Swimming Lessons Summary

In a Don Mills apartment building, an old man sits in a wheelchair in the lobby, talking to people as they come and go. He first speaks to Kersi Boyce as Kersi waits for the elevator after buying swim trunks. The old man reminds Kersi of his Grandpa after his stroke, except with Parkinson's disease Grandpa bounces, causing passers by to think he is waving. The Portuguese Woman (PW) across the hall who always comes out when she hears the elevator tells Kersi that the old man's divorced daughter looks after him. Mummy cares for Grandpa until his osteoporosis and lung cancer require hospitalization. With things like osteoporosis and divorce, it is difficult to decide between cause and effect. Mummy says that an old person's blessing to a helper is most valuable and potent. Kersi visits the stinking, noisy ward and...