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It was July Fourth weekend at Raccoon Creek State Park. It felt like the crowds were already at max capacity. It would be a busy day for sure, lifeguard Michael “Robby” Robinavitch thought.
Robby would be right to a degree. Most of the day was spent giving directions to the bathrooms - a large building that sat off to the side of the parking lot. A cry for help caught his ears and he turned towards the lake, seeing a beachgoer waving their arms trying to get the attention of the lifeguards. Robby raced towards the lake.
Fellow lifeguard Dana Evans met him at the struggling person, “what's happened?” She asked.
The swimmer, who was standing in waist deep water, was nearly doubled over. “It's a… a… leg cramp!”
Robby tsked and shook his head. This was why you always waited after eating to go into the water. Robby grabbed the waterproof two way radio he had clipped to his whistle, “Jack! Need your assistance, stat!” He proceeded to give coordinates.
Time seemed to slow down and Jack bounded out of the lifeguard shack and ran down the beach. Each step caused his pectoral muscles to bounce in a hypnotizing pattern. Music from a nearby boombox thudded out a tune that Jack couldn't quite place as he moved to the water. The run seemed to stretch on. The shore wasn't really that wide. Jack was a trained lifeguard. He had studied for years on proper life saving tactics for the water.
Robby and Dana stood with the patient as they watched Jack come at them. Dana glanced around. “Oh, look Park the Shark is in the water,” she gestured. He truly had an unfortunate nickname that almost always caused additional chaos. This was a body of fresh water. There wouldn't be actual sharks here. This wasn't some low budget sci-fi movie.
“How does his pecs do that?” Robby asked, still watching Jack run. He checked his watch. Jack had been running for five minutes.
After what felt like 30 minutes of Jack running to help his coworker and a person in peril, he splashed his way into the water. “Whatcha got?”
“Leg cramp,” Robby said.
“Damnit,” Jack hissed and got on one side of the person while Robby was on the other as they assisted the person out of the water. Dana cleared the way of other swimmers and then found a clear spot to put the person.
“Just lay back, we'll handle it from here.”
The patient honestly had felt better by the time they got to the shore but went along with them anyway. Maybe they could get Jack to run and get them a drink. Would time slow down again?
After 10 minutes the patient was on their way with a slight limp and the guards stood by the shack with arms crossed, just waiting for the next time help called for them. They'll be ready.