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RED MAZDA

Man in red convertible

They meet at the tennis courts four days a week, reminding me of kids descending on a playground even though they’re all in their 60s or 70s or early 80s. They arrive with straps and wraps to support their knees and elbows, and wide-brimmed caps and sunscreen to protect their lined faces, and stories about doctor visits and grandchildren to be told on the benches while they wait their turns to step into the round-robin play.

I meet them for the first time at the invitation of my friend George, who’s been giving me private lessons and telling me again and again to stop tensing up and grinding my teeth and to simply flow through the strokes of the game. They smile and shake hands when he introduces me and joke about hitting with “a teenager” because I’m only 56.

And then we play, each of us rotating in at the end of every game when the server goes out. I learn right away that I’m the odd one. I swear when I mishit; they tend to laugh. I keep track of how many games I’ve won or lost while they have trouble just keeping score. I stand on the balls of my feet at courtside when I’ve rotated out while they enjoy the opportunity relax and sip their water and chat about all of the things that are on their minds.

If you were a bird flying overhead and looking down you’d see all of us as a group, but even then you’d be able to distinguish the one guy who’s a part of us and apart from us: the one who brought us all together.

His name is Rennie. He’s 85, the oldest of the bunch, and for the last few years he’s told more stories about knee and hip replacements and laughed and cheered about more bad and good shots than anyone in the group. But if you were that bird you’d have to go back exactly four weeks to see us all on the courts at the same time. Four Sundays ago, to be precise. That’s the day I broke Rennie’s heart.

* * *

In retrospect I think the events were probably set in motion the night before, during my weekly Saturday night phone call with my dad. We do it during cocktail hour; me with my bourbon over ice as my wife prepares our best meal of the week, my father sipping good gin next to the fireplace in our family home 200 miles away. My father’s still the first person I want to talk to when something good or bad happens. Lately most everything with us is good, now that we’re at the peak of our working lives, secure in our professions and enjoying the kind of confidence we wouldn’t have dreamed of two decades ago. The only bad moments come from worries about my dad, living alone.

“Before I forget, remember to check your email tonight for something I sent you,” he says.

When I ask him what it is he tells me “it’s a PDF that you have to right-click and save to your desktop. It’s a big file so I had to download what they call a sharing program to squeeze it down so it could be emailed.”

I smile, because it’s the kind of response I get some times when I ask him a question and he either responds by answering a different question, or starting a new train of thought.

“I mean, what’s in the email, dad? What’s it about?”

“Oh,” he says, as if he’s just caught up to me. “I bought a scanner for my computer here at the house. I put a bunch of our old family pictures on it. There are some real cute ones of you and your sister when you were little, and some real good ones of mom.”

“Ah – can’t wait to see ’em,” I say, as the scent of sautéed peppers and onions wafts in to the room. I glance at the Netflix envelope on the bookshelf, containing a film we’ve been looking forward to seeing. It’s one of those ordinary moments when I’m happy to just be home on a Saturday night, looking forward to a great dinner and a movie with my best friend: my wife of 30 years.

After a few more minutes of small talk it’s time to sign off, but not before I confirm what time he’ll arrive for our Thanksgiving celebration the following week. And then I pour another shot and use my laptop to log onto my email and find the document. I skim through dozens of photos and am just about to close it out when I encounter one that surprises me.

I stare at it for a long moment, wondering if I’m seeing it wrong.

“Okay everything’s prepped,” Linda tells me as she steps down into our family room.

There’s a pause while I continue staring at the photo.

“You okay?” she asks.

I show her the photo. It’s me as a toddler, standing up in our living room with my arms outstretched and a big smile on my face. Something about the pose tells me my balance is unsteady, but the sight of my father kneeling behind me with his fingertips just barely touching my arms confirms it.

Linda frowns, taking notice of the same thing that surprised me: the thick metal braces around my ankles and knees.

“You never told me you had problems with your legs,” she says.

“I haven’t,” I say. “Because I don’t remember.”

“You’re wearing metal braces.”

“I have no recollection of them at all.”

