NOT IN THE HOUSE

I was in the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher, when I heard a strange noise. I stopped to listen, holding a glass midway to the cabinet.

THWACK, THWACK, THWACK, THWACK. It almost had a rhythmic sound to it.

I placed the glass in the cabinet and went to investigate.

THWACK, THWACK I was getting closer as I headed down the hall towards my son Alex’s bedroom.

Coming around the corner I could see my husband Steven with a pickleball paddle in his hand and the plastic yellow ball landing in the middle of it as he hit it back. I stuck my head in the doorway to see my son Alex hitting a return of the ball.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” I cried.

“What?” Steven asked as he hit the ball back to Alex.

“Do I really have to say no pickleball in the house?” I honestly couldn’t believe it.

“We’re not really playing.” Alex said as he tapped the ball back to Steven but Steven missed and instead the ball bounced off the television set behind him.

“Whoops.” Steven said picking the ball back up. “That’s a point to you.” He pointed his paddle at Alex.

“Seriously?” I shook my head. “You guys can’t play pickleball in the house!”

“But it’s raining outside and I wanted to try it out.” Steven reasoned as he tapped the ball back to Alex.

“We’re being careful.” Alex reassured me.

“You just hit the T.V.” I reminded him.

“Everything’s fine.” Steven said as he returned the serve. “You worry too much.”

I stood in the doorway watching them. My arms crossed with a don’t-keep-doing-this look on my face.

“Alright.” Steven sighed as he handed the paddle back to Alex. “I guess that’s enough trying it out for now.”

“So do you want to go to the court with me sometime?” Alex asked him as he put the paddles and ball away.

“Sure.” Steven squeezed past me as I was still standing in the doorway. “It sounds like fun.”

Alex looked over at me. “You’re not really mad are you?”

“I wouldn’t say mad.” I admitted. “More surprised.”

Alex looked confused. “Surprised?”

“I mean I expected the impromptu soccer games in the living room when you were a kid.” I began counting on my fingers. “The Nerf wars every Christmas.” Another finger tapped. “Even the occasional game of tag.” I shook my head. “But, two grown men playing pickleball in the house…” I sighed as I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Alex came over to me, a smile on his face, as he gave me a hug. “Aren’t you glad we’re still being kids at heart?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sometimes you two drive me nuts.”

Alex gave me a kiss on the top of my head. “You’re welcome.”