The Swim Challenge Chapter 1

"You know dogs and even cats can learn how to swim," Mac started, hoping Rashmi would take inspiration from the animals she helped care for at the animal shelter. "If they can do it, you should know that you certainly can learn."

"Oh thank you," Rashmi replied, clearly not happy that she wasn't as capable as a dog. "I'm so glad to know it's not just my own species that is better at this than I am."

"Well, clinging to the side like that is not going to get you any further," Mac replied. "You asked me to help you, remember. This isn't exactly fun for me."

"I'm sorry; I just don't know what comes over me. I don't think I can do this," Rashmi said.

"Look, why do you want to? What is the reason you decided now to learn how to swim?" Mac hung on the pool ledge too, gently splashing water up into the drain with her hand. Mac knew Rashmi was good at many things: soccer, mathematics, science, and anything to do with insects. Mac also knew that Rashmi hated being wrong, hated looking uncertain, and above all, hated losing any kind of contest.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to laugh?"

"Of course, no laughing. I promise."

"I have this recurring dream that I'm stuck on a raft. I've had it since I was little. I know it's just a dream, but I can see and feel the waves. And I'm just a few yards from the shore, but too terrified to reach it. I just bob there on my raft, reaching out for something safe. Never reaching it. "

"I'm no expert," Mac said softly, "but I'm thinking that dream is about a lot more than just swimming."

"I know," said Rashmi, "but I think if I can learn to swim, I can learn to be confident. And not have this fear and need for safety." Rashmi paused and pushed her wet hair behind her ear. It clumped up, looking like a bird's nest. "I could do just about anything if I could learn to do this."

Mac felt as if she had taken on much more than just teaching someone to swim. Could she do all that Rashmi needed her to?

Chapter 2

Mac let the pressure of Rashmi's nightmare wash over her. Mac wasn't sure if she could actually break through Rashmi's fears, but she knew she had to try.

"Maybe if you think about what all you have to gain by learning to swim, that will help. You want to try again?"

"Okay," said Rashmi, still uncertain.

"Do you trust me?" Mac asked.

"Of course, at least most of the time."

"Well, then give me your hand and let go of the ledge. I will hold on for both of us," Mac said.

Mac watched the fear in Rashmi's face. She could see the battle in her eyes. It was as if two people were fighting a war: one trying to hold on to what she knew as safe; the other wanting to reach across some unknown peril to a lasting, more real, kind of safe. Rashmi reached her hand out and clamped down on Mac's arm. Mac thought she might have to yell from the painful squeeze, but Rashmi relaxed her grip just before letting go of the side.

"Great," said Mac, "now move your other hand in the water like this." Mac made a back and forth motion with her palm down in the water, as if she were waving at the bottom. "Imagine you are queen waving at your subjects who happen to be fish."

Laughing, Rashmi began waving to her watery subjects. She quickly found her head a bit higher above the water than before.

"You see," said Mac, "when we add the other hand, you'll be treading water. But before we do that, let's add your feet too. Do you think you can wave with your toes and feet?"

Rashmi wiggled her feet, forgetting about her hand and sunk a little. Panicked, she grasped Mac with both hands.

"Nope," said Mac, "don't wiggle those feet, wave them. First one and then the other, like you are pedaling a bicycle only with your toes pointed down. They both watched Rashmi move her feet back and forth.

"That's it; now add your free hand." Mac felt Rashmi let go of her arm, and begin waving her hand. Again, Rashmi's head cleared the water and lifted higher.

"Oh my goodness," Rashmi said. "I'm not sinking. I'm kind of floating."

"I know, and in a minute you'll be doing it all by yourself. Then you'll learn to float and then kick and then before you know it, you'll be my best competition on the swim team."

Rashmi laughed, "Oh you don't want to challenge me. I may swim like a walrus walks on land, but I have the dedication of a human who hates losing."

Mac knew then they had reached the beginning of the end of Rashmi's nightmares.

Review chapters 1 and 2 of The Swim Challenge to answer the question below:

Which line of dialogue most clearly develops Rashmi's character? (1 point)