Kai and the Tall Blue Board

Every summer morning, Kai raced to the community pool with a towel flapping like a cape. But one thing always stopped Kai at the gate: the tall blue diving board that reached up, up, up toward the clouds. Other kids climbed the ladder and jumped with big splashy shouts. Kai loved watching them soar, but just looking at the top rung made Kai's tummy flip like a pancake.

One afternoon, Kai finally climbed the ladder, one careful hand over another. But at the very top, the pool looked so far away that Kai's knees wobbled, and Kai climbed right back down. "It's okay to feel scared," said the lifeguard kindly, handing Kai a cup of water. "

One golden evening, Kai climbed the tall ladder again. This time, Kai reached the very top and stood there, toes curled over the edge of the board. Kai's heart thumped like a drum. The water looked so far, far down, and Kai's feet froze right where they stood.

Kai backed down the ladder slowly, cheeks hot with disappointment. "

By the last week of summer, Kai felt something new bubbling inside not fear, but a fizzy kind of readiness. Kai marched straight to the tall ladder without stopping to think twice.

Up the ladder Kai climbed, rung by rung, legs trembling but feet moving anyway. At the top, the whole pool sparkled below like a giant blue jewel.

Kai's toes curled over the edge again. This time, instead of running away, Kai took one giant breath and whispered, "I can be scared and brave at the same time."

Kai popped up out of the water, gasping and grinning from ear to ear. "I did it!" Kai shouted, punching both fists into the sunny sky.

Kai swam straight to the ladder and started climbing again. "Can I do it one more time?" Kai asked and this time, there was no fear in the question at all, only joy.