* * *

I’m still thinking of the braces as I step onto the court the next day. I’ve always been a bit pigeon-toed; always a bit shorter than average, but never had any indication that I was born with any physical problems that needed to be fixed. Although I’m still wondering why my parents never mentioned them I have to assume the braces were a short-lived measure and that they did whatever they were supposed to do.

These thoughts slip away as we ease into the game in picture-perfect autumn weather. I’m more tense than usual because there are 11 players on our two courts. At any given time there are three on the bench waiting to cycle in one-by-one when servers go out, which means I spend a lot of time standing still instead of playing. I’m antsy and unfocused when I finally rotate in, and over-hit several balls past the baseline and miss two easy volleys in the very first game.

Half an hour later I’m acutely aware that I’ve been on the losing team for six games while winning only four. I’m frustrated by the sense that I can’t get into the right rhythm, a feeling that’s exacerbated by the long breaks between games. It’s always this way when the players sitting on the bench get into a conversation and stop paying attention to what’s happening on the court. They’re slow to get up when it’s time to rotate in, and often delay things further by deciding just then to shed a jacket or re-strap a knee support or take a long drink from their plastic bottles before they finally step in and play.

I’m telling myself to keep calm as they determine that it’s Rennie’s turn to come in and be my partner for the next game. Unfortunately he’s telling one of his jokes to the people on the bench. He has to finish it, with pauses that characterize his perfect timing.  I take deep breaths and stare down at my strings as he gets to the punch line and slaps his thighs and joins the laughter, then walk in a little circle as he looks for his sunglasses. As always when I’m down a few games I start thinking about what it will take to get back up. I know I’m going to be at a disadvantage because Rennie doesn’t move very fast anymore, and has suffered a bit after his second cataract surgery. And also because he no longer takes the game too seriously.

Just like to come out here and be with my friends,” he’s apt to say.

After a moment my mind wanders. I find myself thinking about the point at which I’ll be able to play tennis any day of the week. It depends a great deal on our current finances and future earnings and investments, which should get us to the perfect retirement date on my 60th birthday. And then because of the bizarre way my mind works I think of the plan in context of the last three months of tennis. Thanks to a couple of bad weekends I was only at the break-even point for wins and losses before now, and I’m now two games behind for the season. I want to end up at least a dozen games ahead by the time Christmas rolls around; want to be able to go into the New Year feeling like I’m on track with my tennis and my plan for our future.

I’m still thinking all of this through as Rennie finally ambles onto the court. He smiles at me an instant before his cell phone rings.

I stand there, almost disbelieving as he answers it.

The rest of the crew is laughing, making good-natured fun of him for taking the call from his wife and assuring her he’ll pick up things from the store on his way home. I can’t manage to laugh; I’m just too uptight as I stare down at my legs and try to shake the tension loose.

And then, when he’s finally ready to play, I double-fault on my first serve.

“That didn’t work out to well son,” Rennie says with a laugh.

I respond with a tense “I know.” Then in a brief moment of easy athleticism I hit a fast, deep serve that forces my opponent off balance.

The ball comes back as an easy sitter right in Rennie’s perfect hitting zone. Everyone watches, ready to cheer.

But then he hits it down into the net.

“Awww shucks,” he mutters, then looks back at me with a sheepish smile.

“What happened there?” I ask, in a tight voice.

He tilts his head, as if he didn’t quite hear me.

And then his smile vanishes. “Beg pardon?”

I’ve clearly hurt him with my reaction – my expression and my tone of voice.

“Nothing,” I say. “It’s okay.”

I try to smile to reassure him but can’t get my face into the right shape. So instead I turn my back and walk purposefully back to the baseline, concentrating on my strings in preparation to serve again.

Each of the next two returns comes right back at Rennie. He misses them both, and nearly trips in going for the second one.

“Goddamn it!” I snap, and in a flash of temper over losing the game I pull a ball out of my pocket and hit it hard into the chain link fence at the side of the court.

My reaction draws a heavy silence from the group. I stand there for a moment before I hear someone asking Rennie if he’s all right, and turn to see that he’s limping off toward the bench.

