"This was a great idea you had Tony." Angela said, climbing into the passenger seat of his jeep.
"Yeah, it is pretty genius if I do say so myself." He said smugly climbing into the driver's seat.
They buckled their seatbelts and he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Yeah Billy has been spending way too much time inside."
"Yeah, he's probably watching one of those dumb soap operas right now with your Mother." He rolled his eyes. He glanced over at her. "By the way has anyone ever told you that you look like the actress who played Karen Wolek on One Life To Live?"
She gave him a surprised look. "I thought you said soap operas were dumb."
"Well they are. "
"Then how did you know about Karen Wolek?"
"Well..I…You see…" He stammered. After a minute he broke down. "All right, fine! I watched it when I was on the road with the Cards! Happy?!"
"Very happy!" She laughed. "Oh and thank you so much for telling me I look like a hooker."
"No, she wasn't a hooker. She was a high priced call girl." He informed her.
"I stand corrected."
After a few more minutes they arrived home and went into the house. Sure enough Mona and Billy were glued to the tv watching a soap opera. Tony rolled his eyes while some woman told some guy she was pregnant.
"I don't believe this." He mumbled to himself.
He grabbed the remote and clicked the tv off.
"Ok, enough of this nonsense!"
Mona stood up and glared at him. "It is not nonsense. It is art!" She stuck her tongue at him and walked away.
Tony shook his head and sat down beside Billy. Angela sat down on the other side.
"Billy, Tony and I were talking and we think you have been spending way too much time indoors."
"Angela, is right. You're a kid, you should be out there having fun!"
"I do have fun. Mona and I watch her soap opera and then she tells me a story about Nightmare On Sesame Street.."
"Okay, Okay. I know you have fun with Mona. But you need to get outside and do something else."
"Like what?"
"Well, we have this brochure for you to look at." Angela told him.
"Okay let's see we have pee wee football, soccer, t ball.." Tony read the list.
"I guess those sound okay."
"HMMM what about swimming?" Angela asked.
"Oh,I loved swimming!" Tony said. "I practically lived at the public pool." He started laughing. "I remember this one time when I was nine. This huge woman, I mean she was fat, jumped into the pool and got everyone on deck all wet." He doubled over with laughter tears running down his cheeks. After a few minutes he got himself under control and looked at Angela and Billy who were staring at him.
"Tony! Be careful what you say in front of impressionable ears." Angela pointed to Billy.
"Yeah, that wasn't very nice to talk about that lady that way." Billy said.
"You're right. I'm sorry. But really guys you should have seen.."
"TONY!" they both yelled.
"All right! Now what would you like to do Billy?"
"I don't know." He shrugged.
"If you pick swimming I could teach you." Angela said.
Tony started laughing. "You?!"
"Yes, me. I know I'm not the most athletic and coordinated person but I was a terrific swimmer and I got a trophy too!"
"OOOH! Look Angela not for nothing but I am a professional athlete. I think I am a little more qualified to teach Billy to swim than you are." He smirked at her and stood up.
"Oh really?" She stood up as well and crossed her arms. "Is that a challenge?"
"You bet it is! "
"Okay let's shake on it." She held her hand out. He placed his hand in hers and they shook, sealing the deal.
"Okay, let's go get dinner started." He walked over to the kitchen door with her following behind him.
'I can't believe that you think you could teach Billy better than I can.."
"Yeah, well we'll just see!"
They continued arguing as the door swung behind them.
Jonathan came running down the steps.
"Hey Kid, what's going on?"
"I think I'm in trouble."
Jonathan sat down beside him.
"What's up?"
"Tony and Angela are going to teach me how to swim."
"Oh, I get it. They're being all competitive."
"Yeah."
"You're right Billy. You are in trouble!"
"Oh great!"
Angela chopped the vegetables for the salad while Tony marinated the chicken with his special orange pepper, olive oil, salt, and oregano sauce. He put the pan in the oven and set the timer.
He gave the green beans he had simmering on the stove a quick stir.
"So Ms. Swimming Goddess, how are those vegetables coming?"
"Oh, just fine. In fact they are going swimmingly." She smirked at him.
"Okay, okay. Look I'm going to be a gentleman and let you out of our deal before you embarrass yourself."
"Excuse me? Who said I was going to embarrass myself?"
"Angela, Angela, Angela." He shook his head. I have coached kids before. I think I am a little more qualified than you are.
"That may be but I happen to be an excellent swimmer." She flashed him a smile that was a combination of innocence and vindictiveness. "As much as I excel at miniature golf."
"Oh so it's going to be like that?"
"You better believe it. Get ready to sink Anthony Morton Micelli!"
SATURDAY MORNING
Tony, Angela, and Billy arrived at the Community Center and went to the swimming pool. They removed their t-shirts and shorts revealing their swimsuits and placed them on a deck chair.
"OK. Let's hit it! Let's move it! Let's do it!" Tony clapped his hands and jumped in the water.
"OK Billy boy let's go!"
Billy looked at the water. It was so deep!
"Do I have to?"
"Hey, there is nothing to be afraid of."
"I have an idea. How about we stick our feet in the water for a few minutes?" Angela suggested.
"Yeah. Ok." Billy agreed .
They sat down and dangled their feet in the water.
"Now you see how nice the water feels?"
"It's okay."
Billy, what's the matter?" Tony asked.
Billy looked between the two of them.
"I'm scared."
"Oh honey there is no reason to be scared. Tony and I are right here with you."
