I did some social exploring at a local park, swinging a tennis racket so not to arouse suspicions.

My plan was to hit tennis balls against a wall at a local park and possibly score some lightweight human interaction. I worked on my level swings, forehand and backhand, playing against a handball wall. I hit the ball hard and soft and imagined my perfect responses to a variety of game situations. It’s good exercise and not boring.

This didn’t bring any social contact until I ventured onto a tennis court. Clearly, the stakes were higher and I was advertising myself as a player with no opponent, dare I say it, no partner.

Success! I found a “pickup game” with a man roughly my age, who was delightfully encouraging about my skills. I promptly went on vacation so I didn’t see him again right away.

I returned to the park and played “solo tennis.” Along came an 8-year-old boy, offering to chase the balls and return them. Eventually, he asked to try the racket, so I handed it to him and we reversed roles. I became the chaser of the tennis balls. This is also exercise. Ask any dog. I could have sent him away and said I preferred to play alone, but I knew my priorities. I wanted exercise and social interaction.

Along came a girl of about ten, a cousin of the boy. She was wearing a Billie Ellish t-shirt and holding a cell phone showing Tik Tok videos. In my mind, I wondered if live conversation with a tennis-racket wielding human could win her attention away from online content?

It most certainly did.

She showed me her tennis skills and the three of us sat on the ground and chatted a bit. I avoided getting too personal.

They told me their future dreams. The boy said his goal is to hit it rich as a soccer star and boxer. The girl said she dreams of becoming a spy and a fashion designer, specializing in wedding gowns.

They asked me if I am married and I said no. The girl asked me if being single is lonely on Thanksgiving Day. I said I usually find someone to eat with. I told them I am old and they guessed my age at ten years older than I am. This made me laugh.

The delightful exchange prompted me to remember how I got the tennis racket in the first place, the Wilson Graphite Aggressor 95 racket, now revealed as a social interaction magnet. About 25 years ago, I was out of work recovering from an illness. I went alone to practice tennis with a an aluminum tennis racket, which I still own.

“Solo tennis” led to a romantic relationship, which led to a gift of the “Aggressor” tennis racket. Eventually, the relationship fizzled, but racket and its meaning remain with me. That is old stuff. What here is new? 1) Must bring both rackets with me next time. 2)I certainly want to check out that singer Billie Ellish, as she came highly recommended by my new acquaintance. Certainly, if a future spy and wedding gown designer likes Ellish, she must be very talented.