Puffy hasn't been bowling in years and can't help but marvel at how much the alley has changed.
It's very modern as opposed to the retro woods and paints she remembers. The lights are multicoloured and the walls are decorated with graffiti style characters. The whole place looks even more exciting than the last time she went.
There's an area with a small arcade and opposite is a cafe. Straight ahead is the actual bowling alley, and Puffy can make out shiny pins and marble bowling balls.
Foolish is excited as he bounces on his heels; he bought Luke with him and holds him under one arm and his other hand has a tight hold on Punz's own hand. Puffy can't help but smile when she sees them both.
She's happy that ever so slowly, Punz is warming up to them. She had spent the week worrying about today, only to realise there was no need.
As there are only the three of them, Puffy pays for a couple of rounds, knowing by the time they've finished, Foolish will be tired.
Punz helps Foolish put on his bowling shoes as they have laces and Puffy's heart is full.
Their lane is at the end, and Puffy writes in their names into the machine, and Foolish is the first to go. He, at first, struggles to find a bowling ball that is light enough to carry, but after Punz sets up a ramp for the young boy, he picks up a light, emerald green ball, and gives it to Foolish to try and carry.
He gets giddy as he places it at the top of the ramp with ease, and pushes it off.
"Look how fast it's going!" Foolish cheers.
"I think Puffy and I are gonna have to work really hard to beat that." Punz laughs.
Foolish knocks down most of the pins, with only three standing. Two to the left and one to the right.
"Oh no," Foolish sighs, "I thought I was gonna get it."
"You still have another go." Puffy encourages, and the ball appears out of the machine.
Foolish carries it over to the ramp again and pushes it even harder than before. Puffy can see immediately that it's going to miss, but she cheers him on anyway. Punz does too.
The ball does, indeed miss and Foolish's shoulders sag in defeat.
"I didn't get any!" He exclaims, and sits on the bench next to Puffy as Punz picks out a bowling ball.
"You only missed three, I bet Punz won't even do that well." She winks and watches as Punz lines himself up after the pins reset.
Punz throws his ball, and before Puffy can even mention that he's not in line, the ball flies into the pit.
"Oh no!" Punz throws his arms up in the air dramatically. "How do I miss that bad?"
Foolish bursts into giggles, leaning into Puffy's side.
"That was silly!" His laughter fills the building and Puffy joins in. She can tell Punz is trying to hold back his own laughter.
When it's Puffy's turn, she hits only a few pins, and not on purpose.
They carry on, Foolish doing the best, Punz trying to figure out how ridiculously he can throw his ball and Puffy doing average at best.
It's fun and light-hearted and Puffy is having so much fun...
...until they aren't.
Punz finishes his turn and turns around to sit back down. Puffy stands up and sees Punz look at her with a smile. Then, suddenly, he looks past her, and his smile falters...it falters and then it drops.
"Punz?" Puffy asks, looking behind her but not being able to see anyone.
"We have to go." He says, voice steady.
"Why? What's wrong?" She stands up now, and can only just make out a group of people, but recognises none of them.
"Puffy, please, I want to go, we have to go home." Any steadiness that was there previous is now gone, and his voice shakes with anxiety.
"Hey, listen, you're okay." Puffy tries to reassure, but Punz is already looking around for an exit.
"Mama?" Foolish looks scared.
"Okay, we can go." Puffy agrees but Punz throws his arms up in the air.
"We can't go out that way!" He exclaims "there must be a back way."
"Punz..is someone there?" She looks over and sure enough, someone is. Apart from the employees of the place, and other customers she remembers passing on the way, another person stands looking over at them.
They are tall, with curly, shoulder length hair. They wear sunglasses despite how dark the building is on the inside. It makes Puffy feel uneasy.
"Please, Puffy, can we please ask for another way out." It isn't a question, but a plea, and Puffy manages to tear her eyes away from the stranger long enough to nod her head.
Punz's shoulders sag with gratitude. He has tears running down his cheeks and his hands are in fists so tight his knuckles are white.
"Thank you thank you thank you." His breath is uneven and Puffy fears he will have a panic attack if they stay any longer. She scoops Foolish up in her arms despite his protest and doesn't hesitate to find a staff member the other side of the alley.
A young lady points them towards an alternative exit, and Punz all but sprints out of it.
The car is only around the corner and Punz is the first to get in.
"Why aren't we bowling anymore?" Foolish asks confused as Puffy buckles him into his seat.
"The game finished baby shark, you won!" She lies...almost lies, Foolish had the highest score of the three of them.
Just as Puffy shuts his door and opens her own, someone taps her shoulder.
"Excuse me, I think you forgot this." It's the stranger that made her feel uneasy and they hold Luke in their hands. His voice is deep and takes her by surprise.
"Th-thank you." She stutters out and gratefully takes the toy.
The stranger then leans down and looks through the window despite Puffy's best attempts at blocking them.
"Punz?" They ask. Their voice feigns astonishment and Puffy can hear quiet crying coming from the inside of the car.
"What do you want?" She snaps, mother mode activating.
"Oh man, Punz and I go way back, isn't that right bud." They lean down again but Puffy pushes them back with her hand.
"I don't think we met," she fakes niceness, "Punz surely would have mentioned you."
"Oh really? That's strange." Their mouth opens in shock but she knows it's not real
"Yeah, strange. I need to go, gotta feed my kids." She snaps, again, pushing the stranger once more only a bit more forceful. They smile at her sickly sweet.
"Of course. It was good talking to you Punz." They try once more to look into the car, and Puffy is two seconds away from kicking this person in the groin. "Look after him for me yeah?"
Puffy waits for the stranger to walk away before she gets into the car. She watches them like a hawk. Her heart breaks when she sees that Punz has his head in his hands and his shoulders are violently shaking. His knees are tucked into his chest and he looks so small.
"Punz?" She asks gently. She doesn't touch him but her hand hovers on his back.
"Mama? Will Luke help?" Foolish asks from the back seat and gestures to the reindeer she still has in her arms.
She hesitantly gives Luke to Punz, nudging his arm. Punz looks up briefly and the look on his face can only be described as devastation. He takes the toy in his hands and ever so carefully, holds it to his chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks. Punz shakes his head.
He doesn't need to talk about. She knows that was Eret.
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Fanfiction"Dream legs it down the alleyway, bag gripped tightly in his hand. His cheeks are already red and angry from the bitter cold wind and his feet numb inside his shoes. He can hear rasped shouts from behind him, and forces his legs to move faster." Or:...
