It was a quiet morning at the municipal pool.
Lifeguard Marco, armed with enthusiasm and a too-strong coffee, was about to begin his first aid lesson.
In front of him, the star of the day: Bob, the CPR dummy.
Bob was a quiet guy, always available, and above all… uncomplaining.
Marco began the demonstration in a solemn tone:
"Gentlemen, today we're going to learn how to save lives!"
Everyone nodded.
Bob, as always, said nothing.
After the first compressions, Marco realized something was wrong.
An ominous crack resounded through the room.
Bob's head rolled away, coming to rest beside the edge of the pool like a beach volleyball.
Silence.
Then, a suppressed laugh from one of the students.
Marco, impassive, tried to remain calm:
"Um… as you see, even in critical situations you have to stay focused."
Without losing heart, Marco repositioned Bob's head—upside down.
Now the mannequin seemed to be gazing mystically at the ceiling.
"The important thing," Marco continued, "is to never give up."
The compressions resumed.
The defibrillator emitted an encouraging beep.
Bob, on the other hand, seemed more interested in contemplating eternity.
At the end of the lesson, Marco wiped his forehead and concluded proudly:
"There, you've seen how it's done. Even if the patient loses his mind… CPR still has to be performed!"
Bob, faithful to his role, remained still.
But in the silence of the pool, someone swore they heard a faint plastic sigh—perhaps of relief, perhaps of resignation.