Our high school is in the middle of tennis tryouts.  My son is one of the ones trying out.  They get together and do drills and stuff for several days before the coaches make their final decision.  Shawn has been getting home and riding his bike up to the college every day, where they are holding the tryouts.  He’s really enjoyed it so far.

He has also had a physical at the doctor’s office.  (That was a big deal – the old man doesn’t like paying doctor bills to begin with, but, going to the doctor when you’re not sick?  What?!  Hahaha!)  He has also gotten new tennis shoes and a new tennis racket.  He’s really excited and has been looking forward to this for months.  He’s taken lessons back home in Dallas, and I’m just glad to see him interested in something physical, for once.  I do totally have a vision of this kid in the future as the lead developer for Bungie, or some such company – and I love that about him, but, I need him to get outside and get moving around, too!

Shawn had told me before that they were going to be picking 10 boys and 10 girls for the team.  Ok, that’s cool. Whatever. But then yesterday, he came home and told me that, yes, they are picking 10 boys for the team – and guess how many boys are trying out? You got it – 11.

There is no way. Just no way. The coaches are gonna have to make an exception here, I believe. I mean, really – do you wanna be that 11th kid? I know I sure wouldn’t. That poor kid would have to live with that for the rest of the school year. Every time the morning announcements refer to the ‘tennis matches at 4pm today’ – that kid is gonna squirm in his chair. If it were me, every time anything came up about it, I’d probably feel like everyone was looking at me. I might get red in the face.

I’d imagine some of the kids shaking their heads and muttering to themselves, ‘ah, poor Jimmy Bob didn’t make it – man, that sucks – he was the only one that didn’t make the team, you know!’

And oh my gawd, holy cow – what if Shawn is that ‘Jimmy Bob’? I doubt it, from the reaction my husband got months ago, when mentioning our kids have had some tennis instruction.  I think he was speaking to one of the dads whose kids play on the team.  And this dad got so excited when he heard that – he says they don’t have many people with experience, at all!  So I feel fairly confident about him.

But still - my kid, or any of the kids - I just can’t stand the thought of only one kid being left out.  Ick.  What a tender, vulnerable age for something like that to happen to a kid!! I sure hope those coaches see it the same way I do!