The grandson pushed his grandmother into the lake, aware that she didn’t know how to swim and was terrified of the water, just as a joke. Relatives were nearby, laughing, and none of them could have imagined what this woman would do once she got out of the water
The grandson was standing on the edge of the dock, smiling as if he was about to do something harmless.
—Grandma, do you remember that you said you didn’t know how to swim and that you always wanted to learn?
He nervously adjusted his handkerchief and looked at the water. The lake seemed dark and cold.
—Yes, I had it. But I’m afraid of water. Very scary. Don’t joke like that.
—Stop dramatizing —laughed the nineteen-year-old grandson—. You’re just getting excited.
She took a step back, but he was faster. A slight push on his back and his body lost its balance. It fell, hit the water and for a second disappeared below the surface.
When he came out, there was real fear in his eyes.
—Help… I can’t… —his voice broke.
He tried to hold on to the boards of the dock, but his hands slipped on the wet wood. Clothes dragged her down, her breathing labored. He stirred, swallowed water and sank again.
They laughed on the dock.
—Record it, film it, this is epic! —said her daughter-in-law, picking up the phone.
—Grandma, wow, actress of the year! —shouted the second grandson.
His own son stood to the side, smiling crookedly.
—He’s just trying to scare us, he wants to get attention —he said with the same calm as if he were talking about bad weather.
It sank again, and for a moment there was silence. But when he emerged coughing, the laughter resumed.
—Well, enough of the circus, get out now —said the irritated daughter-in-law.
Nobody extended their hand to him.
At one point, he finally managed to grab the edge of the dock, rested his elbows, and, with difficulty, got out. She lay on the boards, breathing hard, water dripping from her hair and her lips trembling.
The laughter faded little by little.
