The Bear

 

       “Oh come on, you can do it!” he coaxed.  He knew she was afraid of the water.  It was time to leave the fear behind and learn to swim.  Riley chose to manipulate the situation throwing her precious bear into the swimming pool.  “Mr. Cuddles!” she screamed and without another thought quickly jumped in to save her precious bear. 

     With the floaties on her arms and Daddy waiting in the water, she never was in any true danger.  Daddy hugged his precious girl close as he rescued Bear from the water.  “You did it my sweet!  Now just move your arms and legs!”  Her floaties kept her afloat bobbing like a cork on the water’s surface.  “Daddy, look what Riley did to poor Mr. Cuddles!!”  “Nothing the dryer won’t fix sweetie.”  He took the teddy bear and set him on the side of the pool to dry in the sun.  She quickly began moving her arms and kicking her feet like Riley.  

 

      “Look at you Sweetie, you are swimming!!  Isn’t it fun?”  It was then she fully realized what she had done and what she was doing.  “I’m swimming, I’m swimming!  Look Riley!”  With a crooked grin, her big brother cannon balled into the pool with a huge splash.   She giggled and tentatively paddled over to Riley and gave him a playful splash as the bear and her Daddy looked on.

word count: 231

MANIPULATE (transitive verb)

1: to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner
2a : to manage or utilize skillfully
  b : to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage
3: to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one's purpose : to doctor

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