He looks back at me, his eyes red underneath bushy gray eyebrows

“Sorry about that, son.”

In my peripheral vision I see several faces turn toward me, a silent but certain chastisement in the air as I step forward along with everyone else who’s crowding around him now. Rennie’s limp is mild but two of the women players are reaching out to support his elbows as they walk him toward the bench. Someone’s talking about being a retired nurse and the importance of icing injuries, and the players on the next court have also stopped in the middle of a point to make sure Rennie’s okay.

I watch as he slowly sits down on the bench, then gives me an apologetic wave as he meets my eyes again. I stand there; part of the group and apart from it, the sound of my cursing voice still ringing in my ears; the hurt on Rennie’s face ingrained in my mind.

* * *

The winter holidays have always been a big deal in our family, the sense of joy and expectation rooted in my earliest childhood experiences and flourishing even now. Our house looks especially wonderful this Thanksgiving, with gold and rust mums still hanging on in the late November garden, and pumpkins and gourds and candles throughout the house.

I keep reminding myself of how wonderful it all is despite my troubled sleep over the past several nights. I’ve awakened several times to the memory of Rennie’s face the moment I lost my temper and haven’t been able to shut the images away. My exhaustion is yet another reason to make Thanksgiving an especially simple event for Linda, my dad and me, with single servings of turkey, stuffing, a couple of vegetables, and fresh fruit for dessert.

It doesn’t work out that way though, because my father shows up the night before and surprises us with a small ham, and a bag of sweet potatoes, green beans and mushroom soup for a casserole along with apple and pumpkin pies. “All my favorite things,” he tells me, “just to add to the table.”

Linda and I are both a little unnerved at the extra work this is going to entail but manage to stay relaxed and even jovial even though it takes two hours to cook everything, about 15 minutes to eat it, and a solid hour of cleaning afterwards.

And then it’s time.

As planned, Linda tells us she’s going for a walk with friends. After stoking the fire I open another bottle of Cabernet and ask my dad to come sit with me. The long-awaited “talk” that I’ve planned immediately becomes more difficult as he describes how great the fall fishing has been in the spring-fed lake enjoyed by the few neighbors in his semi-rural community, and how good the gutters looked after he cleaned them out, and how he’s switched to a riding mower to deal with the two rolling acres of grass that surround our family’s house.

I see the segue, and take it. “I think I’ve got a lot better proposition for you,” I say.

There’s a small drawer in our coffee table. I open it and pull out a glossy brochure for the retirement community near our home. I tell him I want him to downsize because his house and property are obviously too much for him, and because I know he’ll enjoy a more simplified life with a one-bedroom apartment with its own kitchen, plus the common dining room for when he doesn’t want to cook, plus the community library and nearby walking trails.

He looks at the brochure for a moment and puts it down.

“I’m going to finish off the space above the garage for Mandy,” he says.

He’s referring to my niece, who’s in her senior year of college a couple of miles from his home.

“Why?” I ask.

“So she can save money by not renting an apartment.”

I remember a conversation I had with Mandy a couple of weeks before, when she told me she was looking forward to moving into the house that her fiancé, who runs a small but prosperous construction company, just built for the two of them. I can’t even imagine her deciding to live in my father’s house instead.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say. “It would take a lot of work – “

“I did the basement for our rec room but your mom always wanted to do the attic.”

I feel a slight tremor around my heart; the warning of an uncomfortable memory as he leans slightly forward on the couch across from me.

“I’ve got plans drawn up,” he says. “Some guys to do the electrical and plumbing, so I’ll just do the drywall once I get my balance back.”

I frown. “Your balance? What do you mean?”

He presses his right index finger against his temple. “Been having some dizzy spells. I’ve got an appointment next week.”

I sit up a little straighter, my breath coming up short at the thought of him trying to stand up straight under the cumbersome weight of drywall . . . and cleaning gutters high atop a ladder . . . and riding a mower that could easily tip over on the slope of his property.

“Dad, you’re almost 80.” I pick the brochure back up. “Now’s the time to relax. Enjoy your retirement – “

“I can get it done in less than three months if I time it right.”

