I played tennis with Yvette today. Yesterday I asked if we could play early before the day gets too hot. She suggested 9.30am. I was thinking of 8.00am but Yvette has been married 46 years and her husband still brings her breakfast in bed every morning so 9.30 is probably the crack of dawn.
I thought I had got used to Yvette's little antics but this morning she behaved like John McEnroe. I was 4-1 up in the first set when suddenly she announced that the score was 4-3. I am used to these little tricks so I stood my ground. She argued, she shouted. I ignored her and took my position ready to receive serve but her shouting got louder, calling me a cheat and then using some choice words. Her ploy worked. I lost concentration and started to lose, eventually losing in a tie break. I was not happy but said nothing.
At the end of the set Yvette asked me if I was angry with her, using the expression 'tu me fais la tete?' I said, 'no I am not angry, I am disappointed. You arrived in a bad mood and you were losing. You don't like to lose so you threw histrionics, knowing that it would put me off. Something upset you this morning but it is me who suffers. In England we call it gamesmanship and if you don't understand it look it up in the dictionary.'
She apologised, saying I was right, she had been in a bad mood and that a French woman would have walked off the court. I lost the second set as well.
And now all my tennis partners have departed for a month and I am looking at flights to anywhere knowing full well that I can't afford to go. I wish I hadn't stopped playing golf.
I thought I had got used to Yvette's little antics but this morning she behaved like John McEnroe. I was 4-1 up in the first set when suddenly she announced that the score was 4-3. I am used to these little tricks so I stood my ground. She argued, she shouted. I ignored her and took my position ready to receive serve but her shouting got louder, calling me a cheat and then using some choice words. Her ploy worked. I lost concentration and started to lose, eventually losing in a tie break. I was not happy but said nothing.
At the end of the set Yvette asked me if I was angry with her, using the expression 'tu me fais la tete?' I said, 'no I am not angry, I am disappointed. You arrived in a bad mood and you were losing. You don't like to lose so you threw histrionics, knowing that it would put me off. Something upset you this morning but it is me who suffers. In England we call it gamesmanship and if you don't understand it look it up in the dictionary.'
She apologised, saying I was right, she had been in a bad mood and that a French woman would have walked off the court. I lost the second set as well.
And now all my tennis partners have departed for a month and I am looking at flights to anywhere knowing full well that I can't afford to go. I wish I hadn't stopped playing golf.
Comments
Post a Comment