell you something, it’s the same as if I told you myself.”
The swim team jumped into the pool as if they were displaying their authority not needing the coach’s approval.
“Now, raise your hand if you can’t swim,” asked the coach.
It would have been humorous if the situation was different. Some boys slowly raised their hand trying to figure how to continue to hide their boyhood. Up went David’s hand with along a quarter of the boys.
All the boys across the pool sat in a way trying to mask their schlongs by either crossing their legs; or leaning forward with their elbows on their thighs and their hands folded between their knees; or sitting straight up, legs together, and hands folded on top of their laps. One boy sat differently from the others: At the very end of the bench, he was leaning back with his legs open and one arm on the top of the bench’s back. He seemed so unbothered by the setting of unclad boys. He had black curly mop of hair and dark eyes. His tan chest was defined as if he might work out to some degree. His thickset thighs were woolly with black hair. What David noticed the most about this boy was below his tan line; how snowy white his skin was, a black line snaked down from his bellybutton to the concentration of black hair around his pecker. He sat as if he was flaunting it, except the twins were nowhere seen in the bush that surrounded his pecker.
The coach whistle sounded, “Pheww!”
”I’m Coach Terhune, head coach of the Aquatics department. Some rules of the pool,” said the coach. He did not yell, but his voice carried in the large area. “Never get into the pool without me or another coach in your sight. Two, you will be assigned a swimming partner. Do not get into the pool without him. You are to watch your partner at all times. Three, if you hear the whistle once.”
He raised the whistle from his chest to his lips. “Pheww!” sound the whistle as he blew.
“That means stop anything you’re doing and listen. Stop talking. Stop swimming. Stop playing. Stop and listen! Now if you hear a long whistle like this.”
Again he blew the whistle. “Phewwwwwwwwwwwww!”
“That means stop whatever you’re doing and get out of the water.”
Again he blew, “Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!” His hand let go of the whistle and it drop to his chest as the black lanyard must have done many times.
“That means everyone out of the pool immediately. Got it!”
Then through the same doorway that David had entered came in five boys that had swimming suits on. They looked alike except their hair color varied. They had broad shoulders on their medium torsos with flat stomachs, and when they turned, they showed large back muscles. It was notable to David that they had no underarm hair. In all, they were hairless except for the top of their heads.
“These gents here,” the coach said referring to the suited boy, “are from the swim team and are to assist me in our swimming classes. If they tell you something, it’s the same as if I told you myself.”
The swim team jumped into the pool as if they were displaying their authority not needing the coach’s approval.
“Now, raise your hand if you can’t swim,” asked the coach.
It would have been humorous if the situation was different. Some boys slowly raised their hand trying to figure how to continue to hide their boyhood. Up went David’s hand with along a quarter of the boys.
The coach had the boys who didn’t raise their hands line up. He was testing five boys at a time of their swimming ability. They were to get in the water and swim to the swim team, who were in different lanes and about half way down. David and those who raised their hands sat on the beach watching the boys swim. The skinny kid that covered his breast and groin seemed to get into the water in the same position as he walked into the swimming area, one arm over his breast and his other hand still grasping his tool. He swam poorly with one hand. David assumed the other hand was still holding on to his tool. The boy with the twins that were lost in his bush swam brilliantly. His feet made very little splashes as his very white round butt glided across the water. David watched him as he got out of the pool. The mop on his head was flattened and darkened by the water. However, his pubic hair held its shape. The water could not mat it down. It must have been so thick with hair.
That was David’s first swimming gym class. Not a drop of pool’s water touched him. Just 45 minutes of knowing what it must feel like at a nudist camp.
Some believe that knowing what to expect somehow makes you feel better. Therefore, the next day should have been easier by knowing the layout of the land. Still, ignorant of the whys, it did not change David’s fear in his gym swimming class. Why the boys swam nude and the girls did not? Hitting puberty early for David did not help in this dealing. Teens going through physical changes do wonder if they are usual from others. One might think that being nude with a group of same age boys might take away the feeling of being different. Instead, as David walked to the second day of gym class, it caused more confusion and anxiety, and an ambiguity within him. Seeing the undraped boys in difference by height, weight, muscle tone, and springtime of manhood did not help with David’s self-esteem.
David walk out of the showering hallway and into the pool area, the coach holler out for yesterday’s swimmer to the larger pool area and those who did not swim to the smaller pool area. Under the alcove that housed the smaller shallow pool, another coach told the boys to line up against the wall. He was much younger than the head coach. On his thin body frame he wore black gym short with a white tee-shirt, and white sock and gym shoes. He also had a whistle tie to brown twine resting on his shoulders. Unlike coach Terhune, he wore no hat.His head had wavy chestnut brown hair and broad sideburns that matched his eye color. His lower face was clean shaven so one could see his flat lips showing no frame of mind other than being a disciplinarian.
