Smile

I have a fear 

Of water 

I can doggie

Paddle

But

I need

To be able 

To touch

The bottom 

With 

My toe.

This gives

Me safety.

I put

My wet

Suit on.

Should I do this?

44?

Does it 

Matter ?

It really does.

I have faced 

A lot of fears 

In these 

Past 3 

Yrs.

So yes

It does 

Matter.

The wind

Is whipping 

20 miles an

Hour.

My teeth

Chattering.

My instructor,

I think 

He might 

Be 15....

He's not 

His name

Is chad 

And he is 24.

Chad 

Looks

At me

You know

You do not

Have to

Do this.

I take a deep

Breath...

I ask,

Chad,

If you were scared 

Of something 

Would you 

Do it?

Of Course

I would.  

He 

Smiles.  

There is not

A serious 

Thought 

In this boys

Mind and not an

Ounce of 

Fat on his body.

What am I

Thinking?

I start to 

Talk 

Myself out 

Of it. 

I am gonna 

Do this !!

I say out loud 

To Chad.

You got 

Nipples 

Christina!

Chad responds.

No Chad..

The phrase is

You have balls!

I respond.

I start to 

Get up 

On the board 

And look

Down

And see my

Nipples poking

Through

My wetsuit.

I start to 

Laugh

And my face 

Turns red.

You are 

Right Chad,

I have nipples..

But I also

Have balls!

I am doing this!

Chad responds

Quickly,

Just remember 

What I told you.

Oh yeah 

Breath!

He responds,

No...

Smile !!!

I start 

To laugh...

And yes

Smile.

And 

I surf 

My first 

Wave.

Whooooot!