When playing tennis I search for the perfect shot.
I kindly and carefully hit the ball back. My opponent
hits the ball out. Not good. Next ball I hit the ball back to her backhand. My
opponent mishits the ball. The ball hits the top of the net and dribbles over.
She wins the point. Once again not perfection.
The clouds skim across the sky. Hiding the sun. Overcast.
I can see the ball without squinting. I can relax my eyes and forget about what
I can’t see. The sun.
Another game begins with me receiving serve. I wait
for the server to grab the ball. Balanced on my toes, swinging my racquet. I
watch the server. I bury deep inside her head read how she is about to serve. I
feel perfectly balanced. My foot points towards the ball. I stare at the ball
as it bounces in the serving box. I swing my racquet back, my foot points
towards the ball, swing my racquet forward, hit the ball and send the ball back
fast and top spinning inches inside the baseline. My perfect shot is hit back to me by her
perfect shot. My turn to hit another perfect shot which she will return. It is
becoming a good rally.
The ball connects us. In a dance. A dance where we all
watch the ball and other players and dance in response.
The rally continues. The ball comes to my forehand. I
dance towards the ball. Stand. Move my foot pointing to where the ball will
land and swing my racquet back. The obvious play is to go deep to her backhand.
Can I pretend to go deep and simultaneously drop the ball over the net. A short
drop shot.
Both of us are stretched to our limits. I don’t think
I can continue but I do. I concentrate and focus and surprise myself. I
concentrate on nothing but getting the ball back. A perfect rally. Both of us
need each other. Both of us aim to win. When we have a perfect rally, we both
win.
A bird lands on the fence. The bird surveys all. She
sees what she wants and flies off. Flapping silently and swooping towards a
grassy area.
Today I have achieved my aim. A perfect shot on
perfect courts surrounded by perfect nature. A light breeze, mild sun, active
tweeting birds and a stray rabbit.
