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Show Why We Cry Butch and Fenn Stories 161 tactic of mine: say nothing and maybe the problem will go away. So far in my life, it hasn't been a great tactic. Every night now I worry that the tennis court lights are not going to come on. I do not know who controls them or from where, but when they stop coming on, it's all over. Tonight I'm down leaning on my bike against the stone drinking fountain, when I see the courts fill with light, what a relief. But then, I see the unmistakable forms of Linda Aikens and Carol Wilkes walk into the light. They fold their sweaters on the fence and begin playing tennis. The last thing I am able to think before my heart climbs through my throat is that girls have the ability at all times and in all places to be casual, and it is an amazing ability- I cruise over and lean my bicycle on the lawn and walk to the edge of the light. "Hi, Larry!" Carol says. Linda is back shagging the ball. In a minute Carol is shagging and Linda says, "Oh, hi!" They may be casual, but they still can't play tennis. Every ten minutes they hit the ball two times consecutively, but then - in the heat of that excitement - the third stroke usually goes over my head fifty feet, so I get to do some shagging too. What amazes me is that they act as if they are having fun. I stand there watching them attempting to play tennis, and I realize there's a whole lot of stuff going on which I know nothing about. |