Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lifeguard (11/09/06)
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TITLE: The Magic Lifeguard | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wayne Harris
11/14/06 -
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“There is a new lifeguard in town,” said Tommy. “He’s cool.”
“Why is he so cool?” asked Sandy.
“He does magic.”
“Does he save lives?”
“He’s cool.”
His name was Simon. He was a magician trained in the dark arts. His specialty was performing magic tricks. He had an agenda, a mission, to convert the young to his ways.
Crowds gathered around his chair to watch him perform his mystical act. “I will now hypnotize one of you. Do I have any volunteers?”
Sandy heard a scream. Looking toward the ocean she could see the frantic splashing of a child. He was in trouble.
“Simon,” yelled Sandy, “a boy is drowning in the ocean.”
“Look this way,” said Simon. He waved his hands in circles. All eyes were on him. “I want you to repeat something after me.”
The crowd listened. “Nobody is drowning,” he said.
The crowd responded. “Nobody is drowning”.
They repeated his words ten times. In the meantime, the young boy drowned. He disappeared into the vast ocean.
Sandy grabbed Tommy’s arm. “People are drowning.”
He was mesmerized. His eyes were glued to Simon. “Simon said that nobody is drowning. Do you not believe in Simon?”
A new lifeguard climbed the ladder down the beach. He took his chair. He had long hair and a beard. His swimming attire was bright white, the opposite of Simon’s midnight black.
He searched the waves as he looked through strong binoculars. To Sandy’s surprise he tossed the binoculars and leaped down onto the sand. He raced into the surf and slammed headlong into a violent wave. He splashed toward the drowning soul. “What a magnificent swimmer,” she said.
“And for my next illusion,” said Simon.
Nobody seemed interested in the drowning soul. As far as they were concerned, Simon was the great power. Only Sandy had noticed the other lifeguard.
The child, Lazarus Johnson, was almost gone. “Save me, lifeguard,” he cried. Then, he submerged, but managed to keep one hand above the surface.
Salty, nauseating water gushed into his mouth. He hoped beyond hope for a rescuer. Why won’t Simon come for me? He had never doubted Simon until now.
On the beach, Simon threw open his right hand. An explosion of fire emerged. Silver and gold stars sparkled upward. “Simon! Simon! Simon!” roared the crowd.
Sandy prayed for the drowning child. She prayed that the lifeguard might save him. She cried and prayed. Then, she screamed at Simon, “Fake!”
For Elijah all seemed lost. There was too much salt water gushing in. With one last act of hope he stretched his fingers upward. He realized that Simon was not the answer. He needed someone greater and more powerful. He wondered, “Who will save me?”
Two strong hands wrapped around his ankles. He felt a push from beneath the ocean by someone mighty. His head broke the surface. Water spewed from his mouth. His rescuer surfaced. His smile brought peace. Elijah coughed up salt water as the lifeguard held onto him. He delivered Elijah to the sandy shore.
The lifeguard looked down at the boy as he lay in the sand. “You will be fine,” he said.
“You saved me, sir,” said Elijah.
“I am the Lifeguard,” he said.
Sandy approached Simon’s huge crowd. He promised everything and delivered nothing. Sandy reached the stage. “Simon is a fake. We watched him perform. Who has he saved?”
The real lifeguard is over there. While Simon does magic, the Lifeguard does miracles.
Sandy tried to introduce Simon’s followers to the one who saved lives. Few listened. They preferred Simon’s tricks.
Tommy continued to trust Simon’s lies. He believed in Simon, just as Elijah had before the rescue. Fortunately, the rescue had changed Elijah.
Sandy visited her grandmother for a month. When she returned there were some surprising changes. She stared in awe.
At the foot of the Lifeguard’s chair sat those he had rescued. Close to Simon’s throng stood Elijah. He declared the truth. “Simon is a liar,” he proclaimed. “He does not save lives. He plays tricks while people die. Get away from him. The true Lifeguard is over there.”
Grandma elbowed Sandy. “Wake up, child.” She could not believe she had been dreaming. Looking up at the giant oil painting of Jesus, she recognized the face. “Lifeguard,” she muttered.
She lost her breath as she watched Elijah Johnson walk toward the altar. She blurted out, “He’s here. The Lifeguard is here.”
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