"I’m assistant coach Sharp,” the coach called out. “There is absolutely no diving in this pool. You will be assigned a swimming partner. Do not get into the pool without this partner. If he is absent from the class, you do not get into the pool. Come and see me, and I will give you another partner. When in the water, you are to watch your partner at all times.”
Coach Sharp went to the first two boys of the line. He gasps a shoulder of the boy next to the other, turned them slightly toward one another and said, “You two are partners.” By twos he went down the line in the same fashion gasping and turning two boys announcing they were now swimming partners.
Some believe that knowing what to expect somehow makes you feel better. Therefore, the next day should have been easier by knowing the layout of the land. Still, ignorant of the whys, it did not change David’s fear in his gym swimming class. Why the boys swam nude and the girls did not? Hitting puberty early for David did not help in this dealing. Teens going through physical changes do wonder if they are usual from others. One might think that being nude with a group of same age boys might take away the feeling of being different. Instead, as David walked to the second day of gym class, it caused more confusion and anxiety, and an ambiguity within him. Seeing the undraped boys in difference by height, weight, muscle tone, and springtime of manhood did not help with David’s self-esteem.
David walk out of the showering hallway and into the pool area, the coach holler out for yesterday’s swimmer to the larger pool area and those who did not swim to the smaller pool area. Under the alcove that housed the smaller shallow pool, another coach told the boys to line up against the wall. He was much younger than the head coach. On his thin body frame he wore black gym short with a white tee-shirt, and white sock and gym shoes. He also had a whistle tie to brown twine resting on his shoulders. Unlike coach Terhune, he wore no hat.His head had wavy chestnut brown hair and broad sideburns that matched his eye color. His lower face was clean shaven so one could see his flat lips showing no frame of mind other than being a disciplinarian.
"I’m assistant coach Sharp,” the coach called out. “There is absolutely no diving in this pool. You will be assigned a swimming partner. Do not get into the pool without this partner. If he is absent from the class, you do not get into the pool. Come and see me, and I will give you another partner. When in the water, you are to watch your partner at all times.”
Coach Sharp went to the first two boys of the line. He gasps a shoulder of the boy next to the other, turned them slightly toward one another and said, “You two are partners.” By twos he went down the line in the same fashion gasping and turning two boys announcing they were now swimming partners.
“You two are partners,” said coach Burton with his left hand on David’s right shoulder and his other hand on the shorter boy next to David. This was the first time someone other than a family member touched David while he was leafless.
After pairing all the non-swimmers, the coach directed, “Introduce yourself to your swimming partner.”
David and his new swimming partner looked into each other’s eyes. Where else was one to look? He had light blue eyes, large curls of light ash brown hair on a plane thin face. His voice was bumbling for words, until it was clear, “Hi. I’m Jay.”
“I’m David. Nice to meet you,” said David. If this was a television comedy, it would have been funny. They did not shake hands. Stumbling of “What to say to a naked man?” they only stared at each other’s eyes.Outside of his father and brother, this was the first time David ever spoke to a person who was bare-skinned like him.
After pairing all the non-swimmers, the coach directed, “Introduce yourself to your swimming partner.”
David and his new swimming partner looked into each other’s eyes. Where else was one to look? He had light blue eyes, large curls of light ash brown hair on a plane thin face. His voice was bumbling for words, until it was clear, “Hi. I’m Jay.”
“I’m David. Nice to meet you,” said David. If this was a television comedy, it would have been funny. They did not shake hands. Stumbling of “What to say to a naked man?” they only stared at each other’s eyes.Outside of his father and brother, this was the first time David ever spoke to a person who was bare-skinned like him.
Coach Sharp then instructed one of each paired swimmers to get into the water and the other to watch their partner.
“I’ll get in first?” question Jay.
David nodded and said, “Okay.”
Jay turned and went toward the pool. David looked away, again not knowing where to focus his eyes.
Jay got into the water while David played the lifeguard. Those outside the pool stood watching. The coach wanted those in the water to first just float. Jay’s body lay out on the water with his arm forward. He seemed at ease in the water. His body was still in the water as it bobbed only by the waves. This was the first time David’s eyes had permission to look at these unclad boys in and along the pool. His eyes focus mainly on his swimming partner. Jay’s rear-end and legs were pale compared to David’s whole body. His upper torso had a shade darker than the rest of him. His bobbing white rear was a firm round shape with his burly legs that were defined.
“I’ll get in first?” question Jay.
David nodded and said, “Okay.”
Jay turned and went toward the pool. David looked away, again not knowing where to focus his eyes.
Jay got into the water while David played the lifeguard. Those outside the pool stood watching. The coach wanted those in the water to first just float. Jay’s body lay out on the water with his arm forward. He seemed at ease in the water. His body was still in the water as it bobbed only by the waves. This was the first time David’s eyes had permission to look at these unclad boys in and along the pool. His eyes focus mainly on his swimming partner. Jay’s rear-end and legs were pale compared to David’s whole body. His upper torso had a shade darker than the rest of him. His bobbing white rear was a firm round shape with his burly legs that were defined.
“Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!” sound a whistle.
In the small pool, some boys stop and turn to the coach; Some jump out of the water all together; While a few, like Jay, got out of the water and sat on the edge of the pool with their legs still in the water. At the end of the pool was coach Sharp in the water holding up a skinny kid who was coughing loudly.
“Are you okay?” questioned the coach.
Still coughing, the skinny boy nodded his head. The coach slowly led the skinny boy out of the water.
In the small pool, some boys stop and turn to the coach; Some jump out of the water all together; While a few, like Jay, got out of the water and sat on the edge of the pool with their legs still in the water. At the end of the pool was coach Sharp in the water holding up a skinny kid who was coughing loudly.
“Are you okay?” questioned the coach.
Still coughing, the skinny boy nodded his head. The coach slowly led the skinny boy out of the water.
Jay was sitting on the other side of the pool from David. While Jay and others were watching the coach dealing with the coughing kid, David took the opportunity to view Jay. He saw that Jay was about as skinny as David except his ribs were not as notable. His nipples were of average standards, not like David’s large ones. His curls on his head still held their twist even when soaked. The wet hairs darken in color and matched his crotch hair. His twins, covered with lots of long dark blond hair, reacting to the change of temperature, were tight to their host. His pubic hair stood out like an aviation blonde. However, his happy trail pass his bellybutton was very dark and matted to his abdomen.
Picture Above: From 1951 Life Magazine showing New Trier High School's new pool. The article said nothing about the boys being nude since it was a known standard. From more information, click the picture for a 3 part You Tube Naked Swimming in School.
It was David’s turn in the water while Jay watched over. As he floated, David realized this was the first time someone outside of his immediate family watched him in the raw. David’s mind-eye pictured Jay sitting on the edge of the pool in all his glory. When David stood up in the pool, only to find that Jay was not there sitting on the pool’s edge.
“Over here, David,” came Jay’s voice behind David.
David turn and there he was standing in the spot where David was overseeing Jay earlier. Looking up out of the pool, Jay’s Aviation Blonde looked bigger than a Texan woman’s big hair, at least for it size. His light blue eyes watched over David. And then Jay winked as to say, “It’s okay, I’m watching your back.”
As the week wore on, there were the usual group style swimming lessons. Jay knew more about swimming than David and therefor helped David. Both being in the water was not as odd as when out of it. Just seeing Jay’s head and chest was no different than at the lake. Guess if one was in the lake’s water and one took off their swimming suit, nobody in or out of the water would know. To aid David in floating, Jay would hold David’s hands out in front of him, and sometimes Jay would pull David across the water.On Friday of the first week, Jay was nowhere to be found. As the class got into the water, David recalled the coach’s voice, “Do not get into the pool without your partner.” Coach Sharp was talking to Coach Terhune by the larger pool. The buff-David walked over to the coaches. It felt odd for David standing by the coaches in their gym attire while he was threadbare. Coach Terhune turn to David and said, “What is it, Gunnell?” as he looked up and down at David.
“Over here, David,” came Jay’s voice behind David.
David turn and there he was standing in the spot where David was overseeing Jay earlier. Looking up out of the pool, Jay’s Aviation Blonde looked bigger than a Texan woman’s big hair, at least for it size. His light blue eyes watched over David. And then Jay winked as to say, “It’s okay, I’m watching your back.”
As the week wore on, there were the usual group style swimming lessons. Jay knew more about swimming than David and therefor helped David. Both being in the water was not as odd as when out of it. Just seeing Jay’s head and chest was no different than at the lake. Guess if one was in the lake’s water and one took off their swimming suit, nobody in or out of the water would know. To aid David in floating, Jay would hold David’s hands out in front of him, and sometimes Jay would pull David across the water.On Friday of the first week, Jay was nowhere to be found. As the class got into the water, David recalled the coach’s voice, “Do not get into the pool without your partner.” Coach Sharp was talking to Coach Terhune by the larger pool. The buff-David walked over to the coaches. It felt odd for David standing by the coaches in their gym attire while he was threadbare. Coach Terhune turn to David and said, “What is it, Gunnell?” as he looked up and down at David.
Pictured Right: From1938 Life Magazine about Michigan State Swim Team. Another picture in the magazine showed when women were present at their meets, the swimmers wore suits.
My swimming partner is absent,” answered David.
“Okay, Gunnell,” acknowledge coach Sharp, “meet me at the pool. We’ll get you a partner.”
David turned and again felt the queerness of being the only one out of the water that was exposed. Even though the students in the pool were practicing their swimming and not paying any mind to the undressed teen, David felt all eyes on his barren soul.
Standing at the small pool, David didn’t know whether to sit or stand. He stood near the wall. He didn’t know what to do with his arms. His left arm held his right arm’s elbow pointing his right arm downward slightly toward the middle of his body, thus his hand was somewhat covering his middle leg. He just watched the boys practiced their swimming with their partners.
David jumped when he heard coach Sharp’s voice, “Alright Gunnell. Let’s get into the water.”
