Dad played a lot of sport games, and he also made sure we joined in with him. Mariah and I would normally go, but Daniel, who was a year and six months never came along. Mum refused because she thought he was too young.
Obviously he is too young.
Few weeks after my eleventh birthday, my dad introduced us to tennis. He had been playing tennis while he was at university, he said. But now he plays squash. I always thought it was a bit too aggressive. Which was why I didn't fancy it. But I fell in love with tennis and shortly after , I began to hate it. It was the beginning of everything because this tennis marked the reason why I was walking round with a broken glass in my heart.
The day I met Coach Andrew, my life changed.
I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was during the summer holidays, and Elijah, my dad's driver came to the house, with him . He was tall and dark. His eyes looked a bit red. He was dressed in white, from the face cap, to the shoes.
"Good afternoon" I greeted. Elijah nodded. Coach Andrew seemed to look at me in a funny way.
"Wow so this is oga's first child?" He asked. His voice was deep and rough. But I wasn't discouraged. He looked back at me. "He has really fine children"
I wanted to say thank you but I kept quiet. He turned his attention to me.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Hadassah" I said. He smiled, and looked as if he wanted to say something.
"Do you know what tennis is?"
"Yes" I said quickly before I completed the sentence with something petty
"Well. I'm a coach. And I'll be teaching you, and your little sister how to play tennis. I'm sure you know who Serena Williams and her sister is. You could be just like them or even better" he winked.
I had a weird feeling about this guy to be honest. But just for being nice I let the feelings go.
"So, we'll start tomorrow. I'm sure by then I'll meet your sister. I only came today to introduce myself." He smiled again as I nodded. "You look like a smart girl. But I'll only need you to prove it to me"
He held out his hand for a shake. I accepted it.
But I wouldn't push down the fact that it felt like I shook a bag of pins because my skin prickled from his touch.
"Hmm, darling don't you think you're wasting money? Remember just last year we arranged swimming classes for them" mum said over dinner as she served dad.
"It is good that they know all these things. Let them expand their knowledge of non academic things too" Dad replied. "Or Hadassah, you don't want to learn how to play tennis"
I smiled at him. "Yes I do"
"Hmm. But didn't you want piano lessons again. Didn't your school say that you should learn how to play at least one music instrument?" Mum questioned. I suddenly remembered.
"She can do the piano and tennis lessons. It won't be everyday Anna"
Mum nodded. "Would you be okay with it, Hadassah?"
"Yes mummy."
She smiled at me for a while. "That's good you know. Learning different things aside from academics."
