The schools swimming instructor was an exdrill sergeant small and musclebound with tattooed arms When I asked him to teach me how to dive he told me to sit on the pools edge put my hands above my head and roll forwards pushing myself off with my feet I practised that manoeuvre until the hour was up The next visit he got me standing upright and diving off the edge The instructor was a martinet and every time I surfaced he looked at me with distaste Dont look down look up Keep your legs straight Point your toes I said The next week I went up onto the high board It was a fixed board and its front edge bent slightly downward It seemed outrageously high as I stood there trying to work up my courage Gradually the echoing voices disappeared and I felt as if I were cocooned in silence I waved my arms vaguely in the way Id been taught tried to look up not down and launched myself into space For a brief moment I was flying When I hit the water I crumpled ignominiously and my legs were all over the place The instructor looked at me with contempt and shook his head But even he could not diminish my euphoria Thats what they mean by free as a bird I thought