6. Unexpected Victory
I bode my time. Waited. Pounced. Like a hero.
Went to see a film on Sunday. Changed my mind at the door. Was about to head home, but then I saw the new bowling alley.
The place looked awful. Full of birthday parties, work outings, couples on dates.
Everyone seemed to have brought a child or a drink. Or both. Laughter ricocheted off the plastic seats. The pins fell like they were trying to escape.
Bowled three games and got a couple of strikes. One of the balls clattered horribly when it rolled, so I adopted it.
A man in the next lane threw his ball really hard, then looked around at his mates like his masculinity depended on it. He got a strike and shouted.
“Boom.”
His friends cheered. I nodded solemnly, like I’d witnessed something profound.
Who says boom?
Afterwards, I spent a while at the claw machine. The toys were all off-brand animals with loose stitching and haunted eyes. A small group of kids were feeding coins in. Failing, one after the other.
I hovered nearby, looking indifferent.
When they gave up, I stepped in. They watched on as I won a frog in a football shirt that said CHAMP10N. First go.
Raised it in their direction. Brief. Regal. Like a champion might.
next: 7. Report Done. Don’t Fucking Ask Me About It.
previous: 5. The Man with a Single Mushroom