The Adventures of Max and Leo: Giving Max support
The swimming team gathered together in the locker room after winning a swimming competition. The coach came in to talk to the team.
"This has been the most exciting competition I have ever seen so far this season. The evidence has shown in the competitions that you all have been working diligently and practicing fervently. In fact, I may have to check with the officials, but Max, you have set a couple of new swimming records. I am really proud of you for giving me all you got out there in the pool. In fact, I'm proud of this whole team. I'll have to admit, I was really nervous about starting this new swimming team. I didn't know how this would turn out. But, so far, you have far exceeded my expectations and I am thrilled over the effort and perseverance you all have been giving me. I hope you all will continue to make me thrilled and proud."
The team gave one last one, two, three chant and the coach left the team alone to change back into their regular clothes . . .
Pete met up with Leo in the hallway after changing back into his regular clothes.
"Hey, there, Pete," Leo said. "You did great out there."
"Thanks, Leo," Pete said. "So far, it's been fun being a part of a new swimming team. I have actually thought about seeing if I could paint a picture of the whole swimming team."
"That would be really cool," Leo said. "I'm sure the coach would love that."
The coach, overhearing the conversation, said, "I do! Let me know when you painted the picture."
"Alright, I will," Pete said.
"Where's Max?" Leo asked.
"I don't know, I never saw him come out," Pete said. "I guess he's still in the locker room. Hey, Jackson . . ."
Jackson, not too far from where Pete and Leo were at, said, "Yeah, Pete?"
"Is Max still in the locker room?" Pete asked.
"Yeah . . . and he looks devastated," Jackson said. "I wonder why."
"We'll go in and talk to him," Pete said. "That was both my art classmate and my swimming teammate."
"I'm sure he'd want the swimming team in art, too," Leo said.
"Yeah, I do," Jackson said. "I'm surprised you didn't come up with the idea earlier."
"I'll see what I can do," Pete said. "In the meantime, let's go talk to Max."
The coach, still nearby, said, "Oh and when you do, tell him that he set two new swimming records, one was the record of swimming from one end of the pool to the other and one was the record of swimming from one end of the pool to the other and back."
"Wow, I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that," Pete said. "Thanks, coach."
Pete and Leo went back in the locker room, where Max was sitting on a bench, crying. Pete and Leo then went to where Max was and sat on opposite sides of him.
"Hey, Max," Leo said. "I guess you're upset because your dad didn't come to the competition."
"I've invited him to every basketball game and every swimming competition, but he won't come," Max said, crying.
"I'm sorry, Max," Pete said, putting his arm around Max. "I've looked for him, too."
"I've looked for him as well," Leo said, putting his arm around Max as well. "In fact, during basketball season, some of your teammates looked for him, too. I don't know if any of them have told you that, but they did."
"Marv told me," Max said, crying. "I just feel like my dad doesn't care about what I do."
"I know . . ." Leo said. "I've had to hear the news myself from your mom or from the answering machine whenever we would be at your house. Marv and I knew sooner or later, you would be upset about this again."
"He still won't even pick up or call me back when I try to call him," Max said, crying.
"I hate that he won't do anything for you," Pete said. "I take it you feel rejected and unwanted."
"I do," Max said, crying. "It's like I've done so much and he doesn't care."
"I know, I do wish he could come and see you in action," Leo said. "You have accomplished so much between basketball and swimming and being kind to other people. I hope you realize how much your mom, I, Ms. Harris and various people in this school love and appreciate you, Max. I think what you need right now is to be surrounded by people who really care about you."
"It's beginning to sound like you have an idea, Leo," Pete said.
"Yeah, first off, Max, do you have your Super Swimmer swimming suit?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, I still wear it under my team swimming suit for good luck," Max said, wiping his eyes.
"Well, so far, you've been having it," Pete said. "You broke two new records."
"Wow, that is awesome," Max said. "So, did you want me to just go home as my superhero?"
"Yeah," Leo said. "You can come home with me and continue your swimming in my pool. Pete, would you like to come home with me? We can celebrate since this team crushed the other teams in the competition."
"We sure can," Pete said. "You've got some good snacks and sodas on the ready, do you?"
"I do," Leo said. "I know how much you love grapes so I still have some in the refrigerator for you."
"Awesome," Pete said. "Well, Max, let's get you home."
"Alright," Max said.
Max got up and took his team swimming suit off, unveiling his Super Swimmer swimming suit. He put his team suit in his locker and followed Leo and Pete out of the locker room . . .
Max and Pete came out of Leo's backyard, Pete eating a bag of grapes in the process.
"Well, time for you to wind down," Pete said.
"Yeah, it sure is," Max said. "I'm glad I'm gonna get some more pool time in. It's a great way to get my mind off of things."
"Yeah, I know you need to do that," Pete said. "I'll be sitting on the bench if you need me."
"Okay, great," Max said.
