Previously on "The Swimming Badge"...
After the car arrived at Frida's house, she and Hilda bid farewell.
"Are you coming to my next appointment Monday?"
"Of course." Hilda nodded. "You were amazing today, buddy! Keep up the great work."
"Thanks, pal." Frida smiled.
"Heh, any time!" Hilda pulled Frida in for a goodbye hug. After a few seconds, they let go and Hilda headed for home.
"See you later, bud!" Hilda waved goodbye.
"Later!" Frida waved back at Hilda until she was out of her view.
Frida sighed happily and headed inside.
Frida did an excellent job at her first therapy session with Dr. Lambert, partially because Hilda, being the amazing friend she is, came along with her and gave her extra support.
It was now Monday, which meant that it was time to see the doctor again.
At the end of her first appointment, Dr. Lambert informed Frida and Hilda that they would be going to the local public pool to stand and practice their meditation methods in the pool.
Frida was still a little afraid, but with the help of Hilda, David and the doctor, she was getting better and better every day.
The Sparrow Scouts' Swimming Competition to earn the Swimming Badge was a week-and-a-half away, which meant Frida would have at least two more opportunities to conquer her fear of swimming with Hilda and Dr. Lambert.
Knowing that they would be practicing their techniques at the swimming pool, Frida and Hilda were sure to bring their swimwear, which they stored in their backpacks.
Like last week, Hilda and Frida hung around at the school playground until it was time for Frida's appointment at 4:00, when her parents picked Hilda and her up.
"So Frida, what are you and the doctor going to do today?" asked Frida's dad.
"He's going to take Hilda and I to the swimming centre, where we'll meditate in the pool!"
"Ooh, sounds like fun! Are you sure you're ready?" asked Frida's mum.
"I'm sure. We're not going to be swimming in it, just doing our meditating. Dr. Lambert calls it, 'being one with the water'." Frida clarified.
"Oh. That's...interesting." Frida's mum was a little puzzled.
"Don't worry, Frida's parents." Hilda assured with a smile as she put her arm around Frida's neck. "I'll take good care of your daughter. And so will Dr. Lambert."
"Thanks, Hilda. You're such a great friend to Frida." Said Frida's mum.
"The friend she's always longed for." Frida's dad chimed in.
"I'm just doing what I do best." Hilda said. "Being friendly and helpful to all. Right, Frida?"
"Right!" Frida smiled and held out her hand for Hilda to hold, to which the blue-haired eleven-year-old happily obliged.
Hilda and Frida held hands until the car arrived at Trolberg Therapy Centre, and Frida's parents dropped her and Hilda off.
"Have fun in therapy, Frida! We'll see you in an hour." Frida's mum kissed her daughter on the forehead as she exited the car.
"See you in an hour! Love you!" Frida waved as she and Hilda approached Trolberg Therapy Centre's entrance.
"We love you too, dear!" Frida's dad waved.
Before going to Dr. Lambert's office, Frida checked in with the receptionist.
"Appointment for Frida?"
"Yep! Have a seat in the waiting room." The receptionist said after checking the appointment list.
Hilda and Frida took the same seats they did last time and waited for Dr. Lambert to call for them.
"You're definitely sure you're ready to do this?" Hilda asked.
"Absolutely." Frida nodded. "We're not actually swimming, you know."
"I know. I'm just looking out for you, buddy." Hilda said.
"If I was able to meditate in a pond, then I'll be able to do it in a pool." Frida said. "In fact, I'm almost not afraid to try swimming again."
"Really?" Asked Hilda excitedly.
"Mhmm! I'm now very confident that I'll earn the swimming badge, and I owe it all to you and Dr. Lambert." Frida smiled.
"That's great news, Frida!" Hilda pulled Frida into a hug. The two eleven-year-olds happily embraced.
"Besides, the competition's a week and a half away. I don't really have much of a choice at this point." Frida pointed out.
"You know Frida, it's okay if you decide not to follow through with this. It's never too late to change your mind. I won't think any less of you if you don't earn the Swimming Badge." Hilda assured.
