Tennis Ace Read Online Free PDF Page B

Steve’s hand. “
Would
you? Will you talk to Dad and maybe put in a good word for me while you’re doing it?”
    Steve hesitated. “I … yeah, I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him that I’m not ready yet, that I need a little more time before
     I can —”
    “Hey, Champ, Gin, it’s getting late.” Their father stood behind them by the back door. Steve wondered how much of the conversation
     he had overheard.
    But if Mr. Greeley had heard anything, he gave no sign of it. “You both have important matches tomorrow and you need your
     rest. How about turning in?”
    “Sure, Dad,” Ginny said as she scrambled to herfeet. “By the way, Dad, there’s something Steve needs to talk to you about. Right, Steve?”
    “What’s on your mind, Champ?” asked their father.
    Steve suddenly felt tongue-tied. He couldn’t think of a word to say. “Uh … nothing, Dad. It’ll keep.”
    “
Steve!
” whispered Ginny, with a pleading expression on her face.
    “Not now,” Steve replied. “I feel really tired, and I better get to sleep.”
    He hurried inside, not wanting to face Ginny. He knew she was mad, and he felt guilty, as though he had betrayed her. But
     if he was going to tell his father the truth, he wanted to do it his own way.
    He
would
. He had to. And soon.

9
    W hen Steve poked his head out the window the following morning, he was relieved to find that the weather had cooled down. It
     was a great day for tennis, and he was actually looking forward to the semifinal match.
    His mood dampened a little at breakfast. Ginny wouldn’t look at him, and he knew that she was angry with him for not speaking
     up to their father the night before.
    “Gin?” he said. She stared straight ahead as if he hadn’t spoken. “Listen, I’m really sorry about last night, but, hey, I
know
I said I’d tell Dad I wasn’t sure about a tennis career, but it … didn’t seem like the right time.”
    “The
right time
?” She sneered at him as sheechoed his words. “Face it, bro, you just chickened out. I think there’s never going to be a right time.”
    “That’s not so!” Steve’s face felt hot, and he knew it was beet-red, which happened when he got mad or embarrassed. “I
am
going to tell him, and real soon. I just … need a little time to figure out what to say. But I’ll do it.”
    “Uh-huh. Well, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Ginny said; slamming her juice glass down in front of her.
    “Morning, all,” said Mr. Greeley, smiling as he sat down at the table. Steve and Ginny muttered their greetings. Their father
     gave no sign of being aware of the tension in the air.
    “Looks like a perfect day for tennis,” he said. “Is everybody ready to go?”
    Both his children nodded, and he seemed satisfied.
    “Great, great. Ginny, who are you playing in the semis?”
    “Maddy Stern. She can be a little troublesome,” she said. “I was thinking I’d use my topspin serve on her right from the start.
     What do you think?”
    “Hmm, I don’t think I know your opponent. ButI’m sure you know the best way to beat her.” He gave Ginny a smile, then turned to Steve. “You’ll be playing Darren Poole.
     He’s going to be a challenge, a lot more trouble than Charlie Silver was yesterday. You’d better be ready.”
    Steve chewed on a slice of toast, trying not to see Ginny’s unhappy look at the way their father had brushed her aside. “I’ll
     be ready. It’s a nicer day, and I got my rest.”
    “Darren is almost six feet tall, with those long arms, and he has a cannon serve, remember.”
    “Sure, I remember,” Steve said.
    Mr. Greeley buttered toast. “How do you deal with that big serve?”
    “I back off the baseline. I try to meet the ball and not kill it.” Steve drummed his fingers on the table, wishing they could
     leave so he wouldn’t have to see Ginny glaring at him.
    “You can win, Champ.” He gave his son a tap on the shoulder. “But you’ll have to play better than yesterday.