The Deep End
For February 9: Day 40 of the Story-a-Day Challenge
Chance subscribed to a universal mystique surrounding an unknown, a metaphysical construct called the deep end. It was his sensibility of going too far; overreaching; sticking your neck out.
For Chance, "the grass is greener" meant "the water is deeper," where pessimism is just safer.
Some pools have a diving board at the deep end. Fuller was the type of boy who would mount it, gain momentum via bounces, and end up in the deep end. What startled Chance about this was that, at one point, between leaving the board and entering the water, there was a no-man's arc of parabolic travel: flight.
A person flies! Will there be anything to catch them?
The laws of physics thus compound Chance's metaphor. The before-and-after of flight are phenomena of volition--weighing pros and cons; during flight, you are at the mercy of the universe.
Is that rational?
Chance and Fuller were in a group of children playing in the shallow end of a pool. They considered the deep end, quickly falling into disagreement.
"Why take a chance?" affirmed Chance.
"Live life at its fullest," rejoindered Fuller.
Soon, two political factions of statesmanship evolved, following demagoguery from either Chance or Fuller.
Fuller argued his point by tiptoeing from the 3-foot depths toward the deep end. Discarding his floaties, he bounced merrily along. Soon others saw the fun he was having in the deep end and provoked attrition of Chance's ranks.
By-and-by, Chance was the only one remaining in the shallows. He was safe. He was secure. He would live to swim another day!
He was alone.
Going into the deep end pushes pool walls out and makes a pool grow longer, wider, and deeper for those not content to wear life's floaties. When no one drowned, Fuller asked Chance if he would reconsider for next swim-day.
"Don't know, Fuller, I'll think about it."
The children, all grown now, have stratified into their varied adult roles, ranging from minimum wage to riches, from love to discord, from quotidian to activities of import. They are living.
Meanwhile, Chance is still thinking about it. Chance is still alone.
The deep end portends
All life's dividends
With or without it
Acquits or evicts
About the Creator
Gerard DiLeo
Retired, not tired. In Life Phase II: Living and writing from a decommissioned church in Hull, MA. (Phase I was New Orleans and everything that entails. Hippocampus, behave!
https://www.amazon.com/Gerard-DiLeo/e/B00JE6LL2W/
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Comments (11)
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
Great post
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Life seems safer when You're not in the deep-end, but we all must learn to tread water and how to swim. There'll be countless situations where we'll be swear away from the shallows without our floating. Therefore it is mandatory that we learn to swim and to keep our head above water even when the waves are crashing down upon us. Those who learn how to swim, will always be able to find safety, comfort, and security in the shallows because they have the capability to return. The deep-end should be feared a little bit, due to the potential dangers that we are unaware of, but that same fear is to be mitigated by respect. The shallows are alright and many can learn to swim in then, but those who don't learn to swim the deep will always be in fear, and even less prepared, when they are swept into the deep. Learn to tread before being swept.
Congratulations on Top Story!!!♥️♥️💕
Gerard Outstanding! Keep striving for greatness—congratulations!
Wow! This is fantastic, Gerard! There is incredible depth (pardon the pun) written into this piece! Congratulations on the Top Story status! It is definitely earned.
Back to say congratulations
I'm the kinda person that's very afraid to take risks so I felt this was very relatable! Loved your story!
Well writ, and motivational!
Interesting concept for this metaphor. Take a chance or to remain safe and never try. Try and you could die, don’t try and you’ll know your potential Now, off you go to # 41