Loik Mailloux Kessler
Colin Mooney
Stephen Kellock
May 5, y

The short story, The Lifeguard by Mary Morris is about an eighteen year old boy named Josh Michaels who spends his last summer before going to college working as a lifeguard. Josh feels very superior and loves his youth, looks and power that he has over everyone at the beach. Josh receives a lot of attention from the girls, including his red cross training teacher, Rick Spencer. Rick Spencer wishes he was like Josh which is good looking, but mostly young. Rick wishes he could go back into his youth. The only person who did not pay attention to Josh Michaels that summer was Mrs. Lovenheim. Mrs. Lovenheim is a thirty year old women who was recently left by her husband after losing two babies due to miscarriages who goes to the beach everyday, and doesn't speak a word to Josh. Mrs. Lovenheim is not affected by Josh in any way and Josh only realizes this once he fails to save Becky Spencer from chocking to death and watches Mrs. Lovenheim save her herself instead of him. Josh is used to being in control of the beach and when he fails to save Becky Spencer he can’t seem to get over the fact that he wasn't in control all along and that he failed and embarrassed himself in front of everyone, including Miss. Lovenheim. Not being able to fall asleep after this incident, Josh visits Miss. Lovenheim’s house and thanks her for saving Becky and without knowing, starts crying. It is when Miss. Lovenheim hugs him and then lets go as if nothing happened that Josh realizes that he meant nothing to her all along. This changes Josh’s view of his