RESTING AFTER THE LAPS -
Note: Most of my Manz World stories are fictionalized accounts of how the painting shown here came to be. However, some stories are rooted in truth.
I was nine years old when I began serious swimming at the YMCA in 1956. By serious I mean learning actual swimming techniques, ones taught in a beginner class. I was in that class with about twelve other boys, ages eight to ten. It was there that we were all introduced to naked swimming.
From the early 1900s until into the mid-1960s only men and boys were allowed membership at the YMCA. The girls and women had their own place, the YWCA. And, as bizarre as it may seem now, there was a mandatory rule that all swimmers at the YMCA must be naked when in the pool. So that’s the way not only the boys in the class were but the instructor as well, a young man I found out later was a college student. What I learned was not only how to swim properly, but to enjoy being naked in the pool.
I was never a contender in official swimming competitions, but I loved to meet up with my buddies and have some impromptu contests. Who could swim the fastest? Who could hold their breath the longest? Who could swim the length of the pool better? And, of course, who is up for a skinny dip?
The skinny-dipping was a challenge to several of my friends because they were not used to being naked in the pool. It wasn’t that they didn’t like it. It was that they had never had the experience of it, therefore, they were a bit shy about shucking all their clothing in order to swim, especially with other boys.
In most things, I am not the leader or instigator of a challenge. But on one particular summer day, I took the lead. Two of my buddies – Robert and Sam – and I were on a hike in a wooded area near my home. The day was hot, so after about an hour of hiking, we had worked up a good sweat. At one point, we passed a small pond. And seeing it, I suggested we cool off with a swim. A naked swim. “Come on guys,” I said, “let’s do it. Let’s get naked.”
I noticed my buddies had questioning looks on their faces. As both of them thought about their next move, I took off all my clothes and walked into the shallow waters. The last thing they saw of me was my naked butt as I dove into the deeper part.
Upon surfacing, I saw Robert on the edge of the pond undressing with Sam now looking at him with an expression of wonder. It did not take long for Robert to get naked and join me in the cool waters. As we began to duck and splash and swim, I remember looking at Sam, who was still clothed. After a bit of time passed I yelled, “So, are you afraid of the water? Or are you afraid we will see your teeny weenie?“
That last sentence was one that I hoped would intimidate Sam into taking off his clothes to prove he did not have a little penis. Actually, I’d seen Sam in the showers at the school locker room and I knew that, for being 12 years old. He did not have anything to be ashamed of in the genital department.
It did not take long before Sam took up my challenge. Within a short time, he was totally naked, swimming out to join the two of us. That afternoon, Sam and Robert got to experience what nude swimming was all about: freedom! And they loved it.
Since then, not only Sam and Robert and several others of my buddies would skinny dip with me. In fact, over the years, I’ve had several friends who had swimming pools on their property, some of them with fences around them so that they, too, could enjoy a swim sans bathing suit. More recently, I’ve been friends with a guy named Mike. I met him at a party thrown by a neighbor. Mike and I hit it off almost immediately. As we got to know more about each other, Mike found out that I enjoyed swimming. At that point, he mention that he had a pool. “Yep,” he said, “I’m in that pool as much as I can be. Once, sometimes twice a day, if I can. It’s great exercise.”
Taking our friendship to another level, he eventually invited me to his place for a swim. Since it was my first time there, I took a swim suit along and used it. It was as we were swimming in the deep end of the pool that the subject of skinny dipping came up. Mike, finding out that I enjoyed swimming that way, laughed, then dove under the water and emerged only after slipping off his bathing suit. He actually held it up in the air then flung it to the side with it landing on the concrete patio next to the pool.
With his smile continuing, Mike said, “Well, I guess that tells you what I like.” He then invited me to do the same, which I instantly did. Not just that day, but on a number of visits, I was happy to enjoy some naked swimming time with my new friend.
Mike is quite athletic in his swimming. It was one evening when visiting Mike that I saw him swim a number of laps. Back and forth, he swam with speed and expertise in his movement. Finally, after almost fifteen minutes of intense swimming, Mike stopped and rested. That scene, with Mike holding on to the pool’s edge, was the inspiration for the painting I’ve included in this posting.
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