On The Court

The statistics that he shows are impressive. In a three set match, I hit twelve aces, nineteen forehand winners, eleven backhand winners, which is a lot for me, for a total of twenty-three errors from all types. The agents seem impressed and Paul as well. Serena's statistics, obviously impressive, are still below mine.

"I can't process what just happened." I say, turning to Paul.

"I can." he responds.

"Did I hit good backhands though?" I ask, suspicious about the quality of my shot.

"Training is already visible in your position and grip on the racket when you hit the ball, although there's always work to do. You did great!" Paul congratulates me.

I head back to the locker rooms after Paul tells me the agents will bring the paper in soon for me to sign them. I put my racket in a locker Paul let me take and get into my old dirty clothes again. I get out the locker room and walk back to the courts, where two agents are waiting for me with a pen and papers for me to sign.

"Miss Thompson, we find you very impressive. Very few 16-year-olds measure up to six feet two and have a serve as yours, but very fewer are able to beat Serena Williams." the agent named Aaron tells me.

"Oh, well I'm flattered." I answer gladly as I read the paper I have to sign.

"So you probably read that you have to make your parents sign because your a minor, that is preventative from any misunderstandings from happening between the parents and our channel."

I'm shocked. I can't enter the show if I don't make my parents sign. Why did he tell me? Is the only question I have popping in my head. And why did Aaron the agent have a pen in his hands if I can't sign? Those men don't inspire me confidence.

"But I... I can't, I..." I try to articulate but the emotions in my head are mixed up between stress and anger.

"What is it Miss Thompson? You can just bring the papers home tonight and make your parents sign it. What's the trouble?"

"Nothing it's just that my parents were on a business trip and I forgot that they were coming back tonight. I'll be okay by the end of the week." I invent rapidly.

"Fine then. I'll be waiting for your inscription." he says, looking at me with a cold eye.

I walk by Paul and approach him to tell him I'll be back by Friday and I'll take a break tomorrow to take good care of myself. As I'm heading out, Paul grabs my arm.

"You shouldn't be part of that show, it's a waste of time for you. You should start a career by August and start during the little tournaments that are played whole the U.S. Open in New York. And don't come and tell me you trust those men, don't they seem a little... I don't know... weird?" Paul explains to me.

"That's weird, I thought the exact same thing when I first saw them. The thing is that they always have a weird smirk on their faces and it makes them look a little untrustworthy." I tell him.

I decide not to tell him about the parents issue and leave for the metro station immediately after I see Andy enter it.

"Hey!" she says, happy to see me after a long day.

"Hi was it today you had your meeting with that man who gave his guitar to you?" I ask, not remembering his name.

'Yes, it was this morning. It was great he said he liked my capacities and I had great potential. This career excites me. I want to write a track to play soon. He gave me that task for the month, I need to get it by heart." Andy says with hope.

I tell her what happened to me at the club from Maggie to Serena even with the weird men.

"Lucky you can't enter this contest, you have an excuse. I even saw them last year with tennis channel trucks. But stay away from them. I don't like how they look at girls. There's a tall one with brown hair, blue eyes, pretty good looking but I never saw a emotion on his face. There's a regular sized one and I think his name is Aaron. I didn't see the other one's badge." Andy admits after seeing my trouble with these men.

"It's exactly them. I don't like how they smirk all the time." I tell her.

"I'm telling you, stay away. Okay?" Andy says, doubtfully.

"I will. I promise." I reassure her.

We hug and as it starts raining we go take lunch after an exhausting day.