Pete sat down on the bench, still enjoying the grapes and watched as Max ran to the pool and jumped in, yelling, "Cannonball!" Max emerged from the water and said, "You like that, don't you, Pete?"
"Never gets old," Pete said.
Pete watched Max swim in the pool for a little bit. While Pete was watching Max swim, the girl Max saved at the beach came out the backyard.
"Hey, guys," the girl said.
Max looked and saw the girl and said, "Hey, what brings you here?"
"Leo said you could really use a boost," the girl said. "He also said you broke some records."
"I did . . . I needed the boost because I had a moment over my dad not coming to the competition," Max said.
"He bailed again?" the girl asked.
"Yeah, he did," Max said. "Wanna sit down on one of the benches or have your feet in the water or what do you want?"
"Does the water feel good?" the girl asked.
"It feels wonderful," Max said.
"I'll take care of her," Pete said, laying the bag of grapes aside. "You keep doing your thing, Max."
"Alright," Max said.
Pete went to where the girl was, untied her shoes and took her shoes and socks off and laid them aside. He also rolled her pant legs up before letting the girl sit down and dip her feet in the pool water.
"Wow, this water does feel wonderful," the girl said.
The girl and Pete continued to watch Max swim until Marv came out the backyard.
"Hey, guys," Marv said. "I see that pretty girl is back."
"Aw, you still think I'm pretty?" the girl asked.
"I sure do," Marv said. "Max is blessed to have met you."
"Well, come on and sit with me," the girl said.
"Good thing I came here barefoot even though the sidewalk is still kind of warm," Marv said.
Marv went to the edge of the pool, sat down next to the girl and placed his feet in the pool water.
"Wow, feels good after walking on that sidewalk," Marv said.
As Max continued to swim and Marv, the girl and Pete watched Max in action, more people came in, some from Max's old basketball team, some from the swimming team and some that were Leo and Max's friends. Some gathered around the pool with their feet in the water and some sat on benches. Oh, and Pete finished the bag of grapes.
Max continued to showcase his swimming skills and tricks in front of the people that came to watch. When Max saw that Alicia had joined the fold, he swam to where Alicia was.
"It's good to see you again," Max said.
"It's good to see you, too, Max," Alicia said. "Leo told me what was going on. While I'm happy you've broken records, I'm sad your dad doesn't want to come and join the celebration."
"Yeah, me, too," Max said. "But, your support helps a lot. Thanks."
"Of course, Max," Alicia said.
"While you're here, I want to ask you something while I'm thinking about it," Max said.
"Sure, what is it?" Alicia said.
"You know, the middle school dance is coming up in a few weeks . . . I was wondering . . . if you could be my date to the dance," Max said.
"Of course, I'd love to dance with you, Max," Alicia said excitingly. "I was talking to Leo and I told him I was hoping you'd be the one to ask me. Thank you so much, Max! You made one of my wishes come true!"
"You're welcome," Max said. "I look forward to us dominating the dance floor."
"Me, too," Alicia said.
Max then continued to showcase his swimming talents. He continued to showcase his skills and tricks for another hour or so and then he looked out, saw the support that was given to him and felt like crying.
"You okay, Max?" Marv asked.
"Yeah . . . I'm just feeling grateful at the moment," Max said. "You guys all came out here for me?"
"Yeah, we did," Jackson said. "Once your best friend explained to me what was going on, I came over here to see you. It seems like you could be an Olympic swimmer."
"You sure can," Pete said. "That's something you should at least consider."
"You think I could do it?" Max asked.
"I know you can," Marv said. "It seems like there's no end to your talents."
"I'm so happy you all care about me and believe in me," Max said. "This makes me feel so special."
"It's because you are special, Max," Leo said. "Your dad may not be here for you, but look at all of these people that are here for you."
"I see . . ." Max said, starting to cry. "Thank you guys so much."
"Of course, Max," the girl said. "We love you."
"Well . . . I love you all as well," Max said, crying.
"Aw, come here, Max," Marv said.
Max swam to the edge of the pool where Marv was, lifted himself up to the edge where he could sit down and he and Marv then shared a hug. Some of the people went to where Max was and shared a hug with Max as well. While they did, Leo went to get the float, dragged it to the pool, sat it down on the pool water and held it in place.
"I take it you want this now," Leo said after Max gave his hugs.
Max looked and saw the float and said, "I sure do."
Max planted his feet on dry ground, stood up, went to where the float was and got on it to lay down so that Leo could set the float free to roam on the pool water.
"Thanks, Leo," Max said.
"Sure thing, Max," Leo said.
"I guess we better leave Max alone to rest," Marv said.
"Yeah, but I tell you guys what, since you guys came to support Max, I've got some snacks and sodas inside so we can party while Max rests," Leo said.
The crowd that came to support Max followed Leo inside for the party while Max rests on the float, glad and grateful for the crowd that came to support him.