Tennis, Anyone?
Today, after work, Maggie and I are going to play tennis. By play tennis I mean we are going to attempt to hit the ball in the direction of the other side of the court (not into an adjacent court, as I've already mastered this skill). We both took lessons two? was it two? years ago at MIT. They were good lessons. Don't blame the lessons for our lackluster performance on the courts.
There will be no scoring. Rarely will there be a formal attempt at serving. There will be volleying and rallying and laughing. There will be several attempts to look nonchalant once the ball has sailed past one of us. There may be apologies to people who may be playing in adjacent courts. There will be fun.
Maggie and I already have poor playing excuses in store for this evening. Mine is my rotator cuff. Hers is being sore from playing tennis with her dad on Sunday. "He wanted to keep score," she told me yesterday.
"Like a real game?" My tone was full of horror and pity. What kind of man was Maggie's father?
"Yeah, but I fixed it," she said. "I said, let's keep rallying for a while." She also scored the better half of the court at some point and refused to change sides, so as to keep the good half of the court. I admire that.
So if you happen to see two incredibly hot, inept tennis players in the Cambridge/Somerville area courts tonight, duck and run. It's in your best interests.