Downstream

William Morris’ manor?’
asks the driver. ‘No!’ I say,
‘we’re going to swim.’ ‘Well,
the manor is closed,’ says the
driver, not reacting to what
I’ve said at all.
Swim number two starts
well. I’ve had lunch and I’m
warmed up, but I also feel a
little lazy and that quickly
turns to feeling very tired. I
trail at the back, my shoulders
seem to be made of metal and
urgently need oiling. In the