She is quiet for a moment. have you ever been swimming in the summer, she asks, when a cloud comes in front of the sun? You know how, for a few seconds, you're absolutely freezing in th water and you think you'd better get out and dry off? But then all of a sudden the sun's back out and you're warm again and when you tell people how much fun you had swimming you wouldn't even think to mention those clouds. Cara shrugs. That's what it's like, with my father. -Cara
Cara reflects on her relationship with her father, using a swimming analogy to illustrate her feelings. She describes moments when swimming on a sunny day is interrupted by a cloud, causing a brief chill that makes one consider getting out of the water. However, when the sun reappears, warmth returns, and the discomfort fades from memory. This metaphor represents the ups and downs of her relationship, where fleeting difficulties are overshadowed by the overall joy of their connection.
Through this imagery, Cara suggests that despite the occasional hardships she faces with her father, the positive experiences outweigh the negative ones. Just as swimmers tend to forget about the temporary cold when recalling their fun in the sun, she too focuses on the joyful moments they share, indicating a deep-seated affection that persists despite challenges.