Her game was improving. She was hopeful of getting at least to quarter-finals in the tournament unless she drew a crack player for her first sets. There were not enough Preps interested in tennis for them to have a separate tournament. Those desiring to enter must take their chances against the college girls, too. Mimi turned over her chances in her mind as she went around behind the backstops and burrowed in the leaves for the balls. She could not find them. Goodbye ninety cents. She gave up and hurried in for her shower bath.
On the way, she poked her head in the office and asked the girl on duty to order two Wright and Ditson balls from Sweirs.
“Come in, Mimi. We’ve been wanting to see you. The girls have been talking so much about those grand bean-hole beans you cooked and didn’t get to eat, that I want the recipe.”
“I’m glad you liked them.”
“Glad I liked them! The whole school has been raving about them. Don’t tell me you didn’t know? I’ve decided that if you will write down the recipe and the full instructions for digging the hole, etc., that I’ll mimeograph it and give the girls copies.”
“Keen!”
Mimi was delighted. Heedless of the fact that supper time was near, she plopped down in a swivel chair and demanded paper and pencil. No time like the present to get a job done.
After supper the girls went to Miss Bassett’s office and drew for their places in the tournament. Mimi was lucky. She drew a bye. The matches were still three days off and Mimi would have four days.
She was spending all her spare time on the courts. She watched the college girls play. She studied the lazy, relaxed manner Dit had when she addressed the ball; how careful she was not to “foot fault”—step inside the base line when she served. More and more she was understanding that points were won by thinking the ball out of the opponent’s reach rather than by “main strength and awkwardness” as the adage goes.
She was developing an effective base line drive and Dottie would never recognize her serve. Wait ’til she got back to B.G. She’d make them sit up and take notice.