“You’d still be making a big mistake,” I insist, thinking of all the money my father and I have already spent on Mandy’s tuition – the tens of thousands he and I still have to pay off once she finishes.

“You should also think of the money you can save by downsizing and being closer to us –.”

“There’s room for a living space and a bedroom that faces north for the light your mom always loved –.”

Jesus, have you heard a word I’ve said?”

It comes out like a reprimand – a verbal slap in the face.

His lower lip starts to quiver as his eyes mist over.

I feel a panicky sensation in my chest, and purposefully lighten my voice. “Come on, pappy. Just please consider it. Think of how great it will be to have us close by to spend time with, all the things we can do together – “

“I wish you wouldn’t talk to me like that, son,” he says.

I sit back on the couch as my own eyes begin to sting. For most of the last two days I’ve been keenly aware of his physical agility and sense of humor and still-bright mind, but in this one moment he looks as if he’s aged 10 years.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m just trying to –.”

“It hurts my feelings when you talk that way.”

* * *

I lie awake most of the night. My whole body is rigid with tension, and every time I shut my eyes I see alternating visions of my dad’s face the moment I barked at him and Rennie’s face when I lost my temper on the court. I know I’ve been a complete idiot in both instances, and feel more like a temperamental preschooler than a grown man who’s been brought up to genuinely respect his elders.

As Linda has reminded me time and again, however, every day brings an opportunity for a fresh start. The thought is foremost in my mind until I come downstairs and see my father’s overnight bag next to our front door, then step into the kitchen to find him sitting by himself at the table.

“I thought you were staying till Saturday,” I say, in a shaking voice.

He leans forward, his shoulders slumping as he grips his coffee cup with both hands. “Nah, I gotta’ get on the road. Got a long drive ahead.”

I feel a dry, scraping sensation at the top of my throat. “It’s going to be a beautiful day,” I say. “We can walk on the beach.”

He stands up, his posture awkward as he turns and pours out his coffee and rinses his cup. “I appreciate that – appreciate everything you and Linda did to make it a nice holiday.”

I stare at his back as he walks out of the kitchen. I follow him to the door. He picks up his bag and steps out to the porch and looks up at the pale blue sky.

“Looks like a good day to drive,” he says.

I try to think of something – anything – that I can say to keep him with us as he pops the trunk. I look in and see his tennis racquet and envision how the day would go if I hadn’t hurt him; what it would be like to pull up to the courts and introduce my dad to my friends.

My eyes tear up. “Dad, I am so sorry about last night.”

He sighs, looking past me for a moment, then offers me a weak smile. “It’s really okay. I’m just not as tough as I used to be. That happens with old people.”

I swallow hard against the lump at the top of my throat.

“I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” I say.

He nods, looking more worried about my feelings than his.

“I know you didn’t. You’re still my best boy.”

I nod back, trying to convince myself that everything is going to be all right between us as I lean against the car and feel a soreness in my lower spine, undoubtedly from the lack of sleep.

And then I remember our conversation the Saturday before.

“I went through all the pictures you sent us,” I say. “I saw the one that showed me with braces on my legs.”

He squints, as if he needs a moment to remember, then nods. “Yeah you were a pitiful little thing for a while there. Wasn’t sure you’d be able to walk without tripping over your own feet.”

My surprise lingers, because I still have no memory of being hobbled at any point in my life.

“Well I’m glad you fixed me up.”

“Yeah.” He looks me in the eye. “I always knew you’d grow up to be a champ . . . just needed to help you out a bit.”

He gives me a brief wave as he slides into the driver’s seat, his posture telling me he wants to avoid a goodbye hug, because it would be an emotional tipping point that he just can’t deal with now.

I wave back, and stand on our porch and watch him drive away.

* * *

Five minutes later I’m back in the kitchen, gazing down at his empty coffee cup in the sink and just barely resisting the urge to burst into tears. Then with a manic sense of avoidance I go straight out into the yard to rake the leaves and then go for a long run, doing my best to stave off the mixture of sadness and guilt that clings to me like a physical presence.

