Alice Henderson On Debut

Nine

I reef open the door of the indoor sports centre and head inside. Jazz is in judging by the 80's music that's playing through the speakers. I can't see her out on the courts, so I go around to the office to see if she's there. She's on the phone so I wave at her and take a seat at the canteen counter to wait for her.

Jazz leans in the office doorway. "Hey, Kiddo. What's happening?"

If anyone else called me Kiddo, I'd get angry, but with Jazz it's more of a nickname, and hearing her say it makes me feel heaps better.

"Can I use the bowling machine for a bit?"

"It's a bit glitchy. I'm hoping to get it sorted next week. I can do some throw downs if you like? You'll just have to give me a couple of minutes to finish this paperwork."

"Yeah, that'd be good actually." I slide down off the seat and head onto the court.

While I wait for Jazz, I do some stretches and warm-ups. I would've really loved to use the machine today, get some big hitting in and take out some of my anger about Adam. I won't be able to do that with Jazz doing throw downs, but at least I get to practice. Some people go to the beach or a park or whatever to think. I come down to the indoor sports centre and hit cricket balls.

Jazz pushes through the elastic net opening and dumps a bucket of balls on the ground. "Face up."

I step back onto the crease and get ready. Jazz throws down the first ball and I hit it straight back. I can tell by the sound it makes off the bat that I swung too early. I curse under my breath but Jazz doesn't hear me. I readjust my stance and get ready again. I can't believe Adam didn't tell me about the cricket camp. It's not like he never gets to go on training camps. Obviously his is more important than mine. Step forward. Head over the ball. Straight bat.

"Elbow up," Jazz says. She throws another one. I get my elbow up higher and the ball comes off better.

He has no idea what it's like not being able to just play cricket like he does every weekend. Has he ever had to run the drinks out? Not since he broke his nose trying to hook a ball when he was ten. Me? I never get a chance to play a proper game.

"Move your feet."

I reset my stance, shake out my neck and shoulders and face up again. And me? Sabotage him? He was the one who bowled badly, not me. It was his own fault he got carted. If it wasn't me hitting him over the rope it would've been someone else. Well, maybe not, but any of our top batters could've if they hadn't gotten out early.

"You're too square. Open your shoulders a little. Better."

Watch the ball, hit the ball. I watch as the ball glides past Jazz and into the net behind her.

I can't believe Adam didn't tell me about the camp. If I miss out because he kept it from me... God! It's just typical. Adam gets to go on everything while I miss out.

"Foot to the ball, Alice."

On the next ball, I stride forward and hit the ball back where it came from. Follow through.

Damn it! Adam can get knotted. I'm going to ask for my own subscriptions to the cricket magazines for Christmas so I don't miss out next time.

Crack!

"Hey, watch it!" Jazz jumps out of the way as the ball ricochets off the netting at the side of the court and bounces back towards us.

I shoulder my bat. "Sorry."

"What is going on in your head, Alice? You're not concentrating."

I don't answer.

Jazz stands and looks at me. "If you're going to play a pull shot like that, at least get your front leg out of the way, right?"

I nod.

"Good. I think you could do with a break. Come on, I'll shout you a Gatorade." Jazz starts collecting cricket balls and putting them back in the bucket. I lean my bat against the netting and give her a hand.

We sit down at a table, and Jazz takes a drink of her water. I take a long drink of my Gatorade. Jazz doesn't say anything. She just sits and drinks her water and watches me. I know she won't let me go without telling her what's wrong. I suck in a breath and say, "Adam and I had a huge fight."

Jazz nods like she knew that all along. "Bad enough to put you off your shots today?"

I shrug and flick the bottle cap around in my fingers.

"What'd you fight about?"

"Adam thinks I tried to make him look bad in front of the scouts today."

Jazz leans back in her chair. "You didn't, did you?"

"Not on purpose."

Jazz raises an eyebrow and the corner of her mouth twitches up in a half-smile. "You just did what came naturally then?" she asks.

"What do you mean?"

"See a bad ball, punish it. Isn't that what we've been practicing down here for years?"

"I guess so." When she puts it like that, it makes perfect sense. "But this was Adam's chance to impress the scouts. I might've stuffed that up for him."

Jazz leans forward on her chair and looks right at me. "Look, Alice, Adam's a great player, but so are you. Adam stuffing up is his own fault. I know that sounds harsh but if he plays badly in front of a scout, how do you think he'd go in a proper league in the city?" When I don't answer, Jazz continues. "Alice, no-one made Adam bowl badly. It was probably nerves and he should learn from that."

"Yeah but I didn't have to make it worse by hitting sixes off him."

Jazz leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. "It annoys me that you make excuses for your talent, Alice."

"No I don't."

"Yes, you do," Jazz says. "God I wish that club would let you play properly so you could show them how good you actually are."

I pick at the top of the table with my thumb.

"Something else is wrong," Jazz says.

I sigh. "I might've missed out on an all-girls cricket camp thanks to Adam."

"A cricket camp?"

I nod. "I found out about it today at the match. One of the scouts told me about it."

"Wow. Things have changed since my day," Jazz says. "What did the scout say?"

I shrug. "He just told me about this camp and that he'd try to pull some strings but with my luck it's too late anyway." I drink the rest of my Gatorade and screw the lid back on.

Jazz pats my knee. "There's always next year though, right?"

"I guess."

Jazz stands up. "Come on. I've got something that might cheer you up."

I follow Jazz into her office. "What?"

"You can help me order some new equipment for the centre."

"Really?"

"Yes," Jazz says. "But don't go nuts on thebats. I'm not made of money."