I bounce the tennis ball, one, two, three times. I consider double faulting, because that’s what my brother wants. When we were younger, he annihilated me, without apology. But now I’m sixteen and sober, like always. And he’s in his late twenties and stoned, like always. I toss up the ball. Serve. We volley and I watch him consider lying about another call as my baseline shot zips past him, but this one would be too egregious. Instead he throws his racket down and storms off the court, leaving me alone with my heartbreak. And my first win against him.
Alyson Shelton is a writer and host of the IG Live series, "Where I'm From" inspired by George Ella Lyon's poem. Come join her! Instagram and X: @byalysonshelton