There was the coach with only his black trucks on. No shoe and no tee-shirt. In the middle of his brawny chest was a batch of long thin chestnut brown hair. He looked better with his chest bare than covered. The tee-shirt made him look much thinner.
“Okay, Gunnell,” acknowledge coach Sharp, “meet me at the pool. We’ll get you a partner.”
David turned and again felt the queerness of being the only one out of the water that was exposed. Even though the students in the pool were practicing their swimming and not paying any mind to the undressed teen, David felt all eyes on his barren soul.
Standing at the small pool, David didn’t know whether to sit or stand. He stood near the wall. He didn’t know what to do with his arms. His left arm held his right arm’s elbow pointing his right arm downward slightly toward the middle of his body, thus his hand was somewhat covering his middle leg. He just watched the boys practiced their swimming with their partners.
David jumped when he heard coach Sharp’s voice, “Alright Gunnell. Let’s get into the water.”
There was the coach with only his black trucks on. No shoe and no tee-shirt. In the middle of his brawny chest was a batch of long thin chestnut brown hair. He looked better with his chest bare than covered. The tee-shirt made him look much thinner.
“I’ll be your swimming partner,” said coach Sharp.
Both of them went into the pool’s water. David was conscious of the boys around them where they were eyeing the two of them.
“Okay, Gunnell,” said the coach, “let’s practice your kicking.”
David reached his arms out in front of him while kicking the water as his body tried to float. Instead his kicking feet slowly sank downward. His hands bump into another student’s butt. David stood up embarrassed and found himself still near the coach.
“You need to learn to open your eyes underwater,” instructed the coach. “That way you can try to swim a straight line. And make your kicks smaller by just moving from your knees. Don’t move the whole legs. Just the calf from your knees.”
“Okay.”
“Try again, but this time, give me your hands and I’ll lead you.”
Their hands clasp, and again David floated on the water's top. He reached his arms out while making smaller kicks. His eyes open viewing the distortion from the water, and he saw the coach’s feet walking backwards. He noticed the hair on his legs, and like his father’s legs, he became mesmerized by the hair swaying back and forth suspended in the water.
Both of them went into the pool’s water. David was conscious of the boys around them where they were eyeing the two of them.
“Okay, Gunnell,” said the coach, “let’s practice your kicking.”
David reached his arms out in front of him while kicking the water as his body tried to float. Instead his kicking feet slowly sank downward. His hands bump into another student’s butt. David stood up embarrassed and found himself still near the coach.
“You need to learn to open your eyes underwater,” instructed the coach. “That way you can try to swim a straight line. And make your kicks smaller by just moving from your knees. Don’t move the whole legs. Just the calf from your knees.”
“Okay.”
“Try again, but this time, give me your hands and I’ll lead you.”
Their hands clasp, and again David floated on the water's top. He reached his arms out while making smaller kicks. His eyes open viewing the distortion from the water, and he saw the coach’s feet walking backwards. He noticed the hair on his legs, and like his father’s legs, he became mesmerized by the hair swaying back and forth suspended in the water.
“I’ll be your swimming partner,” said coach Sharp.
Both of them went into the pool’s water. David was conscious of the boys around them where they were eyeing the two of them.
“Okay, Gunnell,” said the coach, “let’s practice your kicking.”
David reached his arms out in front of him while kicking the water as his body tried to float. Instead his kicking feet slowly sank downward. His hands bump into another student’s butt. David stood up embarrassed and found himself still near the coach.
“You need to learn to open your eyes underwater,” instructed the coach. “That way you can try to swim a straight line. And make your kicks smaller by just moving from your knees. Don’t move the whole legs. Just the calf from your knees.”
“Okay.”
“Try again, but this time, give me your hands and I’ll lead you.”
Their hands clasp, and again David floated on the water's top. He reached his arms out while making smaller kicks. His eyes open viewing the distortion from the water, and he saw the coach’s feet walking backwards. He noticed the hair on his legs, and like his father’s legs, he became mesmerized by the hair swaying back and forth suspended in the water.
“Good. Good. Much better,” said the coach when David stops to get his breath. His hand patted David’s back for encouragement. “Try again, and focus on your kicking. Small kicks.”
Once more their hands grasp. In spite of having his arms out, the coach bought David closer toward him as he led him in the water. Viewing in the the water, David saw the coach's black trunks ripped slowly in the water as his thighs stir. The movement of his trunks’ cuffs moved up and down. Up and down. Exposing more dancing hairs on his thighs. Up and down. Up until his mushroom tip floated outward.
“He’s wearing just gym shorts,” thought David.A swim suit has a lining to give support and prevent peck-a-boos.
David noted his mushroom head was darker and smaller than his. It pranced with his truck’s cuffs from his thigh’s movement.
Up and down and “hello.”
Up and down and “hey there.”
Up and down and “do you like looking at me.”
Up and down and “I’m a turtle. Peek-a-boo.”
