Teaching Elementary, My Dear Watson

29 - Tennis Tourney

29

Tennis Tourney

Saturday, February 4

Stan had told Kevin about a charity tennis tournament over the next two days at the club. Since there was no chance of meeting with Monica until next weekend, Kevin joined his friend. It was cloudy and cool, but almost completely without wind. They needed to wear warmups, but it was a great day for tennis.

"Morning, Stan. How ya doin'?"

"Great. Glad you could make it today. Entrance fees buy us a meal and beverages at the party here tomorrow, subsidized by the club. All money paid is donated in support of the local Community Hospital."

"As long as none of it enriches Miguel!"

"No worries, Kevin. Nothing direct to him, but it may improve things for some of those around Miguel."

"I'm sure they'll appreciate it. And we know Miguel needs all the help he can get, except with women."

"He has poor taste in gender preference, true, but I won't hold that against him."

Kevin smiled and then said, "Tell me how the tournament works."

"A better player is paired with a weaker partner in doubles. Each team plays single-set matches in a round-robin format today. There are twenty teams in groups of five. Results today will be used to determine five levels with four teams each. Tomorrow we'll play semifinals, consolation finals, and the regular finals within each level."

"And how do they decide partners?"

"They've ranked all the players from top to bottom, based on performances in tourneys nearby. Out of the goodness of my heart, and because I'm on the charity committee, I seeded you ahead of me as number one."

"Of course, I was first on our college team, and you were number two there."

"Yeah, but that was centuries ago. I am much better now. I must remind you that I was the one who kept our doubles partnership together and raised us to our highest level."

"I'll grant you that."

He was a superb doubles player. We've never competed against each other before, except in singles. This will be a challenge.

"So you'll be paired with the lowest-ranked player, and I'm with the second worst, but everyone is a decent player. They all have either high school or college tennis team experience. It will be fun."

"Looking forward to it."

Kevin's partner was named Jesús Encarnación, who looked young in trim white shorts and a t-shirt.

"Any relation to a doc named Miguel?"

"He's my uncle. My dad is his older brother."

"Fun coincidence. We played basketball together for four years at Mountain College. Call me Kevin."

"Cool. I'm a sophomore at Mountain High School. My parents both teach there. I avoid their classes."

Kevin laughed. "Good idea. I hope you stay clear of your Uncle Miguel's medical treatment, too."

"Yeah. Don't want nothin' to do with medicine or doctors. No offense to Uncle. Just like being healthy."

"Agreed. So you play for your team?"

"Uh-huh. I'm number four so far. The others above me are juniors and seniors, so our coach thought this doubles tourney would be a good experience for us. My other teammates are in it, too."