Chapter 5-Warming up

 James was the only man wearing black shoes and white sox. He was also the only man with no sport vest.  He looked like what he was, green and out of place.

Mr. Bane signed James in and entered them in the tournament. They had stood in a line of men who all knew Mr. Bane and one made a joke at James expense, "What are you up to, Andre? It looks like you found the first fit youngster off the streets!"  Mr. Bane smiled, "There are no rules to partnership!  I can do as I like.  This is James Watkins, we mean to take the tournament, gents!"

The man slapped his knee, "We all do, Andre! Here let me buy you a beer to warm up James."

Mr. Bane and James went to the practice room, it was am enclosed room with three close walls and a very high ceiling. The entryway was a fourth wall made entirely of glass and behind it, spectators could watch the match.

"Well, let's see what you've got, partner." Mr. Bane lightly hit the ball to the front wall and James returned it.

"Mr. Bane, I want to warn you, I am out of my element, I don't want to embarrass you."  James was noticeably petrified.

"Then don't." He gave James a long look and hit the ball unmercifully hard against the first wall and it ricochet on the second and back to James who returned it in the same spirit it was given. Mr. Bane and James warmed like this for 15 minutes and a few men gathered by at the window watching them.  James didn't know it yet, but funny as is clothes were, he would not be the laughing stock of the club this day, on the contrary.