TMNT:: First Swim

The home Yoshi found her him and his adopted sons was unique, it had a clean water collection pool. His sons asked him every day to go swimming. Swimming was in their genetic DNA , since his sons were part turtle, but the other part was human. It was the father in him that made him nervous for them to swim without support, the pool was very deep.

One night when his sons were sleeping Splinter slipped to the surface under a shroud of clothing to purchase arm floats and inner tubes. He was please to find them in the colors his sons wore, so there would be no fighting over who’s was what.

Splinter watched as his sons slowly walked out of their room, Leonardo, then Raphael, followed by Donatello, and lastly Michelangelo. When Michelangelo walked past his father he looked up at him with his large blue eye, “daddy can we go swimming?” he asked.

“Yes you may, on one condition,” Splinter said.

“Mikey! You know daddy will say no! Why do you keep asking?” Raph snapped not hearing his father.

“Raphael, it would do you some good to listen. I said you could go swimming.”

“Really!” Mikey said jumping up and down.

“Yes my son, really, but I have one condition.”

“What is it sensei?” Leo asked.

“I would like to wear these,” he said showing them their floatation devices.

“What are they?” Mikey asked.

“They will help you swim, they will keep you safe.”

“But sensei we are turtles,” Raph said.

“I know, my son, but you are also part human. I want you four to be safe. I have never seen you four swim before and the water his very deep.”

“Yes we are turtles, but we cannot breath under water, so sensei’s----” Donnie stopped when Raph punched in him the arm.

“Raphael, do not punch your brother, he is right.” Splinter got the arm floats on his son’s arms and slipped the inner tubes around their waists.

Splinter lead his sons to the usually fenced off are of their home. The four turtles looked down at the water. “Raph you can go first,” Leo said.

“Donnie can go first!” Raph said, he was scared of the water too.

“I will go first!” Mikey said, “it’s just like taking a bath without the bubbles.” Mikey held tightly onto his inner tube, closed he eyes, and made the short jump in. When he landed in the water he bounced lightly. His older brother held their breath.

“So how is it?” Donnie asked.

“It’s wonderful!” Mikey said smiling while kicking his feet moving himself around.

“Well join him Leo!” Raph said giving his brother a shove.

“Raphael! No pushing around the pool,” Splinter scolded.

“Raphie just come in,” Mikey said. Reluctantly his brothers followed, and they instantly fell in love with the cool water of pool, rather than the warm water of the bath.

Splinter sat in a chair watching his sons. Each son took this new experience differently. Leonardo was happily swimming around keeping an eye on his brothers. Raphael was splashing water in his brother’s faces, but Splinter put that to a stop quickly. Donatello was exploring the small area trying to see what was deep down. Michelangelo was bouncing up and down creating waves, but he was not harming anyone.

It had been half an hour, all his sons were behaving for once, they did not want their new privilege taken away. Splinter was pleased to see his sons getting along. Splinter’s ears twitched, he heard what sounded like a crash across the lair. Splinter looked to his sons, “stay here, keep quiet.” His four sons nodded.

Once Splinter was a safe distance away Raph looked to his brothers, “good I take these stupid things off,” Raph said.

“Raphie you cant!” Donnie protested.

“I can swim,” he said.

“But we neva’ swim before,” Mikey said.

“We’re turtles you idiot, we know how to swim!” Raph moved a short distance and the slipped under water.

“Okay Raph you can come up now, you proved your point,” Leo said he looked around and could not find his brother, it happened so fast one second Raph was there, the next he was gone.

“He’s under water!” Mikey yelped.

“I will get sensei,” Donnie said.

“Not yet! We will get in trouble!” Leo said, “I will go down for him.”

Leo forced his arm floats under water to get his brother. Leo took ahold of his brother, but found it hard to swim up since he had never swam underwater, let alone with his brother in his arms. He found that he was floating up on his own with the help of his arm floats. Once he got closer to the top he could feel Donnie and Mikey helping pulling them up. Once Raph’s head was above water he took in a breath and started to cough.

“Raph you are stupid,” Leo said gasping for air himself.

“Sensei wanted us to be safe and what you did not safe,” Donnie said.

“You know what saved us?” Leo asked, “my arm floats.”

Raph said nothing.

Splinter came into the room and announced that it was just a box of toys that fell down. Splinter looked at his sons, he could tell something happened, but they all looked okay. He knew if asked he would not get a straight answer, so he allowed them to be silent this one time. He knew in time one would tell him what happened, it would be Michelangelo or Donatello most likely.