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.