Partners

Gerry and I played tennis doubles yesterday with 'Sam' and 'Joan'.  The weather predictions were for sixty five and sunny,  though that was not the case at mid morning.  When we left for the courts, it was a brisk forty seven degrees, and the sun was behind a cloud.  Sam and Joan are probably the best tennis players in our town.  They were playing extremely well today, and Gerry and I were not.   Gerry is the stronger player of the two of us, though he was also making mistakes and missing their shots.  

If I believed I were the only one causing all that loss, I would probably never play doubles with those three again.  But today, even Gerry was no match for their outstanding play. Occasionally, he even ducked to protect himself.   Sam is especially vicious with those fast and furious balls that often come as cross-court slices that twist and reverse.  My best strategy is simply not to care because there’s little I can do about it anyway.  To tell you the truth, just not getting mad is quite an accomplishment.  Sam has an annoying spin, and when he uses it to its full advantage,  the ball comes toward you, hits the court and then takes off at a right degree angle.  Even though he doesn’t really have any mercy, Sam gloated almost apologetically at one point,  “The court had a soft spot in it.”  I shot back,  “Well, your heart certainly doesn’t.”

Sam likes to tease and make wisecracks.  I’m not very good at that, and never really have any good comebacks.   When we were all agreeing to play again on Thursday, he tried to agitate Gerry by saying directly to me,  “Do you think you can find a partner?”   I assured him that I have a partner.   For better or worse.  When it comes to tennis, it is much harder for Gerry to put up with me than it is for me to put up with Ed.