"But I do want to follow through with it." Frida said confidently. "I'd be more concerned about you earning the badge, since if you do, it'll be your first badge."
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about that." Hilda rubbed her shoulder. "But, David and I have already practiced all of the swimming moves and mastered all of them, so I don't think it'll be an issue." She smiled.
"Good to hear!" Frida grinned. "I'm sure we're all going to get that badge."
"Here's hoping!"
Just then, the door to Dr. Lambert's office opened.
"Dr. Lambert!"
"Hello, Frida and Hilda. Are you ready to go to the pool?"
"Yep! We've got our swimsuits in our backpacks." Frida shook her backpack as she said this.
"Wait...where's your swimsuit?" Hilda asked Dr. Lambert.
"I don't mind my clothes getting a little wet. I can always throw them in the laundry later." Said the doctor.
"Suit yourself." Hilda shrugged.
"So where is the pool? Do we have to drive there?"
"Actually, it's just around the block." Dr. Lambert said. "We can hoof it."
"How convenient!" Hilda chuckled. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
As Hilda, Frida, and Dr. Lambert walked around the block to their destination, the doctor decided to check in on Frida.
"Did you feel better after last week's meditation?"
"Much better." Frida nodded. "I can say with confidence that I think I'll be able to earn the Swimming Badge."
"That's wonderful." Dr. Lambert smiled. "Hopefully you'll feel even better after today."
"I'm sure I will! There's no way to go but up at this rate."
"You can do this, Frida! We believe in you." Hilda encouraged.
"Thanks, Hilda." Frida chuckled.
"Alright, we're here!" Dr. Lambert announced as they turned the corner to the Trolberg Public Pool.
"Frida, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Hilda asked one last time. "We can always come next time if you want to turn back."
"I'm sure, Hilda." Frida rolled her eyes lightheartedly.
Dr. Lambert opened the door for the two girls. "Ladies first."
Hilda and Frida couldn't help but chuckle and went inside, with the doctor following suit.
After entering the building, Hilda and Frida made their way to the changing room and Dr. Lambert waited outside.
A few minutes later, Hilda and Frida came out.
"Are we all ready?" The doctor checked.
"Mhmm!" Hilda nodded.
"Yep!" Frida gave a thumbs up.
"Splendid. Let's not waste another moment!" Dr. Lambert said and approached the pool area with the two girls following closely behind.
Once they reached the pool, they noticed that there were not a lot of people there. Perhaps five or six other people, all but two of them adults. That helped Frida a lot.
"Okay, Frida. Are you ready?" The doctor asked.
"As ready as I've ever been." Frida said with a smile.
The doctor took Frida's left hand, and Hilda took her right.
Slowly, they entered the pool. Frida sighed happily as she felt the water. The ambience of the pool combined with the acknowledgement that everything would be okay was a wonderful feeling, the best she had felt in a while.
"Take in your surroundings…be one with the water…" The doctor instructed again.
"Surroundings...one with the water…" Frida recited.
Soon enough, Frida, Hilda and the doctor were all humming meditatively with their eyes closed. Some of the swimmers looked on with confusion, though no one really thought to say anything.
As Frida meditated, she daydreamed of mastering all six moves and earning the Swimming Badge at the competition the following week. She imagined the entire Sparrow Scout flock cheering wildly, as she and Hilda embraced, both crying tears of joy. And with that, any remnants of doubt that she should follow through with this evaporated.
"Alright." Dr. Lambert said after several minutes. "How are you feeling?"
"Fantastic!" Frida grinned. "I think I might just be ready to practice the swimming moves next week!"
"Really?" Hilda smiled.
"Yep!" Frida said. "I'm quite sure I can do it by this point!"
"That's awesome!" Hilda squeed.
"You are making excellent progress, Frida." Dr. Lambert smiled. "Next week, how about we go to the beach to practice?"
Shock flashed across Frida's face for a brief second as she recalled what happened at the beach two weeks prior.
