Welcome one and all to Day 22: In battle, side-by-side.
Lincoln and Stella were at the Royal Woods Bowling Lanes. Those two were preparing to hopefully score some strikes. As they were getting their bowling shoes on, 2 people who were friends with Lincoln's sister, Leni, came over to them. They were Jackie and Miguel.
"Hey Lincoln," Jackie said.
"Hey Stella," Miguel said.
"Hey Jackie," Lincoln said.
"Hey Miguel," Stella said. "You 2 gonna do some bowling here as well?"
"We sure are," Jackie said.
"We're just getting our bowling shoes on," Miguel said.
"Us too," Stella said.
That was when an announcement gave way.
The announcer said, "alright ladies and gentlemen! It's time for our annual bowling battle tournament! Do you have what it takes to make it into this year's tournament? This is your chance to show us what you got!"
Everyone was amazed by what the announcer was saying.
"Now get out there and make some bowling magic!" The announcer finished.
"That kind of battle sounds like fun," Lincoln said.
"It does," Stella said. "Let's go sign up".
"You wanna try out?" Jackie asked.
"I will if you will," Miguel said.
The 2 of them went to sign up as well. Lincoln and Stella signed up as Team Kangaroos. Jackie and Miguel signed up as Team Young Fashion. It was about that point where the battle began. The teams took their positions as one player on each team prepared to roll the first ball of the frame. Team Kangaroos had lane 7. Team Young Fashion had lane 12.
"Okay ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer said. "Is everyone ready for some bowling?"
Many were clapping and cheering.
"We're so ready!" Stella said.
"Let's do this!" Miguel said.
"Alright!" The announcer said. "3, 2, 1, BOWL!"
The battle to qualify stormed right out of the gate.
Frame number 1 was first as always in bowling. Lincoln went first for his team. On his first roll, all but the number 5 pin was knocked over. Luckily, Lincoln was able to get it for a spare.
"A spare for Team Kangaroos!" The announcer said.
"Way to go, Lincoln," Stella said.
Miguel was going first for his team. He rolled his ball down the lane. To the surprise of everyone, including himself, all 10 pins were knocked down at once.
"That's my boy!" Jackie said.
Miguel gave her a high 5.
"That's a strike!" The announcer said. "Team Young Fashion is storming out of the gates".
The game continued on. Between Team Kangaroos and Team Young Fashion, there was a 3 point difference with the score between them being 55 to 52.
"Wow!" The announcer said. "Looks like 2 of our teams really want to be in this tournament. Like some once said, 'you need to be ruthless if you want to be rich'. Don't ask where I got that from".
Frame number 5. It was back to Stella Zhau. She grabbed her ball and rolled it down the lane. All 10 pins were hit.
"3 strikes in a row for Stella Zhau!" the announcer said. "I'm glad this ain't baseball, or else she'd be out. The Kangaroos are really in it to win it today. However, Team Young Fashion is right on their tails".
They were on their tails because Team Young Fashion trailed Team Kangaroos by 6 points. Jackie's turn was up. Her ball was 9 pounds. When she rolled it, she got 7 pins, but found herself in a pickle.
"7 pins to put Team Young Fashion back ahead of Team Kangaroos!" The announcer said. "But there's a split with pins 4, 7 and 10."
Jackie was able to get out of the pickle, but not good enough for a spare.
"9 more points for Team Young Fashion," the announcer said.
After all 10 frames were played, everyone started feeling tired out.
"Wow," Lincoln said. "I can't believe what a close one that was".
"I know," Jackie commented. "You guys really had us on your tails for a majority of the game".
"Like really on your tails," Miguel said. "Your biggest lead was only by a single strike".
"We know," Stella said.
Only 16 of the teams were able to make the final cut and be in the tournament. The 4 of them decided to go see whether or not they got in. Team Kangaroos made the cut at number 3.
"Awesome!" Lincoln said.
"We're in the tournament," Stella said.
Not only that, but Team Young Fashion got in as well at number 7".
"Sweet!" Miguel said. "We're in too".
"I love it," Jackie said.
The tournament was going to be on. The 4 of them might even bring their families to watch as well. Will they? Who knows?
That ends Day 22: In battle, side-by-side.
Stay tuned for Day 23: Arguing.