Later in the day Linda and I sit down to have a drink. I briefly consider the possibility of telling her about the outburst that hurt Rennie and the way I talked to my dad but know she’ll probably verify that I’m at fault. That’s the way she is – my most stalwart ally, but never one to keep quiet when she thinks I’ve screwed up.

We watch a movie together on the couch, which limits our conversation, and go to bed. By now I’m so exhausted sleep comes easily, as if my body and my nerves finally give in. After a good 10 hours I feel more rested than I have in a week and realize, as I drive to the tennis court, the best way to make things right with Rennie. I’m going to start off right away suggesting we pick partners and play alongside them for at least four games. I’m going to pick Rennie as my partner with the hope that we’ll win while staying relaxed and supportive of him if we don’t. In my mind I see it as the righting of a scale, a chance to make amends to a friend and become a better sport in my favorite game.

None of that happens, because as soon as I arrive George announces to the group:

“Rennie’s decided he’s not going to play anymore.”

There are murmurs all around; questions about why.

“He thinks he’s too old,” George says.

The players look at each other with disbelief, and make comments about how the gatherings won’t be the same without him.

No one mentions my outburst, but after a moment I pull George aside and whisper: “it’s because of the way I reacted when we lost that game, isn’t it?”

He looks down at the ground, and sighs.

“Just tell me the truth,” I say.

“It didn’t help.”

I feel a shadow passing over me as I look toward the rest of the crew, who are still talking about Rennie, sharing memories formed over decades of friendship.

“I’m so sorry, George.”

He sighs again, then makes an unconvincing effort to shrug. “Rennie’s a tough old guy. He’ll be okay.”

He leaves it at that as the first round of players head onto the court.

I sit down on the bench, my sense of shame coming back tenfold as I watch them. They’re noticeably subdued; there’s much less of the usual banter without the presence of the beloved ringleader. “Rennie started the whole group 20 years ago,” I remember George telling me, “but he’s been playing with some of these guys and gals even longer.”

I think about everything else I’ve learned about Rennie over the past few months. The 40 years he spent as one of the most beloved teachers at our local high school; his early country-boy life on a large plot of wooded land on the back bay that he eventually transformed into a campground for vacationing families; the tennis court erected at the center of that campground, a testament to his lifelong love of the game.

And then I think of his friends on the court. Most have been playing tennis since they were teenagers, transitioning from singles to doubles only after they finally admitted they couldn’t run as fast as they once had. They learned to emphasize the power of spin as opposed to the undependability of power itself, to work better as teammates regardless of who they were paired with; to simply enjoy the camaraderie and appreciate their ability to play.

I’m reminded again of the contrast to the way I play – running hard and hitting hard and thinking of nothing beyond a way to win every point as I watch Lucas Shoup – the handsomest man among us – shank a volley off to the side of the court.

The reaction is exactly what I expect – laughter and good-natured jeers and even a high five from one of the opponents on the other side of the net, coupled by a joke from the other opponent – Lucas’ wife – “That’s my hubby – Mr. Smooth!”

The laughter continues as they get into position for the next point, the moment of levity momentarily lifting their spirits past worries about Rennie, and bringing back the feeling of how it’s always been with him there. True to the cliché, the laughter is contagious, boosting my own mood as I suddenly imagine myself 10 years from now, thicker at the waist; braced up at the knees and elbows; knowing that I’ll live for these moments on the court with my friends.

A short beepbeep comes from the roadway beyond the courts.

I turn around on the bench, and watch as Rennie drives by in his 30-year-old red Mazda RX 7 convertible, his silver hair reflecting the sunlight, smiling and waving as he slows to a stop.

Everyone waves back. There are a few catcalls urging him to get off his lazy butt and get back on the court.

He cups a hand to his ear, pretending he can’t hear any of it, then pauses and gives us all a long, intent look, as if he’s memorizing the sight of us here.

There’s a long moment of near-silence as we look back at him. His smile is a little shaky, as if he’s working hard to convey high spirits even if he doesn’t feel them.

