The Hitting Zone

By the time we got home, Zeke's team had won their game. Zeke had a decent game going 1-3 at the plate. That one hit was a two-run homer. Noah had already asked Mom how far that home run went and complained that Zeke was a one-hit wonder. It didn't take long for Zeke to text back, saying it was better than what Noah had done today in two games.

Noah looked at me, squinting. "Was it you who told him?"

I shrugged, a little guilty. "Well yea...he had asked me how today went." I had also told Jeremy and Mom. They all wanted to know.

Noah sighed. "Two more days until Monday. I'll show him then." He started to text again.

All four of us changed out of our game uniforms and threw them in the dirty laundry. What a waste. Kyle was the only one to choose to shower, getting ready to see Marie. Grampa came home from the store just as me and Noah were getting our shoes on.

"How was the game, boys?" He asked.

Noah stood up and helped take the bags from him. "Lame. None of us played. Not the twins. Not me. Not Jake. We hardly even touched the field."

"That's too bad. Did your team still win?" He started to unpack the grocery bags in the kitchen.

"Yep. Won both." Noah looked at everything that was being unpacked. "Are you grilling steaks again?"

"It's a beautiful evening to be grilling in the backyard before the sun sets." He looked us up and down. "Were you two trying to go somewhere?"

"The cages to hit a few, but we can just help you out here instead." Noah grinned. "Will you let me flip the steaks?"

"Heck no." Grampa jerked his thumb towards the front door. "Go get the rest of the stuff and let's get to work."

Dave came downstairs just in time for us to tell him the change of plans. He was on board with it. He rushed to the car and grabbed all the bags in one go, not needing our help.

Grampa truly put us to work, cutting up vegetables and putting them on skewers to grill too. It was something new to me, helping make dinner with others. Before the Atkins...I was on my own...just barely getting by. It was hard to look back and remember how often I would be hungry. Now, everything was a given. We ate out or Mom prepared it. She didn't like us 'helping' since we would make a bigger mess than she would have liked. Grampa didn't mind though.

"It's a learning process." He grinned as Dave burnt one side of his steak. "This is also why I won't let Noah touch the tongs. I'll teach you kids one at a time. When Dave succeeds, we'll move on to the next."

Noah rolled his eyes. "And if he doesn't succeed?"

Dave threw some vegetable scraps at Noah. "Shut up. It's my first time."

"Well, he'll go to college soon enough." Grampa rubbed his chin.

"I will master this before then!" He proclaimed. "Absolutely!" He accidentally dropped some oil on the fire, making it grow and get to hot. Grampa pushed him out of the way and took over.

We ate a fulfilling dinner and cleaned up afterwards. I thought Grampa would go lay down immediately after eating, but he actually asked us to get our shoes and jackets on.

"Uh, it's a little late to be going to the cages now." Noah pointed out.

I nodded. "We can just go tomorrow."

"That's not what I had in mind." Grampa simply answered. He looked at Dave. "I'll give your directions and you just drive."

The four of us went in the family car and the mystery trip started. Grampa had us taking a highway I usually don't go on unless we're leaving town for away games. We didn't stay on very long and exited just a town over.

Dave started to laugh. "I think I know where you want us to go now."

"Don't spoil it." Grampa instructed.

Ten minutes later we pulled into a parking lot of a bowling alley.

Noah was just as surprised as me. "Bowling?"

Grampa grinned. "Of course. Everyone should bowl a time or two every year. It's good exercise and good fun." He opened the door and got out first. "If any of you can beat my score, I'll donate a little extra to your college funds."

"How much is a little?" Noah was immediately interested.

We exited the car and Dave locked it up.

"$500." Grampa grinned. He looked at Dave. "You can put it in your savings and start saving up for dates."

Dave rolled his eyes. "I'll invest it, thanks. If Kyle was here, he'd be the one to spend it on a girl."

"I'm glad we're doing fun stuff without him." Noah grinned. "Thanks Grampa."

"Yea, thanks Gramps." Dave added.

I hurried too. "Thanks Grampa."

Grampa looked towards me as we walked. "You've probably never bowled, right?"

I shook my head. "No, but I know the concept and theory."

Grampa chuckled. "Good. I won't be going easy on you boys. You have to really work to beat me if you want that money."

I thought Grampa was just teasing, but he turned out to be dead serious.

Walking into the bowling alley, it was dark with bright lights flashing around. Cosmic bowling had just started, making it more festive as kids ran around and teens laughed near the snack bar. Grampa led the way to the front desk, paying for three games each and rental shoes. We found our lane and picked out bowling balls that our fingers could fit into.

Dave made the lineup youngest to oldest, forcing me to go up first. I nervously looked around to see how everyone else was throwing the ball down before giving it a shot. It was a little reassuring that it was dark and everyone else seemed to be minding their own business. I walked the ball up to the line, then did my best to glid it down the lane. The ball veered off and only hit one pin in the corner.

Dave outright laughed. "At least it wasn't a gutter ball!"

"Don't worry, Jake." Noah told me when I came back for another ball. "I haven't bowled in years so I'm probably just as bad. We've just got to beat the old man."

'The old man' was tying his shoes, looking extra fragile in the glow of the light lasers. Yea, I should be able to get more pins than Grampa. He didn't even look like he could pick a ten pound ball up.

I did my second ball, trying to keep my wrist straight as I tossed the ball. I earned five more pins and relaxed a little more. I was improving already. Not bad.

Noah went next. He had better aim than I did, hitting the head pin straight on. The ball went through and pins started to fall, leaving the corners. A split. Noah tried to throw his second ball at one of the corners but it went into the gutter.

"I will be winning that $500." Dave grinned as he switched spots with Noah. His first ball did look the best, hitting the head pin, knocking down nine of the ten pins. His second ball was able to knock that tenth pin for a spare. He led the way between me and Noah.

"Good start." Grampa complimented Dave as they switched spots.

"This will be a walk in the park." Dave laughed. "It's like underhanded pitching."

Grampa picked up his ball, making it look easier than I thought. He lined up further than Noah and I did, took two and a half steps, pulling the ball back with one hand before letting it go. It hit the head pin a litt off, however all the pins fell down. A strike.

My jaw dropped. Same with Noah and Dave.

"Fuck." Dave whispered. "Did we just get hustled?"

"We didn't say we would give him $500, right?" Noah asked.

Grampa came back to the seats with a friendly smile. "Well? What are you waiting for? You're up, Jake."