That Inner Child

"He was trying to hit me with the ball!" The guy barks, in a kind of raspy lisp. Whimpering with fret, like a baby without his nipple. "He was trying to hit me with the ball," the guy barks again. I listen with amusement, trying not to laugh. "He was trying to it me on purpose," the guy barks yet again. He squints, and turns red in the cheeks. Fired up with anger, caught in the middle of a temper tantrum. "He tried to hit me with the tennis ball and I don't want to play anymore." He whimpers, almost crying now. Feeling violated and hurt. I start laughing out loud. I can't help myself. Sometimes, tennis brings out that inner child in people, and not in a good way.