“He can’t play anymore but he’s still checking on us,” says one of the players.

“Yeah, checking on his kids,” says another.

* * *

I go home in a funk, back to our beautiful house, decorated now for Christmas. Linda and I both have extra time off to enjoy our life over the holidays. I should feel grateful but am still saddled with worries about my father and flashbacks over the way I treated Rennie.

The melancholy feeling is bad enough on its own – but it worsens on the two consecutive Sundays when Rennie drives by the tennis courts in his red Mazda again, slowing down and waving and lingering for a few moments before driving off.

Watching us, I think.

Keeping watch.

I learn from George that since giving up tennis Rennie has eased into a Saturday and Sunday morning routine. There’s the 8:30 a.m. breakfast, where he charms all of the waitresses at Denny’s, then a visit with his older brother at a nursing home, then the drive past the tennis courts, where he slows down, and waves and watches us play for a few moments before driving on.

The courts are close to his home, so it’s plausible to think he’s simply passing by, yet I know that to do so he has to take a few extra turns and sit through two traffic lights in order to get there. So there’s really no doubt: He’s checking on us because he misses us. I know everyone else in the group simply regards him as an 85-year-old man making a conscious decision to step away from an activity that could cause injuries while still wanting to stay connected to the people who made it matter. But I’m more conscious than ever of what I did to drive him to this point – that one verbal outburst; that one disparaging look across the court.

Eventually it all becomes too much – and on the last Saturday before Christmas, after a brief hour of hitting with the crew-minus-Rennie in blustery, chilly weather, I tell Linda everything that’s happened.

I tell her I want her honest opinion, expecting her to tell me I’m a jerk.

She laughs, a bit uncomfortably, and confirms it: “yes, you were, but who isn’t from time to time?”

Her candor over my confession relaxes me a bit.

“I talked to your dad a bit too,” she says. “On my own. Truth is, he isn’t as unhappy as you think he is, but probably won’t ever be as happy as you want him to be.”

“I know that,” I say.

“He misses your mom.”

The words hang in the air. I look past her, toward the neat lines of our patio and empty winter planter boxes, my mind drifting in the direction of memories I’ve shut away.

And then after a long moment she adds:

“He’s at an age where he has to acknowledge how many things have changed . . . and all of the things he wishes he could have changed.”

I think about that for half a minute or so before she leans over and kisses my cheek. We’ve been cooking, Italian this time. The house smells wonderful, and the happiness I feel in our companionship reminds me once again of the emptiness of my father’s home, with my mother gone.

“He’s going to be fine,” Linda tells me, as if she’s reading my mind. “He’ll spend Christmas with your sister and then he’ll go home to where the memories are, which is where he wants to be.”

The memories, I’m conscious of the nervous blinking of my eyes as I think of childhood Christmases and Thanksgiving spreads with all of the same dishes my dad brought to our house this year . . . and recall the easy companionship between my mom and dad living alone in our family house after my sister and I went off to college and onto our lives . . . and remember my father tending to my mom day in and day out as she struggled to beat cancer, and beside her in their bedroom as she passed on.

“I should have realized how important it is for him to be there,” I say. “And sure as hell should have held my temper -.”

“Enough of that,” she says, with a touch of impatience. “You didn’t singularly tear your dad’s world apart . . . and you don’t have to be completely on your own to fix it. Remember, you’ve got a niece nearby.”

“Mandy,” I say.

“Who’s got a fiancé who’ll do anything for her . . . just like you and your dad have done everything for her. Last I heard, college doesn’t come cheap these days.”

I remember the last weekend we spent with Mandy and Brandon, two lovebirds who will soon head to the altar for a marriage that I expect will stick for the duration.

“Well he is pretty crazy for her,” I say. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about a way to fix half of what’s bothering you about your dad.”

I start to say I’m all ears, but then I ask “what’s the other half?”

“Rennie,” she says. “In his red Mazda, with those drive-bys.”

I nod, then get up to mix another round of drinks as we make a plan.

