7807mcNorman+Rockwell

Don’t Be Scared... Just Don’t Be Scared

Ever since Johnny was in the 2nd grade, his goal was to jump off the high dive. Every year, he would chicken out as soon as he climbed the creaky, old latter. He always had the courage down on the hot, cemented ground, but up in the air, 20 feet up, he was scared to death. Now, in 5th grade, his goal was to do a cannonball off the high dive, and he wasn’t going to be scared, not one bit.

Now standing on the wooden platform, high up from the comforting ground, Johnny was frightened, nervous, and feeling like a fool not jumping off as soon as the lifeguard gave him the thumbs up, indicating that it was his turn to jump. Was he going to jump? Was he going to climb down? Was he going to make a fool of himself? Would he be laughed at? All the people were now sitting around waiting anxiously, yet impatient, thinking that he wasn’t going to to jump, and going to take the long way down.

Honestly, people were surprised when he started to walk to the edge of the board. “Come on you can do this,” Johnny whispered to himself, “Don’t be scared… Just don’t be scared.” Johnny took a deep breath in and headed towards the latter.“No, you are going to do this, and you aren’t going to walk down that loser route.” He said trying to convince himself to jump.

This time instead of taking a step back, Johnny took a step forward. He started to walk to the edge of the board. Was he about to jump into that freezing cold water?

As he approached the edge of the board, he took deeper breaths, in out, in out. Johnny was about to jump from 20 feet in the air. He took another inhale into an exhale. Then, Johnny jumped for the last time, and started to move his legs up into his chest and began to free fall into the water.

Johnny felt this icy chill rush up his spine when he dropped into pool. He heard clapping and cheering. He turned behind him and saw his friend, Cameron. “You did it,” he exclaimed.

“I know, but dude, never again,” Johnny responded. “I’m happy that I did it, though!”


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