Then the coach’s hands released and moved to David’s chest. He was holding David up with his arms around him. David popped his head out of the water wondering why the change of positioning.
“Keep going. I got you,” instructed the coach.
David’s head went back into the water and the mushroom tip was out of view. They continue and David felt at times his own staff touching Shape’s thigh. Embarrassment was felt by David, but the coach seemed unaware. An unknown feeling went through David. A spark.
Both of them went into the pool’s water. David was conscious of the boys around them where they were eyeing the two of them.
“Okay, Gunnell,” said the coach, “let’s practice your kicking.”
David reached his arms out in front of him while kicking the water as his body tried to float. Instead his kicking feet slowly sank downward. His hands bump into another student’s butt. David stood up embarrassed and found himself still near the coach.
“You need to learn to open your eyes underwater,” instructed the coach. “That way you can try to swim a straight line. And make your kicks smaller by just moving from your knees. Don’t move the whole legs. Just the calf from your knees.”
“Okay.”
“Try again, but this time, give me your hands and I’ll lead you.”
Their hands clasp, and again David floated on the water's top. He reached his arms out while making smaller kicks. His eyes open viewing the distortion from the water, and he saw the coach’s feet walking backwards. He noticed the hair on his legs, and like his father’s legs, he became mesmerized by the hair swaying back and forth suspended in the water.
“Good. Good. Much better,” said the coach when David stops to get his breath. His hand patted David’s back for encouragement. “Try again, and focus on your kicking. Small kicks.”
Once more their hands grasp. In spite of having his arms out, the coach bought David closer toward him as he led him in the water. Viewing in the the water, David saw the coach's black trunks ripped slowly in the water as his thighs stir. The movement of his trunks’ cuffs moved up and down. Up and down. Exposing more dancing hairs on his thighs. Up and down. Up until his mushroom tip floated outward.
“He’s wearing just gym shorts,” thought David.A swim suit has a lining to give support and prevent peck-a-boos.
David noted his mushroom head was darker and smaller than his. It pranced with his truck’s cuffs from his thigh’s movement.
Up and down and “hello.”
Up and down and “hey there.”
Up and down and “do you like looking at me.”
Up and down and “I’m a turtle. Peek-a-boo.”
Then the coach’s hands released and moved to David’s chest. He was holding David up with his arms around him. David popped his head out of the water wondering why the change of positioning.
“Keep going. I got you,” instructed the coach.
David’s head went back into the water and the mushroom tip was out of view. They continue and David felt at times his own staff touching Shape’s thigh. Embarrassment was felt by David, but the coach seemed unaware. An unknown feeling went through David. A spark.
As his air ran out, David stood up. His legs caught in the middle of the coach’s legs and David knew his dick pressed against Sharp’s thigh. Another spark jarred right to the base of his penis. Immediately, David thoughts scream, “Stop it! Stop it! Please stop!” Again the coach was not fazed.
It was difficult to see through the moving distorted water, no one was aware of the rise in David. The unaware coach continued their lesson. For David, he could not figure out why this was happening to him. Only fear arose in him that he would be teased by his monster’s size and hardness. Even weeks after the incident, David thoughts about this were turned to his father explaining to him and his brothers, “Erections can happen at any time for no reason. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. There were some guys in the Navy who seemed to have an erection all the time at the showers. If you get one while showering, just don’t let it bother you. It’s perfectly natural.” All David could conclude was that he and his father lived in different times. Today’s times an erection would lead to certain torment.
It was at the end of class that the coach got out of the water to talk to the class .His chestnut chest hair matted between his breasts looked darker and thicker. Even though his wet black shorts cling tightly and outlining his mid-area displaying a slightly hard tool, no one laughed or said a word. During this time David’s third leg was behaving.
It was difficult to see through the moving distorted water, no one was aware of the rise in David. The unaware coach continued their lesson. For David, he could not figure out why this was happening to him. Only fear arose in him that he would be teased by his monster’s size and hardness. Even weeks after the incident, David thoughts about this were turned to his father explaining to him and his brothers, “Erections can happen at any time for no reason. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. There were some guys in the Navy who seemed to have an erection all the time at the showers. If you get one while showering, just don’t let it bother you. It’s perfectly natural.” All David could conclude was that he and his father lived in different times. Today’s times an erection would lead to certain torment.
It was at the end of class that the coach got out of the water to talk to the class .His chestnut chest hair matted between his breasts looked darker and thicker. Even though his wet black shorts cling tightly and outlining his mid-area displaying a slightly hard tool, no one laughed or said a word. During this time David’s third leg was behaving.
Waterpolo team getting their picture at a meet. Note the woman in the upper right of the picture. It was common for boys to swim in the nude.
It was not until the second week that the class started to play water polo. Out of water sports version “shirts verses skins” in a skins-only class was out of the question.Besides, a wet tee-shirt slows down a man in the water. David knew this all too well since he had to wear a tee-shirt at the beach as a sun block. In this class it was “hair verses caps. ”Swimming caps on the head.Jay and David were on the cap’s team.
