Love Game - Season 2012 Read Online Free

year’s Olympics and the prospect of competing thrilled
Polly. But Bernadette seemed almost grim about the challenge that lay ahead of
them.
    “We need to figure out a good practice
schedule,” the older player said resolutely. “Let’s see into which tournaments
your ranking will get you, and with your team I’ll figure out a plan for us.”
    Polly swallowed hard on her lamb rib.
    “Of course, we need to play as many grass
tournaments as possible to be best prepared for London,” Bernadette continued.
Many? Plural? Polly looked up. The tennis competition of the Olympic Games in
London was also to be held also at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
of Wimbledon – on grass and only a couple of weeks after the third Grand Slam.
Were two weeks on the same courts not enough as a solid preparation for the
Olympics?
    “We considered playing Birmingham,” she
said hesitantly.
    “Yes, Birmingham.” Bernadette raised her
index finger. “But we should definitely play one more before Wimbledon,”
Bernadette pointed out, lifting a second finger. “Then we have Wimbledon,” she
continued her list, raising a third finger.” And after Wimbledon I suggest
staying in England so we have another good three weeks of practice.” Bernadette
wagged her four lifted fingers in front of Polly’s nose and gave the young
player a broad smile. For a short moment Polly thought if it wasn’t for the
many fingers, Bernadette looked like a witch luring her into her gingerbread
house. Polly nodded, thinking about the tight grass court schedule.
    “I can talk about this with my team. There
is still enough time,” she mumbled.
    “I’ll talk to them,” Bernadette interrupted
her. With a swift movement she pulled back her hand that had been lingering in
front of Polly’s nose and clenched a fist.
    “I want a medal,” she said vehemently. She
almost hissed the words. “I deserve a medal. This is my last chance and I am
going to take it.”
    She let her fist sink onto the table,
suddenly looking exhausted. Then she finally picked up her fork and pierced it
into a cherry tomato.
    Obviously, participating in the Olympic
Games meant a lot to Bernadette. It would be her fourth attendance and also her
last. She was already thirty-six. Polly was nevertheless surprised to see the
ambition in the older player’s eyes. Bernadette was a journeywoman on the tour,
who had had her peak in the singles competition in her early twenties when she
had reached a couple of fourth rounds at Grand Slams and when she had had a
career high singles ranking in the Top 20. Polly couldn’t remember any of
Bernadette’s big matches. They had happened long before she had started
following the game. For the last ten years she had specialized in doubles,
which was a good way of making a living but wasn’t prestigious at all. Most
Canadians wouldn’t be able to recognize her. Perhaps that was the reason
Bernadette liked the Olympics so much, Polly thought. Because it emphasized the
attention drawn to fellow countrymen and women.
    Polly took another look at Bernadette. All
of a sudden, nothing in the woman’s demeanor gave a hint at her burning
ambition. Pensively, the Canadian was shoveling salad into her mouth while her
long, dark hair fell into her face.
     
    ***
     
     
    Just as Monica Jordan and Agnes Lion
entered the stand reserved for players and officials the scoreboard switched to
the names of the players due on court next. Natsumi Takashima’s name, along
with the embarrassing scoreline next to it was replaced with the names of
Gabriella Galloway and Sophia Thrassa.
    “What on earth was wrong with Nats?” Agnes
wondered, still looking at the scoreboard.
    Monica shrugged. “Haven’t heard that much
from her during the off-season. Maybe she has a new love interest and is
missing her?”
    “She would have told us about that,” Agnes
grinned while making her way down the stairs.
    “She can’t keep things like that a secret,
can she?”