Acknowledging the beginning of the selection, one can conclude that this is a recollection of an event in the author’s childhood that represents a naïve, yet carefree environment, a setting in which Mommy, capitalized to emphasize the importance of his mother in his life, “had so painstakingly created.” The word “painstakingly” in this context demonstrates how Mommy tried to shield him and his siblings of something terrible, i.e., the “outside” world. She veiled the problems through fun activities, such as going to the public swimming pool. “Splashing” and “gurgling” represent his jovial memories that included his mother, but only after his realization does he figure out that her attempt at camouflage was only as see-through as the clear water