* * *

December 24th has me on edge . . . the rule for the group is that the Fahrenheit has to hit 45 for us to play. The forecasters promise that’s the temperature we’ll see that at midday but it’s barely 40 at 8:30 when I head out of the house. I drive out to the tennis courts first. The gang won’t be there till the 10 a.m. gathering time but I want to make sure I’ll be able to snag a single court away from those that will be occupied by everyone else.

On the way I take a mental inventory of everything in the back of my Jeep; all of the devices of my deception, then call George to verify that his wife Janine has likewise bought into that deception.

And then I think about the text message I received from my niece the night before:

Brandon’s on-board – and super excited.

I make the call. My father picks up on the second ring, answers with a “Merry Christmas.”

There’s half a minute or so of small talk about the season and about how happy he is to spend the holiday with my sister. And then he lowers his voice just a touch.

“Got a call from Mandy and her boyfriend last night,” he says. “And a nice little surprise.”

I can hear the emotion in his voice, and it’s easy to imagine his reaction to the news that a team from Brandon Myles Construction will soon be transforming the space above his garage, in gratitude for the big bucks we’ve spent on Mandy’s education.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” I say, remembering his need to be independent. “They’ll do it all according to your plan. You’ll be in charge.”

He laughs, sounding decades younger, and says:

“Your mom would have loved this.”

I try to laugh as well, but feel just a little shaky as I think about that room over the garage and all the times my mother suggested it would be a good space for her to paint in, because of the nice northern light over the lake . . . and remember my dad’s decision to build a basement recreation room for his pool table instead.

And then I recall Linda’s words – He’s at an age when you regret things you might have changed, and regret what really has changed – and imagine what that space will be like – a shrine to her absence but also to their life together.

I tell him I love him, and choke up a little as I say goodbye.

I sit for a few moments, knowing we’ve left things on a high note, but still feeling a bit shaken as I glance at the clock. I expect that Rennie’s close to finishing up at Denny’s but I drive over and scan the parking lot just to be sure. I spot the red Mazda immediately because it’s at the edge of the lot, far from the doors, probably because he wants to minimize the chances of dings and scratches from other cars. I know from our conversations that it was rescued from a parts auction and brought back to life by his oldest son, a working-class guy who loves taking things apart and putting them back together. It’s one of those cars that would be described in a catalogue as being in “mint condition” and so much more attractive now than it was in its day. A relic from the 80s, I think, when Rennie was my age, and probably near the top of his tennis game.

Convinced that we’re on schedule, I head back to the road that runs alongside the courts. I park near the entrance to the complex, at a spot I know Rennie will travel past, then wave to George and Janine as they step out of their own car 200 yards away and onto a court that’s set apart from those that will soon be occupied by the rest of our crew. As promised, George has a compression sleeve around his elbow, black and shiny against his pale skin.

So far, so good, I think, and reach into my tennis bag. I pull out a roll of gauze and wrap it around my right knee, then strap supports under both knees, then take a few steps around the Jeep, mimicking the motion of someone just barely on the mend after an injury. I figure I need the practice because the real injuries won’t be long in coming. There will be a day, fairly soon, when I’ll be just like the rest of the gang, wrapped up and braced up and happy to simply be in the game.

I take a few deep breaths, convincing myself that everything will work out the way I imagine, but worried that the routine will change as I watch all of the other players gather on the other courts where we play. But then I turn and look back toward the entrance to the development just in time to see the red Mazda turn in.

Rennie’s driving with the top down, wearing mirrored sunglasses and and scarf around his neck.

I quickly step out of the car, with an open tube of Ben Gay. I quickly squirt about half of the entire contents into my hand and rub it on my legs and pretend to notice – just then – the red Mazda’s approach.

I wave and step into the roadway, so Rennie has no choice but to slow down. I give him a big smile, which he sort of returns, with a twitch of nerves in his cheek.

I step closer, with a barely perceptible limp, as he eases to a stop. His ears are red from the cold; his hair glinting bright white in the sun.

I reach over and squeeze his shoulder. “What’s happenin’ young man?”

He makes a visible sniffing motion, a reaction to catching a lungful of the menthol from the Ben Gay, then glances down at my legs. “Doin’ good – but what’s with you?”

