Riddle of the Court

Maya's hair was doing that thing again — the frizz that announced to the entire world she was nervous. She pulled her curls into a messy bun, checking her reflection in the locker room mirror. First day at the new country club, and her mom had already signed her up for padel lessons. Padel. The sport nobody at her old school had even heard of.

"You coming?" The girl's voice came from behind her. Chloe, with perfectly straightened hair and a racket that probably cost more than Maya's entire wardrobe. "The coach is like, a total sphinx today."

"A what?"

"You'll see." Chloe's grin was conspiratorial. "We can be partners. I need someone who doesn't suck."

Maya followed her onto the court, where Coach Rivera stood with arms crossed, sunglasses hiding her eyes. The woman didn't speak, just handed them a laminated card with a riddle:

I have hands but cannot clap.

I have a face but cannot smile.

I run but never walks.

What am I?

"Seriously?" Maya muttered. "We're solving riddles now?"

"It's her thing," Chloe whispered. "Every new pair has to solve one before she'll teach them anything. I've been stuck at intermediate for three weeks because I can't get past the sphinx phase."

The other pairs were struggling too, scratching their heads and bickering. Maya stared at the card, something clicking in her brain. The answer was so obvious it made her want to laugh.

"A clock," she said.

Coach Rivera's sunglasses slipped down just enough to reveal raised eyebrows. "Correct."

"Wait, how did you — " Chloe started, but Maya was already stepping onto the court, racket raised.

"Clocks have hands, faces, and they run," Maya said, feeling uncharacteristically confident. "Your serve?"

By the end of practice, Maya's hair had escaped its bun entirely, a wild halo around her face. Chloe was laughing, genuinely laughing, as they walked to the parking lot.

"You know," Chloe said, "I was going to offer to do your hair before next practice. My cousin's a stylist. But honestly? It kind of rocks like that."

Maya smiled, tucking a curl behind her ear. Maybe this padel thing wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe neither would the rest of it.