- Teresa, Kat, and Robert spend the hot summer day playing in their newly installed water trough and splashing around. However, the cattle later refuse to drink from the trough due to the smell of the children. - The siblings work together to empty and refill the trough for the livestock. They then water the gardens in the heat. - The next morning, Teresa and Kat make amends and have a peaceful breakfast together while waiting for their father to return with news about their sick relative.

1. Forbidden Swim
By
Marjorie Hembroff
Teresa yawned, stretched and listened to the rooster crowing. She rolled over to see Kat in
the doorway.
“Breakfast is ready,” Kat said.
Teresa’s feet hit the floor with a thump, before she crossed the room to the built in
dresser under the eaves. “Be right down.”
Ten minutes later Teresa ran down the uncarpeted stairs to have breakfast with Father,
Granny, Robert and Kat. She entered the kitchen that smelled of eggs, bacon, toast and coffee.
Teresa slid onto the smooth bench behind the table beside Kat, “scootch over.”
A half hour later Father moped his plate with toast. “You girls do the dishes.”
“Its Teresa turn,” Kat pushed the last piece of egg around with her fork.
Teresa pushed her plate away. “Kat disappeared after supper last night.”
“Did not,” Kat’s fork clattered to the table. “Cleared the dishes.”
“You went outside towards the wooden fence,” Teresa answered. “Saw you go.”
Kat squirmed and poked Teresa in the ribs. “Your turn.”
“All right. Enough,” Father said in a deep baritone voice. “You both do the dishes.
Teresa can wash while you dry.”
“Want to go,” Kat ‘s lower lip trembled.
“Not this time,” Granny gave Kat a hug.
“Why not? Went last time,” Kat said, as she clung to Granny.

2. Forbidden Swim 2
“Great Uncle Lloyd is sick and won’t want children running about,” Granny answered.
“Your cousins aren’t going to be there.”
“Mr. O’Hara will deliver the new water trough this morning. He will hook it to the
windmill and all you have to do is turn the water on,” Father said, as he headed towards the
door. “The new one is much bigger.”
Robert leaned back tilting his chair on two legs. “Okay Father.”
“You girls behave and mind your brother,” Father said, as he put his cap on. “Be back
early tomorrow morning.
“Yes Father,” Teresa and Kat said almost simultaneously.
“Make sure you gather the eggs and feed the hens,” Father said as he opened the door.
“Yes Father,” Teresa answered, glancing at Kat out of the corner of her eye.
Ten minutes later Kat dragged a wooden chair to the counter and started to dry dishes.
The only sound was the gentle swooshing of dishes in the water and the ticking of the clock.
The crunch of tires on the gravel broke the silence, as the last dishes were put away.
“Let’s watch,” Kat pushed the chair to the table and ran to the window.
“The hens need feeding,” Teresa loved feeding the hens, because they eagerly
gathered around every time she scattered grain. “Come help.”
“Don’t want to,” Kat answered. “The hens bite.”
“No, they don’t,” Teresa picked up the egg basket. “You can scatter the grain.”
“It’s too stinky,” Kat crossed her arms.
Teresa frowned but didn’t say anything. Kat always had some excuse and it wasn’t any
point arguing. She opened the porch door and was instantly hit by a blast of hot dry
air. Her feet crunched on the dry grass and her T-shirt stuck to her back. Grasshoppers leaped

