In the meanwhile, all folks sat still (some standing) around the bench, darkness sneaking in-- since it was about time for all to go home after some doubles-- and utter silence fell about them.  They had elected to play tennis first, before arriving at this scene to talk about the news:  the sudden surprising pass away of a 'regular,' who had been with us sweating together over the past few years.

They say it was a cancer that got him.  They say it didn't take long for him to pass since he caught notice of it at a later stage of the disease that left doctors helpless to do anything.  It was a short two months, they said, before he was gone.

Someone in the crowd asked if there was a funeral or some sort.  No one in the group apparently was with him before he was alive.

No one knew about what was happening to him until it was done. 

I'm sure some thought curious that he wasn't coming out no more; for at least on the court, they looked to be best friends and brothers to each other-- joking, drinking, having fun together and sharing moments, hugging, shaking, high 5's...

But that's "on-court."  It was pretty obvious that the life or the relationship wasn't so keen "off-court."  They could care less about what they do in their life, others' pain and concerns, and the fear and worries.

It sounds cold but it all makes sense though.  After all, they all come out here to forget about everything and just have fun...