Situation: Two lifeguards are in the pool office, trying to fill out pool fouling forms after a scene with the Parent and Tot class. One young lifeguard is really upset because a parent yelled at her with harsh, hurtful words.

[Parent: (knocks on the office door) Excuse me. (walks in and shuts door. Parent is really tough and still talks to lifeguard in a harsh, degrading, "I'm better than you" type of voice) The tone of voice I used before was not right. I'm sorry for my tone and forget what I said about you. However, I am still upset about this event. ]

Lifeguard: Thank you for your apology. But, I cannot forget the whole event. I can't forget what you said and I can't forget how I feel. I was following the rules - the rules set out by my supervisor. All the staff have been informed that in the event of a pool fouling - which includes a little child throwing up a small amount - that the pool be cleared and maintenance has to be called. I know that little kids throw up all the time, but I did not want to be swimming in a fouled pool and I'm sure neither did the parents of the other children. My first concern is for the safety of the patrons, and that includes having the pool be sanitary. If you still have a problem with this then go see my supervisor.

[Parent: You are making too big of a deal out of this. It was just a little green, nothing big. I want my money back and I am going to another pool.]

Lifeguard: Mary's office is across from the membership desk. She will be happy to help you. (Parent walks out and lifeguard shuts the door then turns to talk to her fellow lifeguard who is working at the desk) Forget? Forget? How can I forget? Who the hell does she think she is? You know, ten minutes ago she made me feel as small as a bug. She probably doesn't even mean what she just said. Did you hear the way she stated her apology? Yeah, she was really sincere.

All I was doing was trying to clear the pool and she explodes! Well I'm sorry if you want to swim in a bunch of puke lady, but I certainly don't. How disgusting! And then, how can I forget about what she said to me. She might as well punched me right in the stomach, because that is how I feel right now. "This is ridiculous! You're a useless teacher - most of the kids hate you. I'm going to Southside because I know that they don't hire people like you. I don't even know why you got hired." All I am trying to do is teach the class. I think I could have handled being called a bad instructor. Everyone says that I'm not, but some people might not like my ways of teaching, which is fine. But, to say that the kids hated me and to question why I was hired? I feel like someone just stepped on me and crushed me. She has no idea how hard it is to plan for that class. She has no idea what it is like to teach in the environment where all you hear is crying and screaming and you see green stuff coming out of kid's noses and the parents are constantly trying to push them beyond their limits where the children refuse to go. The program states that the child is supposed to be learning at their own rate. We all can't be Olympic swimmers by the age of four. Holding them under is not a good thing to do if they do not like it……

Anyway, one day I might have one little kid with their parent and the next day I could have up to forty people. How does she expect me to teach them if they don't listen! I am positive that the children would listen to me if I had a chance to actually talk to them without their parents butting in, but all of those parents are impossible to teach because they know it all! Half the time she swims off and doesn't even let little Carmen participate in the circle of songs. Ugh! That bitch! How can one person get under my skin like this? I wish I was tougher. I wish I had the courage to tell that lady to shove it. I wish….I wish….I wish I didn't have to deal with this. All I was trying to do was teach my class - which Mary thinks is fantastic - and she makes this big, huge scene about my teaching ethics. Well, that lady has no ethics. That lady showed today her true colours.

(pause)

But, I can't forget about it. Why can't I just shrug things like this off? This is going to eat away at me. I am already starting to question myself and my abilities. All the other mothers and fathers didn't have any complaints, Mary thinks I am doing a great job and I have the support of the staff. So what's the problem? All it takes is that one person. That one, ignorant person and I'm a basket case. I know myself too well - I am going to replay it over and over and over and I am going to be a wreck come Friday when I have to teach that class again. Great. I wonder if anyone will show up after this.

Curtain

C. Clarke
July 1998

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