Watching Jay tuck his large curls into the off-white cap was funny. The end result was how one would look bald, and Jay was not a handsome bald man. His face became too thin. All in all, a curl or two or three would still stick out of his cap. Jay would then plunge his whole body under the water to see if his cap would hold, but mainly to see if any of the uncapped wet curls would block his sight.
“You should try it,” commented Jay. And David did. Fully submerge; right in front him was Jay’s flute. In the water things looked dimmer, but David could clearly see Jay’s flute slowly wobble. His long dark blonde hairs that surround the base of his cock hardly moved. Somehow they continue to keep their aviation blonde form in water. His blonde hairs leading up to his belly coiled in their curly tight symmetry.
Rising out of the water, David’s cap slid sideways on his head. Jay set it straight as David wiped the water from his face. He tucked David’s hair where the cap had moved making the fit tighter. He was unconscious of David’s gander of his lower half.
"See if that works,” said Jay.
“You should try it,” commented Jay. And David did. Fully submerge; right in front him was Jay’s flute. In the water things looked dimmer, but David could clearly see Jay’s flute slowly wobble. His long dark blonde hairs that surround the base of his cock hardly moved. Somehow they continue to keep their aviation blonde form in water. His blonde hairs leading up to his belly coiled in their curly tight symmetry.
Rising out of the water, David’s cap slid sideways on his head. Jay set it straight as David wiped the water from his face. He tucked David’s hair where the cap had moved making the fit tighter. He was unconscious of David’s gander of his lower half.
"See if that works,” said Jay.
Into the bleary realm of the water went David, and again there was Jay’s flute. On Jay’s balls the hairs were longer and there was much, much more of it than on David’s twins. They swayed in movement with the water. As the long hairs danced, they hypnotized David. Spellbound like when he was a child watching the rain hitting a car’s windshield and how the drop’s “O” shape slowly increase in sizes until the wiper made it disappear. On a windshield the raindrop had a different view, a different side of truth, a different reality. For this subaquatic world, the hairs prance as opposed to the stillness in the other dry world. For the first time, David was eye to one-eye-trouser-snake. He may have seen his brothers, father, and the boys in the locker room and showers from a remote distance, outside of that, David was seeing not only the submerged reality but also his first of a kind genuine close up of a penis other than his own.
The cap held when David emerge. Jay smiled and said, “It on good and tight.” For some reason his eyes seemed bluer.
“Thanks,” answered David.
Many times during the game, David would look around to see if his swimming partner was alright. Each time there was Jay bobbing in the water. David knew Jay was also looking out for David. Sometimes both of their eyes met and Jay would wick as if saying, “Thanks for checking on me, swimming partner.”
The cap held when David emerge. Jay smiled and said, “It on good and tight.” For some reason his eyes seemed bluer.
“Thanks,” answered David.
Many times during the game, David would look around to see if his swimming partner was alright. Each time there was Jay bobbing in the water. David knew Jay was also looking out for David. Sometimes both of their eyes met and Jay would wick as if saying, “Thanks for checking on me, swimming partner.”
With water polo, the boys’ guard started to drop. Jumping and fighting for the ball, getting engrossed by the game, they started to forget their bare-skinned. One incident during a skirmish for the ball, one kid yelled, “That’s not fair! Who pulled on my dick?” He was only ignored as the rush of kids with the ball moved off. Still and all, David wondered about that incident. It happened two more times with different boys. Could there be a dick-puller amongst them?
“It was an arm or legs that brushed against your penis during the fighting for the ball. Nothing else,” said Coach Sharp.
“No! It was a hand firmly on my dick pulling me down under the water,” said the victim.
David conceptualized the mob tying his johnson with rope. And like in a cartoon, a black anvil was tied to the other end of the rope. To do away with him, the mob throws the anvil into the lake where David follows his johnson into the depths of the lake’s water.
One afternoon, David was walking to his next class. The corridor was full of students moving about, some at their lockers, some talking with other students blocking the way of others, but most dashing to their next class.
Someone tapped David’s shoulder while passing by him saying, “Hello there, David.”
As the grinning tapper moved into the crowd, he waved while looking at David. He was dressed in blue jeans and a light yellow button-down shirt. His black oxford shoes were large compare to the rest of his body. The color of his white hat was washed out by his large curls of light ash brown hair popping out all around it.
“Hi,” answered David, even though he could not place this boy. However, his light blue eyes seemed familiar.
It wasn’t until the boy winked and said, “It’s me, Jay” that David remembered the tapper was his swimming partner.
David answered, “Hi there,” as Jay disappeared into the mass of students. He thought to himself, “Why did I not recognize that it was Jay?”