3. Forbidden Swim 3
into the air, as she crossed the yard to the hen house. When she opened the wire gate the
white hens crowded around.
She opened the grain bin and scattered handfuls clucking to the girls. After she filled the
water containers she opened the squeaky door. She adjusted her eyes to the dim light in the
long narrow building. She took a deep breath, as she ducked inside where it smelled of
manure, woodchips and straw. The roof sloped to the back with exposed beams. Nest boxes
filled with straw covered two walls and the end wall contained a roosting ladder.
Teresa felt hot and clammy, as she worked her way around the room filling her basket. She
wiped the sweat off her forehead with the hem of her T-shirt. Her armpits dripped, as she
walked to the far corner of hen house.
A half hour later Teresa finished cleaning the eggs as Kat said, “Let’s watch them hook up
the water trough.”
“Maybe,” Teresa answered, putting the eggs away.
Kat grinned saying, “Awe come on. It’s exciting.”
“Okay,” Teresa answered.
The girls strolled towards the barn yard with Laddie the black and white Border collie at
their heels. They climbed onto the wooden railings and watched, as Mr. O’ Hara and Robert
connected the new trough.
Teresa shielded her eyes from the sun, as she looked at the shiny metal trough.
“Are you sure you can’t use the old one. The wife made one into a flower bed,” Mr. O’Hara
pushed his cap back to reveal curly red hair.
“Maybe a duck pond,” Robert wiped his sweaty hands on his coveralls.

4. Forbidden Swim 4
“Good idea. Be back later to help with chores,” Mr. O’Hara connected the trough to
the windmill.
Ten minutes later Mr. O’Hara hopped into his blue three quarter ton and drove
into the yard. He leaned out the window. “Will you close the gate?”
Robert grinned, as he strolled over. “Any volunteers to help drag the old trough to
the dried out pond?”
Teresa thought about it while she fastened the gate. “Won’t it be heavy?”
“You two push.” Robert answered.
“Okay,” Teresa and Kat said, almost simultaneously, as they ran to the other end of the
trough.
Robert got gloves and a shovel out of the tool shed and started to pull the trough across
the yard. “Let’s have a dip in the new one after lunch.”
“Sounds like fun,” Kat wiped her hair away from her sticky forehead.
Robert, Teresa and Kat soon had the battered trough at the edge of the shallow pond.
The surrounding grass was caked with dust and the bottom was packed hard with deep cracks.
“It looks to be just the right size,” Robert eased the trough into the hole. He took the
shovel out and started to mound soil around it, while Kat and Teresa piled stones to make a
ramp.
“How about lunch?” Robert leaned on the shovel. “Be alongdirectly. Justwantfill it.”
“Need help?” Kat asked, as she stuck her tongue out at Teresa.
“Sure but you should help Teresa make lunch,” Robert answered.
“It’s more fun helping you,” Kat tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“That’s all right,” Teresa said, as she turned to leave. Fifteen minutes later Teresa was

5. Forbidden Swim 5
setting the table when Robert and Kat entered banging the door.
“You should see how happy the ducks and geese are,” Kat skipped towards the table. “They
dove right in.”
“Lunch looks good,” Robert pulled out a chair. “Could eat a bear.”
Teresa giggled saying, “Chicken will have to do.”
“Want Potato salad, “Kat scowled and came to an abrupt stop.
“Well, go get it,” Robert answered. “Let’s eat in peace with no arguments.”
Kat stomped to the refrigerator and took out the potato salad before sliding onto the
smooth bench behind the table. “There that’s better.”
When they were finished Robert said, “Put your bathing suits on after the dishes are done.
Do it together and the job will be done quicker?”
“Put the salads on,” Kat said, as she crossed her arms.
“Don’t start.” Robert said trying to sound stern.
An hour later the girls clattered down the steep uncarpeted stairs into the living room,
where Robert was lying on the sofa.
Robert opened one eye and squinted at his sisters. “All ready.”
Kat and Teresa giggled saying, “Yes.”
“Let’s go.” Robert said as he stood up.
Ten minutes later Robert draped his coveralls over the fence and threw a towel over his
shoulder.
“Owe, the edge is hot,” Kat said, as she climbed in gingerly.
“The water is refreshing,” Robert sat back on his heels with water up to his arm pits.

