The first thing I lost was tomorrow's practice.
My partner arrived outside the security office with the cancellation notice in his hand. He looked more embarrassed than angry, which made me feel worse.
"The stand belongs to the association," he said. "They've withdrawn the booking."
"All of it?"
"The sessions with you. Mine stays if I take another partner."
I looked at the paper. Nothing about the words was surprising. I still found myself reading the date twice, as though they might have canceled the wrong afternoon.
The boy kept one hand on the edge of the notice until I had it securely. Then he stepped back, leaving a space which hadn't been there when we'd stood beside the practice stand.
"They asked me to confirm the replacement today," he said.
"Have you?"
"Not yet."