I loosen my knees and make a slight up-and-down motion. “Ah, I’ve got all kinds of problems today. Sore joints, stiffness.”

He frowns slightly, still taking it all in.

“Gettin’ a little older,” I say, with a smile, “and now I’m in a bind. I set up doubles with George and Janine and Lucas because I wanted to play slower and easier . . . probably not even for real points but just because I wanted to get out here and move around . . . unfortunately Lucas just called and told me he’s got a cold.”

There’s a minor false note in my voice; an anxious shortness in my breath. Rennie’s eyes are hidden behind the mirrored sunglasses, but I know he’s looking straight into mine.

“That’s too bad, son” he says.

I make the loose-kneed up and down motion again; shake out one leg and then the other as I look toward George and Janine. They’re on opposite sides of the net. They should be hitting, warming up. Instead they’re anxiously watching me and Rennie.

Rennie follows my gaze. I notice the rise and fall of his chest, a slight tilt of his head, and know almost for certain that he’s on to us. I think of what I’d planned to say next – my suggestion that since he’s here he should join us; the underlying understanding that with my injuries and his age that it’ll make good sense for us all to be playing together.

I’m still trying to figure out how to say it just right when he says:

“George looks a little off today too.”

“He is!” I say, a bit too emphatically. “I told him he shouldn’t even try to play with that thing on his elbow but he can’t stop himself. Which means we’re both a little crippled I guess.”

There’s another twitch in Rennie’s cheek, another rise and fall of his chest. My heart quickens as I ask him:

“Can you join us, Rennie?”

When he looks at me again there’s absolutely no doubt that he knows exactly what we’ve planned. For one moment I think he might call me on it – maybe even reprimand me like he might have done to one of his students, back in the day. Yet in the next moment all I can think of is him saying no, and driving away.

“Please,” I say in a quiet, pleading voice. “We really need another player.”

He sits very still, giving me no indication of which way it’ll go as I stand there, my knees genuinely quivering now – a nervous sensation that recalls that picture of me as a toddler, the braces around my legs, my father propping me up.

“I’ve got an extra racquet in my bag,” I say.

I see another twitch in his cheek, an unmistakable sign of emotion as he absently glances down at the floor of the Mazda’s passenger side. I lean a little farther over the car, and see the Slazenger logo on the dark gray bag that’s lying there.

I smile, realizing then that he gave up playing but kept the bag in his car; realizing that he never gave up hope that he’d be back in the game.

And then I sigh, breathing in deep, as he tells me, “I’ve got that covered, son,” and just barely manage to hide the tears as he gives me a little salute, then eases into a parking place and then gets out with his bag on his shoulder.

I sway on the balls of my feet as I watch him, my heart quickening with happy anticipation.

“Merry Christmas, by the way,” he says as we walk together, slow and easy, toward the court.

# # #

21 thoughts on “RED MAZDA”

  1. Chris, this was such a moving story. I think all of us with ageing parents and friends, have experienced what you have written here. This was hands down my favorite from your blog.

    1. Thank you! I know it strayed into Nicholas Sparks territory but whatever :). Hope you and Shannon and young Tomas have a wonderful holiday.

  2. What I love is your sense of family and your sensitivity to the fragilities of getting older. It hits a little close to home because I think I recognize the setting, the place and the characters. Linda is an odd replacement for M——. The tennis rituals in L—- a familiar sight on so many mornings parallel to the road on our way to the beach. Your love and respect for Rennie cement our own fragility on growing older. I think you nailed it beautifully. May you always be so graciously understanding. Lovely read!

  3. What a great story, Chris. You’ve captured the relationship of a son with an aging parent dead on. Beautiful and thanks for sharing.
    Merry Christmas,
    Dave

  4. Your story gives me pause.
    New ending:
    Protagonist becomes an old man playing tennis who beats the younger player’s snarly little butt off.
    Christmas cheer!

  5. Beautiful and warm! It hits your heart with an overwhelming, “Yep. I’ve been there myself.” I’m going to share this with my friends! Merry Christmas!

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