6. Forbidden Swim 6
Teresa stood in the cool water and splashed. “Feels good.”
Kat lay on her back looking up at the clouds. “This is great.”
Robert grinned as he submerged in the water. He popped up spraying water on Kat and
Teresa , who threw handfuls of water back at him. “Should do this oftener but Father won’t let
us. The dugout is always full of flies.”
They splashed in the cool water for several hours until mud puddles formed around the
edge of the trough. The hot sun beat down on their heads as they played.
“Must be supper time. Let’s have meat loaf sandwiches and salads.” Robert stepped out
of the trough.
“That’s easy,” Teresa ducked down into the water before she popped up and sprayed
water on Kat. “Coming right up.”
“Will have to refill the trough.” Robert looked around at the muddy ground, as he
turned on the pump. “Be in as soon as the cattle come in.”
Teresa and Kat darted to the house and in the back door to dry off and change. They
were setting the table, when the sound of bawling cattle drifted in the window.
Robert came in with a concerned look on his normally cheerful face. “The cows won’t
drink out of the trough.” He pulled up a chair and started to construct a Dagwood sandwich
with homemade bread, meatloaf, cheese, two kinds of pickles and lettuce and slathered on
mustard and ketchup. “Mr. O’Hara came back to check on things and help with chores. The
trough has to be emptied and refilled, because the cows don’t like the smell.”
“Oh, no,” Teresa and Kat said almost simultaneously.
“Now what?” Teresa asked her eyes as wide as saucers.
“Eat first. Then help empty it,” Robert said. “The pigs need water and the duck and

7. Forbidden Swim 7
goose trough need more water. The fruit trees need watering too.”
“But it’s hot out,” Kat said, as she cut the crusts off her bread.
“Hey come on. Let’s work together,” Robert said. “Father will be furious when he finds
out.”
An hour later they trouped outside and paused as Robert opened the gate.
“Wait until the cattle are in the pasture, before you come into the barn yard. There are
three pails. First fill the ducks and the pigs’ troughs. If there is still water left then the fruit
trees.”
Teresa and Kat watched, as Robert with Laddies help herded the cattle into the pasture
and towards the dugout.
A half hour later they filled their pails with water and headed to the pig pen beside the
barn. Water slopped everywhere, as Teresa and Kat followed Robert. They worked silently for
an hour in hot sun. Sweat ran down their backs soaking their shirts, as they trudged back and
forth.
“Hot and sticky.” Kat brushed her hair away from her face.
Robert grinned mischievously, as he threw a pail of water at Kat.
Kat giggled saying, “Hey, that’s cold. Take that.” She threw water but missed Robert and
got Teresa instead.
Teresa grinned mischievously, as she scoped up water and threw it at Robert and Kat.
“That should cool you off.”
A half hour later Robert stacked the empty pails. “Time to start filling it. It won’t take
long. You two look tired so go get cleaned up,” Robert turned the water on. “Thanks for
helping.”

8. Forbidden Swim 8
The next morning Teresa lay in her double bed listening to the gentle petter patter of
rain on the roof. A slight breeze moved the curtains. She stretched and hopped out of bed to
close the window. She perched on the window seat watching the water drip off the tree
branches.
Ten minutes later she turned to see Kat standing in the doorway.
“Good morning. Are you getting dressed?” Kat skipped to the window.
“In a minute,” Teresa shuffled to the wardrobe.
“Truce?” Kat asked. “It’s lonely downstairs.”
Teresa pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. “Yes, a truce is a good idea. Pinky swear?”
“How about Cornflakes and toast for breakfast?” Kat asked, as she waited for Teresa.
“There are rhubarb muffins as well,” Teresa answered, as she brushed her hair.
An hour later they had finished eating when Father returned. He pulled out a chair and
straddled it before he crossed his arms on the back. “Granny stayed at Aunt Patricia’s. Uncle
Lloyd will be fine. He is sitting up in bed and complains constantly. How are things here?”
“Fine.” Robert answered, as he handed Father a cup of coffee.
The End