It’s got a tan leather grip and shiny varnish, and the strings are tight and white, and it says, T.A.D. across the bottom. My Aunt Delia says that stands for Thomas A. Davis, but the kids just call it a Tad racket. She says she’s going to teach me to play tennis, and we’re going to play a lot, and by the end of the summer I’ll be as good as Pancho Gonzales. Delia takes a twenty and a ten out of her pocket and puts them down by the cash register, and Mr. Tolbert says, “How ’bout some balls, Miss Delia?” And my Aunt Delia says, “Why not? Travis is starting a new year of his life today. We might as well start out with fresh ones.” Mr. Tolbert reaches under the counter and brings up a red can that says Spalding. It has a key on top like a can of tuna. My Aunt Delia waits for her change, but she’s watching the boy outside working on his car. He’s got long black hair, and there’s a lot of oil on it, and it’s combed back like Elvis.
