The Ball Boy at Court Four

On Monday, Teodor started his first job. He was a ball collector at a tennis club. He was fourteen.

A coach named Vito met him at the gate. Vito wore a white cap and carried a bucket.

"Today you work on court four," Vito said. "Stand by the net post."

"What do I do there?" Teodor asked.

"You watch the balls. When a point ends, you pick them up."

Teodor stood by the post. Two women played a fast game. The yellow balls flew past him again and again.

On Tuesday, Teodor stood by the post again. He picked up six balls. He put them in the bucket. His arms hurt a little, but he liked the work.

On Wednesday, a woman named Uzma played a long match. She was the best player at the club. Teodor wanted to do a very good job.

Uzma hit a hard shot. The ball hit the net and rolled onto the court. It stopped near the line.

Teodor saw the ball. He ran onto the court and picked it up.

"Stop!" Uzma shouted.

The other player stopped. The point was still on. Teodor stood in the middle of the court. The ball was in his hand.

Uzma walked to the net. "Please wait until the point ends," she said.

"I am sorry," Teodor said. His hands shook.

Vito came to the fence. He did not look angry. "Come here, Teodor," he said.

Teodor walked off the court and gave Vito the ball.

"A loose ball is not a problem," Vito said. "A player on the court is a problem."

"I wanted to help," Teodor said.

"I know. Here is the rule. You stay still during a point. You move after the point."

"Stay still," Teodor said. "Then move."

"Yes. And roll the ball. Do not throw it. Roll it to the player's feet."

Vito showed him how. He held a ball low. He sent it along the ground. It rolled straight to the baseline.

Teodor tried it five times. The first ball went left. The second went right. The fifth ball rolled to Vito's shoe.

"Good," Vito said. "Now go back to your post."

Teodor went back. Uzma smiled at him from the court. She did not say anything. She picked up her racket and served.

The ball hit the net again. It rolled onto the court. Teodor wanted to run. His legs wanted to run. He held the post with one hand.

The two women hit the ball back and forth. They hit it six times. Then Uzma missed, and the point ended.

Teodor waited one more second. Then he walked onto the court. He picked up the loose ball. Then he found two more by the fence.

On Thursday, he did the same job. He did not run once. He rolled every ball to the right place. Vito watched him from the fence and nodded.

On Friday, Vito gave him a new white cap. It had the club name on it.

"You earned that," Vito said.

Teodor put on the cap. Then he went to court four. Uzma was already there. She held a ball in her hand.

"Ready?" she asked.

Teodor stood still by the net post. She hit the first ball of the game. It crossed the line. He stood still and waited for the point to end.