In Which I Get Locked in a Pool

Most people don't know this but... last week I was locked in a swimming pool. Let me try & explain my crazy tale...

I've been struggling with fear lately {& I guess what other people think, too - or you could say the fear of what other people think}.  Anyhow, I had let this keep me from going swimming in my apartment complex's swimming pool all summer. {Coming together with perfect strangers, all while wearing a bathing suit, is scary to most everyone, right?} Finally {after much prayer & courage finding (thank You, Jesus)}, I decided to go swimming one early September evening.  I checked first & found the pool was empty & I took my key, opened the gate, & swam in the starry moonlight.  It was exhilarating!  I went every night after & always found the pool vacant.  Last Monday, I donned my suit & boardshorts & headed to the pool.  It was again empty & I began to swim around.  At one point I hear a rattling while I'm at the far end of the pool.  I see no one & assume someone's forgot their gate key.  I continue swimming, nervously wondering if this will be the night I finally won't have the whole pool to myself.  After several minutes more {still alone} I decide to head back.  When I get to the gate & pull the handle, it doesn't budge.  I try again.  Nothing.  That's when I see the large metal padlock on the other side.  I'm locked in!  Eeek!  

Actually at this point I sorta laugh, cause what else can I do?  Oh yes, & my cell phone is completely dead, no one's around, it's dark, & I'm dripping wet.  Laugh it up, Bess!  I weigh my options.  The pool doesn't open until 8:00 the next morning, meaning I'd be late to work - oh yes, & the obvious, I don't want to spend all night out here!  I look around at the high fence & then down at my flip flops - I don't think I can climb the fence without getting all scraped to pieces.  Then, I spot it, a small slightly raised section at the bottom of a portion of the fence.  It doesn't look very large, but what else is there?  I wrap my towel around myself {cause this fence looks like it could rip my suit & then I'd have a whole other story to tell}.  I have no idea if I'll fit, but I try & miraculously I find myself out on the other side with only a few scrapes on my knees {maybe I can be the next Houdini}.  I think an angel must have come & held that fence up for me, cause honestly I can't see how it worked {but all things are possible through Christ (Philippians 4:13) - including narrow pool escapes}.  So, that's my story.  I seem to have a genius for trouble, here lately.

Crazy {True} Story Love,
-Bess-