It dawn on him that Jay was dressed differently. More to the point, Jay was dressed. It all seemed out of place. A quote from Mark Twain recollects in David, “Clothes make the man; Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
Jay was clothed in an ordinary way. His attire made him a silhouette-of-a-man. Lacking was his chest puffing out. His jeans made his legs missing their muscular shape. They looked thin like sticks. It just wasn’t Jay that he knew. The naked Jay looked much more handsome and stout. His blue eyes were lost with the yellow in his shirt and the whiteness of his hat. His walk even seemed different. It was as if Jay’s cloths told a different story of the naked Jay. David realized that he never thought of Jay in any other way than just being uncovered.
Clothing is usually flattering and sexy. Jay’s clothes did not do this. His unclad self was much more adorning than his clothed self. It dawned on David how clothing does make a statement about a person. It can be an obscured camouflage. In Jay, David saw a different person by Jay’s clothing, not because he was just in clothes. It seems to portray an image that was different from David’s perception. Clothing not only covers up the body’s physique, but also the person’s substance. Clothes can be fun and decorative, alluring and sexy; and that's just fine. They can also be used to establish social order and status; that's not so fine, but sometimes necessary. A person in an expensive suit could be someone who is homeless. The same could be said the other way around: A person in holey pants and tee-shirt could be making a very wealthy income.
“It was an arm or legs that brushed against your penis during the fighting for the ball. Nothing else,” said Coach Sharp.
“No! It was a hand firmly on my dick pulling me down under the water,” said the victim.
David conceptualized the mob tying his johnson with rope. And like in a cartoon, a black anvil was tied to the other end of the rope. To do away with him, the mob throws the anvil into the lake where David follows his johnson into the depths of the lake’s water.
One afternoon, David was walking to his next class. The corridor was full of students moving about, some at their lockers, some talking with other students blocking the way of others, but most dashing to their next class.
Someone tapped David’s shoulder while passing by him saying, “Hello there, David.”
As the grinning tapper moved into the crowd, he waved while looking at David. He was dressed in blue jeans and a light yellow button-down shirt. His black oxford shoes were large compare to the rest of his body. The color of his white hat was washed out by his large curls of light ash brown hair popping out all around it.
“Hi,” answered David, even though he could not place this boy. However, his light blue eyes seemed familiar.
It wasn’t until the boy winked and said, “It’s me, Jay” that David remembered the tapper was his swimming partner.
David answered, “Hi there,” as Jay disappeared into the mass of students. He thought to himself, “Why did I not recognize that it was Jay?”
It dawn on him that Jay was dressed differently. More to the point, Jay was dressed. It all seemed out of place. A quote from Mark Twain recollects in David, “Clothes make the man; Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
Jay was clothed in an ordinary way. His attire made him a silhouette-of-a-man. Lacking was his chest puffing out. His jeans made his legs missing their muscular shape. They looked thin like sticks. It just wasn’t Jay that he knew. The naked Jay looked much more handsome and stout. His blue eyes were lost with the yellow in his shirt and the whiteness of his hat. His walk even seemed different. It was as if Jay’s cloths told a different story of the naked Jay. David realized that he never thought of Jay in any other way than just being uncovered.
Clothing is usually flattering and sexy. Jay’s clothes did not do this. His unclad self was much more adorning than his clothed self. It dawned on David how clothing does make a statement about a person. It can be an obscured camouflage. In Jay, David saw a different person by Jay’s clothing, not because he was just in clothes. It seems to portray an image that was different from David’s perception. Clothing not only covers up the body’s physique, but also the person’s substance. Clothes can be fun and decorative, alluring and sexy; and that's just fine. They can also be used to establish social order and status; that's not so fine, but sometimes necessary. A person in an expensive suit could be someone who is homeless. The same could be said the other way around: A person in holey pants and tee-shirt could be making a very wealthy income.
Unfolding in David as he analyzed more: Also missing from Jay was energy, not sexual energy, something like a life force that wasn’t flowing freely. It seemed that his clothing had masked this energy. Maybe it was stress. Maybe they were out of reach from the school’s swimming pool. Did the clothing or water change things? For David, being in the water, whether sitting in a tub or under a shower, relaxed him. The water recharged him.Perhaps, the water in the school’s pool created an energy field around them. Perhaps the pool’s water was baring their souls, shedding off the world views of themselves.
This energy was the difference of naked versus nude. Being naked is undressing with the concept of allowing one’s body to be physically and mentally open. Just being undress doesn’t achieve this. One is not necessarily naked in the sense of being totally open. While the bathroom door is locked, one can be clothed by the bathroom. Being naked at the school’s pool did created vulnerability, and an openness that regenerated. Could they been exchanging their energies?
The following day, it was as if life was continuing this lesson on openness and its energy. For the first time, Coach Sharp was in the small pool playing water polo on the hair team while David and Jay were on the caps’ team. He had stripped off his white tee-shirt, black gym shorts, and white gym shoes at the edge of the pool before he jumped nude into the water. There too was a difference with the coach; His air seemed more relaxed as he played in the water. David saw the coach and the other boys as their true selves. None were defined by their costumes. Just the naked truths remain in the pool. He felt the exchange of energy flowing inside since there was no force shield surrounding anyone.