"She's right. Now come on!" Tony encouraged him.
Angela slid in and held her arms out.
"Okay, just hop in. I got you."
After a brief hesitation Billy jumped into her arms.
"Hey good job!" Tony told him.
"Okay, what's first?"
"Well first I'm gonna show you the dog paddle" Tony demonstrated it.
"You see how easy that is?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, I guess it looks easy."
"All right. Now it's your turn."
Angela maneuvered him so he was in the correct position.
"Okay, I'll hold on while you do what Tony did."
"Angela, he's not gonna learn like that!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean when I learned to swim my old man just picked me up and threw me in."
"Oh that's sweet. My Father was more sensitive. He went in with me so I wouldn't be scared."
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All I'm saying is that Billy needs to do it on his own."
"And all I'm saying is that this is his first time and he needs to know I'm here for him."
"Oh, you're here for him?!"
She rolled her eyes. "That we're here for him."
'All right. Now Billy just do what I did."
With Angela's help Billy attempted the dog paddle. He was a little awkward at first but started getting the hang of it.
"Now you see! You did it Billy boy!" Tony clapped his hands. He grabbed Billy and gave him a big hug.
"Okay, now I'm going to show you how easy it is to float on your back." Angela told him. She flipped herself around so she was floating on her back.
"You see how easy this is?"
Tony scoffed.
"Is there something you would like to share with the class Mr. Micelli?"
"Yes, there is Ms. Bower. That is not swimming. That's just being lazy."
She stood up. "Oh is that so?"
"Yes, that is so!"
"Well here's an idea. How about if we have a little race?"
Tony started laughing. "You want to race against me?!"
"Yep!"
"Oh come on Angela, there is no way you could beat me!"
"Chicken? Scared?" She mocked him.
"Oh that does it!" He swam over to the edge of the pool and sat Billy down.
"Okay Billy, you sit there while Angela and I have a little race."
Billy sighed. "Okay."
They swam to the end of the pool.
"Okay, here are the rules. We swim to the other end and then back and whoever touches this end first is the winner. Deal?" Tony said.
'It's a deal."
"Okay, get in position. On the count of three. One! Two! Three!"
They both took off determined to beat the other. Tony had to admit she was impressive-although he would never tell her- but she certainly was giving him a run for his money. He managed to touch the poolside a few seconds before she did and then they both turned to swim back. He felt himself getting tired but was determined to beat her.
Angela felt herself getting breathless. But whether it was from the swimming or watching Tony's long, muscular body slice through the water with such grace was anyone's guess. She shook her head of her thoughts and concentrated on beating him.
They touched the poolside at about the same time.
"HA HA! I won!" Tony cheered.
"What?! Are you joking? I won!"
"No, you did not!"
"Yes, I did!"
They continued arguing.
"Okay, hold on! Let's ask Billy. Billy, who won the race?" Tony asked.
Billy shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't paying that much attention."
Tony groaned.
"How about we just call it a tie and get back to what we were doing?" Angela suggested.
"Fine. But I won!" Tony said and swam away from her.
She glared at him and swam after him.
"Okay Billy. The lesson is back on!" Tony picked him up and held him in front of him.
For the next two hours Tony and Angela argued over the correct way to teach Billy how to swim. Angela's was a more hands on approach while Tony said they should just let him do it on his own like his Father had done for him. They arrived home still arguing. Sam and Jonathan were sitting on the couch watching tv.
"Angela, you can't be holding on to him all the time!"
"It's not all the time! It's just until he feels comfortable!"
"Oh please!"
They went upstairs bickering.
"So Billy, how did it go?" Sam asked.
"Like that!" Billy said and collapsed in the chair near the front door. "All they did was argue. I don't think I wanna learn how to swim anymore."
Jonathan and Sam looked at each other. He raised an eyebrow and she smiled and nodded.
"Hey, what if Sam and I teach you?"
"You? It won't be like Tony and Angela will it?"
Sam laughed. "We promise. All we care about is teaching you."
"She's right."
"Okay!" Billy smiled.
"Okay, let's make it official." Sam held her hand out. "Okay guys, put your hands in."
They did and Sam chanted: "One! Two! Three! Swimming!"
"One! Two! Three! Swimming!" The boys chanted.
The next Saturday Sam and Jonathan took Billy to the pool where they proceeded to teach him how to swim. Unlike with Tony and Angela, Billy had a lot of fun. Before he knew it he was jumping in without a care in the world. The three of them arrived home giggling and in good spirits. Tony came out of the kitchen and Angela came down from upstairs.
"So how did it go?" Tony asked.
"It was so much fun! Thanks Sam! Thanks Jonathan!" Billy gave them both a huge hug.
"You're welcome Billy!" Sam ruffled his hair.
"Anytime kid!"
"Hey, I'm hungry. How about a snack?" Sam suggested.
"YAY!" Billy yelled.
Jonathan picked him up and swung him around. They went into the kitchen.
"Tony and Angela gave each other a sheepish look.
"I guess we got a little out of control didn't we?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, we did. My gosh Tony we were supposed to teach that sweet boy how to swim and we turned it into a stupid competition."
"Yeah, I know. And Sam and Jonathan had to jump In and save the day."
She smiled. "It is nice though isn't it? The way the three of them bonded together?"
"Yeah, it is" He held his hand out. "Truce?"
She held hers out. "Truce!"
They shook on it and he pulled her to him and whispered in her ear.
"By the way, you look incredibly sexy when you swim." He pulled back and winked at her and walked away whistling.