Just Before the War with the Eskimos

           FivestraightSaturdaymornings,GinnieMannoxhadplayedtennisattheEastSideCourtswithSelenaGraff,aclassmateatMissBasehoar’s.GinnieopenlyconsideredSelenathebiggestdripatMissBasehoar’s—aschoolostensiblyaboundingwithfair-sizeddrips—butatthesametimeshehadneverknownanyonelikeSelenaforbringingfreshcansoftennisballs.Selena’sfathermadethemorsomething.(Atdinneronenight,fortheedificationoftheentireMannoxfamily,GinniehadconjuredupavisionofdinneroverattheGraffs’;itinvolvedaperfectservantcomingaroundtoeveryone’sleftwith,insteadofaglassoftomatojuice,acanoftennisballs.)ButthisbusinessofdroppingSelenaoffatherhouseaftertennisandthengettingstuck—everysingletime—forthewholecabfarewasgettingonGinnie’snerves.Afterall,takingthetaxihomefromthecourtsinsteadofthebushadbeenSelena’sidea.OnthefifthSaturday,however,asthecabstartednorthinYorkAvenue,Ginniesuddenlyspokeup.

           "Hey,Selena..."

           "What?"askedSelena,whowasbusyfeelingthefloorofthecabwithherhand."Ican’tfindthecovertomyracket!"shemoaned.

           DespitethewarmMayweather,bothgirlswerewearingtopcoatsovertheirshorts.

           "Youputitinyourpocket,"Ginniesaid."Hey,listen—"

           "Oh,God!You’vesavedmylife!"

           "Listen,"saidGinnie,whowantednopartofSelena’sgratitude.

           "What?"

           Ginniedecidedtocomerightoutwithit.ThecabwasnearlyatSelena’sstreet."Idon’tfeellikegettingstuckforthewholecabfareagaintoday,"shesaid.