Other than the mystery dick-grabber, there was never any teasing from the bullies or the jocks. It was as if the rawness made everything and everyone on equal standing. There were no jokes about the smallness of one’s member; only the occasional complement on being too big or too hairy. And with those occasions were perfect set ups for attacks to call someone faggot. But it never happened. It could have been that some were scared, but to David he concluded, it was that energy that made everything evenly balanced.
Seeing the naked-Jay in gym class the following day, his running into the cloth-Jay in the school’s corridor seemed to be a total physically different person. The two could pass as brothers, but in David’s mind they were not the same person.
“I didn't recognize you with your clothes on,” joked David.
“Really?” puzzled Jay, “I recognized you.”
“I’m just joking,” said the lying David, “I knew it was you.”
Jay then smiled and his eyes seemed to get bluer.
This energy was the difference of naked versus nude. Being naked is undressing with the concept of allowing one’s body to be physically and mentally open. Just being undress doesn’t achieve this. One is not necessarily naked in the sense of being totally open. While the bathroom door is locked, one can be clothed by the bathroom. Being naked at the school’s pool did created vulnerability, and an openness that regenerated. Could they been exchanging their energies?
The following day, it was as if life was continuing this lesson on openness and its energy. For the first time, Coach Sharp was in the small pool playing water polo on the hair team while David and Jay were on the caps’ team. He had stripped off his white tee-shirt, black gym shorts, and white gym shoes at the edge of the pool before he jumped nude into the water. There too was a difference with the coach; His air seemed more relaxed as he played in the water. David saw the coach and the other boys as their true selves. None were defined by their costumes. Just the naked truths remain in the pool. He felt the exchange of energy flowing inside since there was no force shield surrounding anyone.
Other than the mystery dick-grabber, there was never any teasing from the bullies or the jocks. It was as if the rawness made everything and everyone on equal standing. There were no jokes about the smallness of one’s member; only the occasional complement on being too big or too hairy. And with those occasions were perfect set ups for attacks to call someone faggot. But it never happened. It could have been that some were scared, but to David he concluded, it was that energy that made everything evenly balanced.
Seeing the naked-Jay in gym class the following day, his running into the cloth-Jay in the school’s corridor seemed to be a total physically different person. The two could pass as brothers, but in David’s mind they were not the same person.
“I didn't recognize you with your clothes on,” joked David.
“Really?” puzzled Jay, “I recognized you.”
“I’m just joking,” said the lying David, “I knew it was you.”
Jay then smiled and his eyes seemed to get bluer.
The swimming session of the gym class ended, and with a school filled with over 4,500 students, David never saw Jay again – naked or clothed. Nonetheless, David remembered Jay’s naked soul and his blue eyes.
This lesson was repeated again; And again, David was reminded of its inordinate ideal lesson. As an adult, he worked at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. His position entailed in meeting with all departments. The surgery department was no exception. Peggy was one of his numerous people he met within the surgery department. Peggy would be in and out of the surgical area with all its operating rooms and sanitary conditions. Like all surgical personnel, Peggy had to wear blue scrubs. This even requires hair and shoe coverings. They were also blue in color. At St. Francis’ surgery department, the personnel looked like little Smurfs from the children’s cartoon.
This lesson was repeated again; And again, David was reminded of its inordinate ideal lesson. As an adult, he worked at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. His position entailed in meeting with all departments. The surgery department was no exception. Peggy was one of his numerous people he met within the surgery department. Peggy would be in and out of the surgical area with all its operating rooms and sanitary conditions. Like all surgical personnel, Peggy had to wear blue scrubs. This even requires hair and shoe coverings. They were also blue in color. At St. Francis’ surgery department, the personnel looked like little Smurfs from the children’s cartoon.
“Hello David,” said a woman with charcoal black hair and bright red lips.
After many years of employment at the hospital, as David was in the hospital’s lobby, and just like ETHS’ hallway, it took David several minutes to recognize that it was Peggy in street clothing. Not only was her Smurf outfit missing, but also her blue hair. He never saw her hair and had no idea the color, length, or its texture. Instead, as she walked pass David, her thick black hairdo that reached passed her shoulders, bounded in time with her steps.
After many years of employment at the hospital, as David was in the hospital’s lobby, and just like ETHS’ hallway, it took David several minutes to recognize that it was Peggy in street clothing. Not only was her Smurf outfit missing, but also her blue hair. He never saw her hair and had no idea the color, length, or its texture. Instead, as she walked pass David, her thick black hairdo that reached passed her shoulders, bounded in time with her steps.
Just under a score of years, David recalled how Jay’s blue eyes were enhanced by his naked innocents. Nude or blue, the message was the same.
For more information, click picture on left to see the 3 part Public Access Video on You Tube titled "Naked Swimming In Schools." It's a brief history of naked swimming in United States schools.
For more information, click picture on left to see the 3 part Public Access Video on You Tube titled "Naked Swimming In Schools." It's a brief history of naked swimming in United States schools.