The evil inside Alice grinned & enjoyed this apology. She did not spoil this satisfaction by telling Dana that she was late also.

The lights were shining at court 20. The sound of some tennis balls heard while hitting hard on the rackets from other courts. The club really was deserted. The neighboring courts were in the dark & without players. “Great, no audience – no humiliation” Alice thought. She undressed her sweat pants & shirt.

“Cute outfit” called Dana from far. She was fixing the pitching machine. Also Dana cannot be any cuter. Alice held her racket & enjoyed eyeing her best friend. This place was where Dana felt like home, where she felt safe. Alice instantly noticed Dana has changed into a ‘confident Dana’ even her walk had a persistent altitude now.

“OK now. First things first I’ll show you how to hold the racket, how to move at your field, how to trick your opponent” Dana told Alice.

“You make it sound easy.”

“Now look at the way I hold the racket. See? Like that.” Alice tried to mimic it. “Good” Dana agreed. “Hold a little bit tighter, that’s it.”

Dana started to move her racket as if receiving a forehand shot. “You will hit the ball that comes on your right like this Bend a little while hitting That’s right”

Dana instructed Alice on the proper angle and the ideal positioning. “Ready for an actual shoot?” She ran to the machine placed on the other side of the net. She turned it on & used the remote to choose between the throw speed & ball route.

A ball was sent already before Dana walked back to where Alice was. Alice hit the ball but the ball went low & hit the net. “That’s good, just keep the right angle.” Then came the second ball, then the third Dana was watching carefully, making comments. “Let me hit now” she suggested & while doing that she first made the ideal perfect hit & repeated Alice’s shoot with the mistakes. Alice admired her best friend, Dana was full of life and enjoying herself too much. She loved Dana, her best friend, after seeing her under such a brighter light even more, if that was possible.