My father had four daughters.

Liz, the eldest was his very favourite with Kathy, my twin sister, being his second. Lorraine, the youngest, was always ‘the baby’, and then there was me. He liked to set us challenges.

One Sunday at a local stretch of water he asked if any of us could swim a mile with him? 
Before anyone else could get in there my hand shot up and I said “I can do it, I can do it!”
This was my chance to shine.

Kathy watched on and smiled. My eldest sister continued to read. I rushed to the water’s edge. 
We entered the water and swam along, I swam breaststroke and dad swam by my side. 
I was determined to do it and kept going even though the water was freezing cold and I was getting tired. 
On getting out of the water my father said “Well done Emma”.

He then turned to Kathy and said “Now come on Kathy I’m quite sure you can do this easily.”
I watched her running down into the water and swim with ease, she didn’t even wait for Dad. 
She had nothing to prove.