Haircuts and Swimming
"Daddy! Daddy! Teach me how to swim! Please?" A five year old Ralph asked his father.
"Ralph you know that if you don't cut you hair today your mother will get angry at us. What do you think if we go first to the barber's and then we go to the swimming pool?" answered Ralph's father. "Is it okay?"
"Yes daddy! Let's go now!" said an excited Ralph.
"Come on my little soldier."
Father and son left their well looking house and walked calmly to the barber's. As they went there many people bowed or took of their hats at the pair in respect of Ralph's father, who was a commander in the Navy. As they approached the barber's an old man greeted them respectfully. His unruly white hair bounced up and down as the man bowed to them multiple times.
"Greetings sir. I am very pleased of you visiting my humble and simple shop." said the old man, "Sorry for my manners. Name's Duncan, Duncan Dudley. Name's same as my shop, 'Duncan's Barbers'."
"Thank you Mr. Duncan. I would like for my son to have a haircut."
"Follow me sirs."
As Ralph was getting a haircut by the owner of the store, his father sat down in one of the many chairs and got a newspaper from a nearby table.
"So little man, how do you want your haircut done?" questioned the old man.
"I want it like daddy!" exclaimed Ralph.
"Let me see." chuckled the old man.
Twenty minutes later Ralph's hair was an exact replica of his father's hair style. An eager Ralph ran up to his daddy and showed him his new haircut.
"Look, look!" said Ralph, "Look at my hair! Isn't it pretty?"
"Look at my little soldier, getting excited for his hair being cut."chuckled Ralph's daddy.
A relentless Ralph pushed his father out of the barbers.
"Slow down my little soldier, the swimming pool isn't going anywhere." said an amused father. "And if you tire yourself you won't be able to swim at all."
"But I want to learn how to swim now!" an angry Ralph exclaimed.
"Ralph! No roaring in the streets. We won't go to the swimming pool unless you apologize." said scornfully Ralph's dad.
"Sorry daddy." said Ralph, "I won't do it again. I promise."
"Good boy." said the dad, "Come on, let's go to the swimming pool."
When they arrived at the swimming pool they changed and entered the pool.
"Can you float son?" asked the father
"I don't know." answered Ralph
"Okay. First, try to lie down in the water." instructed the dad. "Then, try to relax your arms and legs. Good!"
When the lesson finished Ralph was able to float perfectly in the water and also doggy paddle.
"In the next lesson I will teach you how to swim faster. Is it okay?" questioned Ralph's dad.
"It's perfect! I'll tell my friends that I know how to swim. I'm sure that they don't know how to!" said a cheerful Ralph.
"I'm sure that your friends would want me to teach them." smiled Ralph's dad, "Come on, let's go home or mummy will get angry at me from taking so long."