plan B

In my portfolio I have the credit card that my dad gave me for emergencies. And I think this is a real emergency. I go to the airport. By this time tomorrow I'll be in Perry's bedroom to tell him this story. I keep my eyes open for searchlights. I expect every moment the distant sound of bloodhounds to hear. I stick my thumb up.

It stops a car. I do the door, to throw my suitcase in the back. It's Julio, Nicks law enforcement. He says that my dad on the phone, at the Bollettieri Academy, and he wants to talk to me. Now.

The bloodhounds were'd rather have.

I tell my father that I want to go home. I tell him what Nick did.

You dress like a cousin, my father says. I think you deserve.

I try plan B.

Pops, I say, Nick spoils my game. I practice only from the baseline, we never work on my netgame. We never work on my service and my volley.

My father says he will have to be with Nick. He also says that Nick has promised him that my punishment will last only a few weeks. Nick wants to show who's boss. It is unacceptable that a child breaks the rules. He must somehow show that discipline reigns.

Then my father said again that I stay. I have no choice. Click. Dial Tone.


Julio closes the door. Nick picks up the phone and tells me that my father has instructed him to grab my credit card.

Give him my credit card? No way! The only thing I could ever come from? Over my dead body.

Nick tries to negotiate with me and suddenly I know: This man needs me. He has sent Julio behind me, he called my father and now he tries to get hold of my credit card. He said I had to leave and when I left, he brought me back. I have his challenge. Despite all the trouble I cause, I am important to him.

By day I am a model prisoner, I weeded out weeds, clean the toilets clean, wear proper tennis clothing. But at night I'm the masked avenger. I steal a runner from the Bollettieri Academy and late at night, when all others are sleeping, I go on raids with a few other disgruntled guys. Although I confine myself to harmless things like throwing shaving cream bombs, spraying walls with graffiti my companions. On the door of Nick's office inject
Nick the Dick
. And as Nick the door to clean, they do it again.

My main henchman during these nocturnal trips Roddy Parks is the guy who beat me long ago to the day I met Perry. But Roddy is caught. Betrayed by his slapie. I hear that Roddy was dismissed.