What does "resting back" mean?
Hi,
What does "resting back" mean?
And what does 'the hip-high water lapping at where it's all changed" refer?

"The pool has a strong clear blue smell, though you know the smell is never as strong when you are actually in the blue water, as you are now, all swum out, resting back along the shallow end, the hip-high water lapping at where it's all changed. "

Question

What does "resting back" mean?
Hi, 
What does "resting back" mean?
And what does 'the hip-high water lapping at where it's all changed" refer?

"The pool has a strong clear blue smell, though you know the smell is never as strong when you are actually in the blue water, as you are now, all swum out, resting back along the shallow end, the hip-high water lapping at where it's all changed. "

Answer

"Resting back" means you are literally leaning back and resting.

This text talks about a young boy going through puberty and growing body hair, so "where it's all changed" is a very soft euphemism to mean the boy's groin.

Answer

'Back' in this case refers to some position relative to:
1) The deep part, which is considered foward.
2) The opposite direction from which you were traveling.
3) A part of the pool opposite (across) from other people.

In this case, it seems like the person swam out to the deeper part, then swam back to where they started - the shallow end - and are now resting there.

Answer

"Resting back" in a sense is the state of relaxing. "Laid back" is more common to me. The "the hip-high water lapping" might be water as deep as to reach you hip's (or waist perhaps a meter or so in depth) and lapping is seen as the gentle rolling of a wave upon the water. The entire description suggests a time of calm or peace in the water.

Answers · 6

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