"Don't worry, Frida...we won't let anything happen to you." Hilda rubbed Frida's hand reassuringly.
"...Let's do it!" Frida said.
"Great! So we'll meet again next Monday and go to the beach." The doctor said.
"Same time?" Frida asked as they left the pool.
"I believe so. You did a fantastic job today, Frida."
"You really did!" Hilda said.
"Thanks…" Frida smiled warmly. "I don't know where I'd be without your help."
"It's the least we could do for you, Frida!" Hilda smiled. "Now, let's change."
After Hilda and Frida changed back into their school uniforms, Dr. Lambert walked them back to the office.
"Here, take this." Dr. Lambert wrote down what he and the girls did today and handed it to Frida.
"Thanks! Next Monday at 4, right?"
"Correct." The doctor nodded. "At 4 PM next Monday, we'll go to the beach and practice for your badge."
"Thanks, Dr. Lambert!" Frida smiled. "I look forward to it!"
"See you next Monday, you two!" He waved as Hilda and Frida headed for the car.
Once the car got home, Frida's parents headed inside while Frida stayed outside with Hilda to have a word with her.
"Hilda...can I talk to you for a second please?"
"Of course." Hilda said. "What is it, bud?"
"Well..." Frida pressed her index fingers together. "You know how I once said that my parents expect me to be perfect?"
"Yes?" Hilda tilted her head.
"They're really looking forward to me earning the badge, and they get very disappointed in me when I don't live up to their expectations." Frida said. "There's still a small part of me that worries I won't be able to do it, and then face the repercussions from my parents." Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "And I really don't want to fail my parents, because when I do, they get so upset!"
"Frida..." Hilda hugged her friend. "Shhh, it's okay. Your parents can't expect you to be perfect all the time. No one is. But I know you can do this. You've come such a long way in the past two weeks. I believe in you, Frida. And I know for a fact that you're strong enough to get through this."
Frida wiped the tears from her eyes. "You're sure?"
"100%." Hilda nodded. "Don't worry, okay? You've got this, Frida. I know you do."
"Okay…" Frida tried to perk up.
Hilda hugged Frida again and patted her back. "Just go inside and relax, okay? You deserve it. Next Monday, we'll go to the beach and help you master the swimming positions. I'll bring the chart so you know which moves to master."
"Thanks, Hilda...I don't know where I'd be without you." Frida hugged back.
"Of course, Frida." The blue-haired eleven-year-old said. "You're my best friend, and I love you and want what's best for you. Me, David and Dr. Lambert will be by your side through thick and thin."
"I love you too, Hilda." Frida was starting to feel a little better. "One more thing?"
"Mhmm?"
"I don't think I'll stop seeing Dr. Lambert after next week." Frida said. "You see, I think I should keep seeing him to talk out my issues with my parents and how they want me to be this perfect, goody two-shoes Mary Sue. Hopefully, he can help repair my relationship with them."
"That's a wonderful idea, Frida." Hilda smiled. "And don't worry. I'll keep coming to your appointments with you. Maybe I can help them see the way too."
"Y-you'd really be willing to do that?" Frida asked.
"Of course I would!" Hilda said. "And David can come along too, if you'd like."
"I would love that!" Frida said. "Thank you so much, Hilda!"
"Heh, no problem, buddy. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"See you, Hilda. Thanks for everything."
"No problem, Frida. Just go inside and take it easy."
"I will! Bye!" Frida waved as Hilda headed off.
"Bye!"
Frida watched Hilda fondly for a few moments before going inside. She took Hilda's advice and relaxed the rest of the day. In one week, she would find out for sure whether or not she could actually pull this off.
Well, that was Chapter 10. I hope that you enjoyed reading, and that it was worth waiting six (!) months for. See you all in the next chapter, which will definitely not take as long to come out.
It looks like things are wrapping up quicker than I expected. So next time, we shall see if Frida can conquer her fears once and for all and earn that badge. We seem to be on the home stretch, folks. Until next time.