CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND BEACH GAMES
Added 2025-04-04 05:40:40 +0000 UTCThe frisbee arced through the air, spinning lazily before landing with a soft thwap in Maggie’s outstretched hands. She grinned and tossed it back toward the group playing nearby. The sand was warm beneath her feet, the sun painting everything in a soft golden light.
Contessa stood beside her, silent, watching.
Maggie bumped her gently with an elbow. “Wanna try?”
Contessa eyed the flying disc. “What is the objective?”
“Uh, catch it. Throw it back.”
“And the purpose?”
Maggie blinked. “It’s fun?”
Contessa’s expression remained unchanged. “It is an inefficient form of exercise. And imprecise.”
Maggie groaned. “It’s not about efficiency. It’s just a game.” She bent to pick up a volleyball from the sand and gave it a casual toss. “Okay, what about this? We could join that match.”
Contessa eyed the nearby game, watching as the players dove, jumped, and smacked the ball over the net with varying levels of skill. She noted the flaws in their footwork, the mistimed jumps, the unnecessary flailing.
“There is no reward,” she said.
Maggie crossed her arms. “Do you ever do anything just because?”
Contessa didn’t answer.
A volleyball suddenly bounced off her shoulder.
“Sorry!” one of the players called. “You wanna join?”
Maggie lit up. “She does.”
Before Contessa could protest, Maggie seized her wrist and pulled her toward the court. The ball was served. Contessa’s gaze followed its arc, calculating angle, spin, and velocity in an instant. She adjusted her stance and struck with calculated force.
The ball slammed into the sand on the other side untouched. The opposing team stared.
Then a whistle from Maggie. “Okay. That’s one way to play.”
Contessa dusted off her hands. “It is tolerable.”
Maggie beamed.
