The Butterfly Lie

There was an element of prestige to be named to the first swim team. The indoor swimming pool was one of the impressive features of Yilder Academy.

Crunchy leaves and the damp smell of fall went hand in hand with winter swim-team tryouts. The humid warm air from the swimming pool wafted towards the door when you entered the large brick building. Team pictures from years past lined the walkway of the upper deck perimeter of the two-story tower. Passersby could look at the old boys’ photos from the early 1900's mounted on the wall beginning in black and white and then sometime around the 50’s, colored photos appeared on the wall of swimming history. In the 70’s women were also integrated into the mix of faces that were a part of the first team. Yilder was an old Academy, a boarding school, and the old brick buildings boasted wealth much like the students that attended.

The high school pool had Olympic specs. The upper deck was a long hallway that boarded the perimeter of the pool viewing area, where students would look down and cheer on the swimmers below. It was this aerial view that really added to all of the hype. The first swim team was a top-class representation of Yilder. The popular boys and pretty girls were all a part of the team that travelled across North America to swim-meets. Wearing sleek black team tracksuits, First Swimming had their own tour bus that featured the school mascot on the side of it - a huge orange owl with an enormous wingspan and angry eyes.

Tryouts began at the end of October and lasted 1 week. For some students those mere 7 days would be the only chance they would get during the school year. The only time they could go into humid change rooms that were beside the pool, and the only time they could use the private swimmer’s gym. For some students those 7 days would be all they would get, because when the short list was posted on the cork bulletin board and cuts were made, a line would be drawn between those who made it into the pool and those who would watch from the sidelines.

The swim coach added to the intensity of it all. Mr. Harrigan was from the English department. He loved to win, and he loved to shout at swimmers in his own signature way. He would make constant references to great works of literature while critiquing back strokes, he would nickname students after characters from Shakespeare. To be sporting a nickname like Puck while also on the team was the highest honor. Mr Harrigan’s approach actually added even more interest to the swim team. So much so that top literary students found themselves at tryouts just to be a part of it.

Anisha was one of those people. She loved English class and wanted more time with her favorite teacher. Sports at Yilder were mandatory, and while Anisha was nowhere near athletic, she thought she would give it a try at least for 7 days.

Aaron was a shoe-in to make the First team. He would probably make captain this year as well. He had so much hype around him. Tall and muscular, his broad shoulders made him a natural . Coach called Aaron Tyto. Coach fondly named him that after the most aggressive breed of barn owl. He said that Aaron looked like he had the aggressive wingspan of the killer bird, especially when he competed in his best stroke -the butterfly. To compare Aaron to a dainty insect that could be easily killed with the swat of a hand was a sheer insult, according to coach. Coach Harrigan loved to win, so he just loved Aaron and the accolades that he brought to Yilder.

The 7-day tryouts came and went. The moment arrived where Coach came out of his office to post the shortened list. A group of students followed scanning what looked like a tiny piece of paper. Cheers and sad faces followed. Tyto was of course at the top of the list, Anisha waited until the group had dispersed and scanned for her name. “Darn, well I’m no swimmer anyways.” Disappointed she slumped away.

“Anisha?” Coach called her name as she passed by the open door to his office.

“ Yes Sir?”

“ You know we could use some help here and there around the pool, kind of like a team manager if you are interested.”

“ Oh of course, that would be great!”

“ I’ll email you when we need you.”

The short interaction slightly took away the pang of disappointment . Anisha was kind of invited to be a part of something. She had been cut from team but was still a part of the squad.

Anisha did not hear anything from the swim team until the end of the season. The winter had almost completely passed when she saw a red flag icon and an email from Mr. Harrigan.

Anisha,

Could use your help at the pool today. Tyto stands to beat a school record that has been held since 1973. His Butterfly stroke took the team all the way to the championships, and while we did not medal there, we all want to see Aaron, crush this long-standing record. The whole school will be out cheering. I could use your help down by the pool deck.

See you at 4 pm

⁃ Harry

Anisha was surprised to be included, but pleased nonetheless. Aaron had not had the season that Coach and Yilder had been hoping for . He had just missed out on the bronze medal at the nationals, even though he was expected to win the gold. It was a huge disappointment for the team, and the school. By the end of the day he could regain his heroic school status.

It was ten to four when Anisha went down to the pool deck, Mr. Harrigan seemed flustered.

“ Oh great! So glad you came Anisha, I knew I could count on you!” Mr. Harrigan looked relieved.

“ Now, I want you stand right here, and you are going to hold the timer. It’s really simple. Just really watch out for Aaron's hand and as soon as you see him touch the wall you press this button here. Got it?”

“ You want me to be the one timing this?” Anisha asked, a little taken aback by the importance of the job.

“ Well, it’s not so difficult. It’s just pressing a button Anisha, it’s not like I’m asking you to swim the 50 meters!”

“ Right, yes of course. It is simple, it just seems like an important job, with the school record, and the whole school watching.”

“ No, Tyto has the important job, you just have a simple job. So, do it like I said. You watch for his hand and at the same time you press this button. Got it?”

“Got it.” Anisha said.

Anisha watched as the upper deck filled with students. School flags were everywhere. Homemade “Tyto” signs filled the crowd. There was a nervous energy surrounding the empty pool. Groups of girls began chanting for Tyto. He really was the star of the school. Anisha could feel beads of sweat dripping down her back. The importance of her job made her feel a little nervous. “ I just hope I don’t somehow screw this up!” she thought to herself. “ It’s just pressing a button, it’s a simple job.” She kept repeating that to herself to calm her own nerves.

A rumbling roar began and Tyto emerged from the change room. “ Tyto! Tyto! Tyto!” the whole school chanted.

Mr. Harrigan grabbed a microphone. “ Tyto my owl of the night, with the strongest stroke Yilder has seen in over 50 years. Tyto is here to crush a record today that has been held since 1973. For almost 50 years the record has been untouchable, until now! 26.03 seconds is the record. Tyto is ready to crush that!” THE SCHOOL CHEERED.

Tyto mounted the starting block. He did a few stretches grabbing the front of the block and leaning backwards. Coach stood a few feet away with the starting gun. The pool area was now silent.

BANG. Tyto was off. Anisha watched intensely as he swam down to the other end of the pool, he swiftly somersaulted at the end of the pool and was now charging towards her. She looked at the waves coming her way. Her big moment was about to happen. She looked at Tyto then back at the button. She looked at Tyto then back at the wall. She was waiting for his hand to appear. There it was! He touched the wall. Anisha swiftly pressed the button at the exact same time his hand made contact with the wall. She looked at the timer. 28 seconds flat it read. Coach looked at the timer 28 seconds - almost a second and a half away from the record. Coach looked Anisha in the eye, and then at the cheering crown. “ HE DID IT!” Coach shouted with pride. The whole school cheered. Anisha watched in disbelief as they began to remove the gold letters from 1973 and replace them with Aaron (Tyto) Rodgers. He did it.