In Parched Gardens: Book 1

Chapter 14: No Discount

It had been a long time since Isaac had been in the bowling alley. On a busy Friday evening like this, there was a lot to take in. He and Fin's reserved lane was near the middle of the sprawling place. All of the lanes were occupied. Groups of all ages bowled, talked, and laughed around them, stretching to the far walls in either direction. Isaac turned toward the back of the bowling alley. He figured they would be here soon. Scanning the back of the building, to the left he saw the small arcade, in shades of blacklight and neon. In the middle, the food stand had a fairly long line, known throughout town for its surprisingly good food. People walked back and forth between the stand and their lanes, carrying soda and beers, pizza, hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken wings. To the right were the doors and just in front of them in the building, the main counter and the shoe stand.

Isaac turned back to face the lane. He'd gotten here early so that he could reserve a lane for a few hours for four, without Fin knowing. Turning, he took in the interesting combination of the aesthetics of the business. The building was old, but well renovated. The original dark wood lined the floor and walls, and was polished neatly down the lanes in slightly lighter color than the rest of the wood. From the ceiling, glossy iron supports stood out and various flags hung from them. On the walls, banners and bowling awards, food and drink signs, and retro bowling alley paintings were everywhere. Yet despite the renovated agedness of the building, there was a flare of neon and bright color. Neon signs and tubing dotted and lined the interior. Disco balls and flashing lights and lasers occasionally shone down from the ceiling and up from the corners of the walls near the floor, flashing and beaming throughout the bowling alley. The hum of people talking, the clank of games in the arcade, the crash of bowling balls on pins, the shouted call of finished food orders, the noise of the electronic score keepers, and the ever changing music of the jukebox hung in and filled the air. The smell of polished wood and freshly cooked food was ubiquitous.

Fin approached him now. He'd been lost to the line in front of the food stand. In one hand he carried a bucket which clanked with ice and beer and in the other, a basket of chicken wings. Fin set the food down on the table behind their lane and reached for a beer for himself and Isaac. Popping their caps off with the bottle opener magnetized to the side of the bucket, he handed one to Isaac.

They clinked their drinks together. "Thanks for getting this," Isaac said.

"No problem," Fin replied. "I'm ready to start whenever."

"Sounds good," Isaac answered, and he turned to put their names into the scorekeeping machine. He moved deliberately slowly, hoping they were joined before he'd entered their names. "You see Jonah a couple lanes over?" Isaac asked him as he loafed toward the machine.

Fin glanced over the lanes. "No, I didn't. I've seen him in the store once or twice though. We haven't spoken yet."

Isaac laughed. "That checks out," he started. "If there was anyone in school quieter than you, it was him," he paused, nodding his head in Jonah's direction. "Take a lot over there. Notice anything?"

Fin looked in that direction and finally saw Jonah between the throngs of bowlers. Moving his head around, he eventually saw what Isaac was talking about. "Is that Megan Williams?"

Isaac nodded his head. "That is Megan Williams."

"What about it?" Fin asked.

"Look closer."

"Ok," Fin started. He scanned around the two of them, finally finding the table reserved by them. At the table, a young boy and slightly older girl watched the bowling and colored pictures from in their seats. "The kids?" Fin asked.

"Yes the kids!" Isaac replied. "Do you think they're weirdos, or could that mean something?"

Fin looked again. "No," Fin replied. "That can't be right."