Week 8 - "Mixed Match"

They stood outside the health club for a moment and talked. There was still an April chill in the air. He could feel his heart racing from the tennis and the steam room. Ace could feel his body temperature quickly cooling down. He hesitated, trying to decide if he should invite Hal to play tennis again next week. A breeze kicked up, blowing sand and dirt from the empty parking lot into their eyes. Ace put his tennis bag down and pulled the hood up over his wet hair, which was still damp from the hot shower.

Week 7 - "Steaming"

The club was practically deserted when Ace arrived shortly before nine o'clock. The health club had been converted from an old warehouse with corrigated siding similar to an old airplane hanger. The place was expansive but no matter how much they tried to upgrade the place it still had the feel of an old army base. This was most evident out on the tennis courts. Tennis "courts" was being generous since all they really did was lay down a thin skim coat over the old concrete floor, paint some white lines and throw up six nets. The floor was the hardest in New England and the balls flew off the surface like skimming stones bouncing off  the surface water in a kettle pond. Ace knew the courts felt stiff but it would be another ten years begor he really began to notice the wear and tear they were doing to his back, feet and knees.

Week 6 - "Saturday Night Singles"

The health club had an active tennis scene and Ace took advantage of it right away.  The health club made it's money on the endless number of other programs they offered so they didn't bother charging any hourly court fees like most of the other tennis clubs. Since court time was free there were always plenty of people hanging around the lounge ready to jump into a match or even just to hit balls with for an hour.  Free tennis created a unique atmosphere where the better players were willing to get on court with people who they would not normally play with since it did not cost them anything. Still, Ace was careful not to get into any groups that were clearly over his head. He knew it would take time to get his game into gear.

Week 5 - "A Pair of Aces"

Ace was not his real name.

When he was in sixth grade and started to notice girls he began to pay more attention to how he dressed and combed his hair. Back then, the style was to carry a long folding wallet that would stick out in the back pocket of a boy's jeans along with a full length comb. Ace spent a good deal of his time that summer trying to decide which pocket he should carry his wallet and comb and he would switch them around from one day the the next and look at his backside in the mirror to determine which pocket of his Levi jeans his comb and wallet look best in.

Week 4 - "Ace of the Courts"

On Monday morning, Dan and Jay were at their usual spot near the company coffee machine dissecting Sunday's football game. Like most men in their mid thirties they loved sports. Hockey, basketball, baseball and football - especially football. They didn't actually play any sports but they sure liked to watch them on TV from the comfort of their soft couches and recliners.

Week 3 - "Back At It"

It started on Tuesday with the air conditioners. Four of them. They were heavy and cumbersome and getting them out of the windows and down two flights of stairs to the basement was not easy. But Russ managed to get them stacked and covered and only felt a slight twinge in his lower back when he was all done. Nothing serious.

Week 2

The kids were back in school after what seemed like an endless summer of "she hit me" and "Jack won't let me watch my show" and "I'm bored" fights and whines. Somehow, the player managed to make it through July and August, more or less mentally intact with the help from a steady supply of good wine. Still, the first week of school brought on new hassles and stresses including several calls from the nurse about the boy's diabetes. Tuesday his blood sugar level was low and Wednesday he forgot his insulin kit on the bus. The player was not a morning person and none of this helped.

Prelude

It felt good to lay my money down and hit the courts at DHAC after not having played there for the past seven weeks. Stepping thru the glass door and being hit with the warm, dank, stale air that defines our home court brought it all rushing back in an instant. How could I forget the "phoosh, phoosh" sound from the Big Ass fans and the dim lighting so quickly? Damn, it was good to be back where FND all started.