My name is Johanna Ashley Marigold. I’m eleven and three-quarters old and have five older sisters, Lilly and Becky (Twins aged 18), Louise (16) , Ella (15) and Tulip (14). My mother and Father, Poppy and Charles are world champion synchronised swimmers, as were their parents and grandparents. All of them expect me to do well like my sisters, but I am no good at synchronised swimming, and want to be a long distance swimmer. My family have 3 cats, Kitty, Lion and Lulu, all ginger long-haired cats.
My life is quite normal all round I wake up in the morning and getting dressed, have breakfast and take the bus to school. My week is casually nice, but I don’t like Sunday. Every Sunday we will all get up very early and have melon for breakfast and go to the pool. Today is Sunday. We, like normal, have melon for breakfast and get in the car to drive to the pool. Once we get there we put on our swim suits and get in the right positions to start swimming. I hear my father counting backwards from three, I know that is the drill to get ready to dive.
“Three, two, one,” dive, kick, turn, flip……what next? Oh dear I’ve forgotten the routine again.
“Johanna!” There’s mum “I need you to remember the routine. The national synchronised swimming competition is in two weeks and we’re representing England. I don’t want you to disgrace the Marigold family in front of thousands of people. “
I didn’t answer her, I was busy trying to remember the routine.
“Johanna, can you hear your mother or are you just being rude?” It was Dad this time. When dad isn’t happy with you, you answer him.
I quickly made up an excuse, “Sorry Dad , my ears were blocked and I was trying to remember the routine."
“Well next time, listen harder and remember better, OK?"
“Yes, Dad.”
Finally it’s time to go home. Time to go home, just the thought of being home is nice. I have a little bit of time before I have to get ready to go out for Sunday dinner, the good part of Sunday. I wish I could just wear some jeans and a t-shirt but mum's got me a new dress. To mum, dad and my sisters, the dress is beautiful, but to me it’s ugly. It is pastel pink with white dots on, and comes with a pair of slightly raised baby-blue slippers. Alright time to get in the car, and go to my parents favourite restaurant, the Bedbiury. Just like normal we are shown to our seats. The only thing I like about this restaurant is the pudding which is delicious. I decided to chose the toasted sweet potato and feta salad.
Once we had all ordered what we wanted, mum gave my sisters five pounds each to spend next door on new under-water make-up for the national synchronised swimming competition. Once all of my sisters had gone I was actually quite happy to be in this horrible restaurant after all because I hate make-up, but now I wish I’d gone with my sisters.
“Johanna darling, me and your father were talking earlier. We don’t think that you are doing so well. We’re going to have to give you extra hours of synchronised swimming every Monday until you improve.”
I was not happy, I didn’t know what to say, I just said, “OK.”
Once we were home I immediately went upstairs and took off that revolting dress. Now I had time to think properly. What would I do? I don’t know?
"Girls, time for bed.” Right, thinking time over, I’ll figure something out in time.
Morning time, normal routine. Almost at school, oh no there’s a test today, they’ll be no time to think about swimming lessons. Finally finished the test, probably did awfully. The rest of the day was awful too, I fell asleep in algebra and did everything in math wrong. The end of the day, must catch the bus. Mum’s waiting at the door for me with fifteen pounds in her hand.
“There you are! I’ve been waiting forever ! Here is fifteen pounds. Five for the bus and ten for the swimming."
"Thanks, Mum.” I said with a bit of doubt in my voice.
"Good girl, go now, I have a meeting to go to.”
“OK, Mum. Bye.”
The bus ride to the pool was long and boring. I had a look at the notice board once I got there and was amazed! Starting now was a full lesson of long distance swimming! I couldn’t believe my luck, I would go there now and ask if I could join in for the session. I got there and there was a lovely woman waiting by the pool.
“Hello” I said.
“I was wondering if I could join in, I have ten pounds?”
“Yes of course you can, my name is Anna, what’s yours?”
“Johanna.”
“Well Johanna, would you like to stand by the others for me please?” I nodded and walked over to the others. “Alright everybody, let’s get started. Get ready to dive please.”
Everybody got ready to dive.
“Now kids, I want you to dive into the pool, swim to the end and back as quickly as possible. Three, two, one, GO!”
I did exactly as Anna said and dived, swam to the end and back before anyone else.
“Well done, Johanna! Have you done long distance swimming before?”
“No but I do do synchronised swimming.”
“Do you now? Where do you do it?”
“Here but in the other pool.”
“Well that’s good, now lets get on with the lesson. Kids this time I want you to do the same thing again but, this time I’m going to time you, OK?” The rest of the lesson was the best time I had ever had in my life.
When I got back my mother asked me how my lesson was and I instantly said it was amazing. She seemed very happy.
“Good girl. Now time for bed, you must to tired?”
“Yes, Mum, I’m very tired.” Not believing my luck I got into my pyjama’s and into bed.
The next morning the test results came in, I expected a B- but I got an A+ ! My parents were very happy.
Next Monday Anna was giving out letters to all of the kids at the end of the lesson. It was a permission slip to qualify for a swimming competition! But how would I compete? I know! I would tell mum we were going on a trip to a synchronised swimming museum, she would sign the slip immediately! When I got back home I asked mum to sign it, and she asked what it was for so I told her that we where going on a trip to a synchronised swimming museum, and it worked!
The next week was long but I waited and Monday came. I secretly packed my swimming costume and hopped on the bus. Once everybody had handed in their permission slips we got on the coach to go to the competition tryouts. We got there soon and the man at the desk asked for our names. The man told us to go get changed and wait for the judges. Once all of us where changed we waited for the judges like the man said. The judges came and explained.
“Children we will be timing each of you one by one but only half of you will qualify. please get in a line.”
Everybody did as the judges said. Once we had all been timed we where sent back and would hear the results soon.
The next day the post came, Dad collected it along with yesterday's results.
“Johanna! What is this?”
Dad was very angry. I didn’t know what to do, I just walked into the kitchen.
“Johanna what is this?” dad was waiting for a response.
I let it out, I couldn’t keep it secret anymore. “I’ve been going to long distance swimming lessons instead of synchronised and last week there where tryouts for a competition and I’m sure there the results.”
“They are and you qualified but I see no reason why you should be allowed to compete.”
Mum heard the noise and came downstairs.
“Whats all this?” Dad explained everything to mum. “I hope what your fathers telling me isn’t true because if it is your in big trouble!”
“It's all true mum I’m really sorry.”
"Go to school, you’ll be late. But there’ll be a punishment waiting for you when you get back.”
I did as mum said and went to school. I spent the rest of my day with butterflies in my stomach wondering what my punishment could be. Once I got back home my parents seemed a lot calmer.
"Johanna, what you have done is not good, so you are grounded for two weeks. But you clearly don’t like synchronised swimming so, you can enter the competition, carry on long distance swimming lessons and if you want to drop out of synchronised swimming.”
“Are you serious?” Mum and dad nodded. I was so happy.
“Thank you so much!” For the first time in a long time I hugged my parents.
The week before the competition was long but finally the day came. I went downstairs to find my family holding a box. Apparently it was for me and inside I found an amazing sports swim suit. “Surprise!” Everybody shouted
“We're all coming to see you swim at the competition!” I was so happy I couldn’t say anything. “Now time to get ready” said my mum. I did as my mother said and got ready to go. We got in the car and drove to the competition.
Once we got there I got changed and ready to swim. After everybody had swam It was finally my go. I got in swam to the end and back then got out. Once I was dry me and my competitors got on stage awaiting the results. Finally a man came onstage.
“In third place Tamara Johnson, in second place Opal Hill and in first place…….. Johanna Marigold"
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