The "misadventure" that William Douglas speaks about is a traumatic incident that happened when he was about ten or eleven years old at the YMCA swimming pool. Douglas, who was still learning to swim, was suddenly picked up by a big boy and thrown into the nine feet deep end of the pool. He swallowed water and sank to the bottom, experiencing a near-drowning situation. This frightening event caused him to develop a deep fear of water, which haunted him for many years and affected his ability to enjoy water-related activities. He later had to overcome this fear through rigorous practice and swimming exercises.
