PS31
Johnny shifted nervously from one foot to the other and then checked his watch. The bowling alley was full of life; rock music was in the background along with people laughing, the sound of crackling bowling pins and the smooth comforting sounds of balls on wood.
He looked around the bowling alley for his crew mates, they certainly weren't friends and his Cap agreeing basically floored him. Johnny had both rental shoes and ball, in his old life he would have never considered such sacrilege, but tough times called for tough measures. Although to please Roy he went to Sears and got himself two dozen plain white socks.
Manny showed up first, bowling shoes flung over his shoulders and a shiny leather bowling bag.
"So, you showed," Manny said as he put his bag on the floor, sat on the hard plastic seat. He took off his grungy tennis shoes, opened the bag, taking out the swirly turquoise ball and placing it in the holder. Quickly changing shoes, Johnny watched the whole time, his mouth open in sheer shock.
"You bowl, man?" Johnny said with sheer excitement.
"Hey man, I don't bowl with no gringos. Me and my homies bowl I'm only doing this cause of the cap," Manny spat out.
Again reminding Johnny of his circumstances.
"Man, cause of the cap?" Johnny now sat down. "Why the Cap? Hell he wasn't to keen on this idea."
"Well cap changed his mind, thinking it would be a fucking feather in his cap, you know brownie points and kissn' ass," Manny laughed and pointed.
The rest of the motley crew showed up and not too happy. Not that Johnny didn't appreciate it, but he wanted some one to actually want to be here.
So after three long hours, he found out every guy bowled, but not with the station. Johnny knew they didn't stand a chance in hell of winning but at least they weren't trying to kill each other. But man he was beat.
Johnny waved at he walked to his cycle, thankful he didn't have to worry about bowling balls or shoes.
Tomorrow he would be on shift, another day in paradise.
Roy got up early, on his day off; he knew he was anxious; hell Johnny had his first bowling practice. He did wonder if he'd be seeing Johnny on the news or in the papers but there was nothing.
The kids were off to school and Joanne had gone grocery shopping, leaving him alone. He had turned on the TV, flipped through a magazine and glanced at the clock. 9 A.M. 9 A.M. too early to call. Hell Johnny could have had a terrible shift, correction every shift at 118 was terrible. No longer able to contain himself, Roy went to the phone and punched in the numbers.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Johnny's eyes opened to a slit. They had battled a three story apartment fire at three A.M. The building was old and decrepit, they were recovering and not rescuing, and he had eaten too much smoke.
.Ring.
Johnny opened his eyes and looked at his clock radio, 9:15 A. closed his eyes again but knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Reaching over he picked up the handset of the phone.
"Hullo," his voice smoky as he coughed.
"Johnny you okay?" Roy said worried and filled with anxiety.
"Yeah, Roy, just had a bad night. Something wrong?" Johnny said and then sat up; worried he should have called Roy after the bowling practice.
"Yeah, I'm fine…I was just checking on how the practice went," Roy blushed, realizing he had called a bad time.
"Oh, it went better than I expected. All the guys know how to bowl, just not with each other," Johnny explained and then coughed again.
"Um, want to come over for lunch?" Roy asked innocently, hearing the sadness in Johnny's voice.
Johnny ran his free hand over his face and even though his apartment was nice, he could use some company.
"Um yeah, I'll be there in an hour or so," Johnny said, suddenly feeling better knowing he would be seeing his best friend.
"Good. Good. We'll have leftovers," Roy said. Then you'll stay for dinner.
"Bye," Johnny said.
"Bye," Roy said and hung up.
Getting out of bed, Johnny needed to really clean up and knew he had a lot to tell Roy.
%%%%%
Sitting on the back porch, Johnny nursed a soda, while Roy enjoyed a beer. Lunch was satisfying if nothing more than the company.
"Wow. that was good lunch there pally," Johnny grinned and patted his stomach. "You're going to ruin my girlish figure."
Roy turned and glared at him, then smiled.
"Johnny, I told you, our door is always open and I mean it," Roy said and grinned.
"What?" Johnny said and looked at himself. "My fly open or something."
Roy grinned again and blushed.
"Huh hey Roy are you okay man?" Johnny said and stood up.
"I'm okay," Roy waved him off. "Will you just sit down."
Johnny huffed and sat down.
"So have you checked your mail?" Roy said as his blue eyes shined.
"Why?" Johnny asked suddenly suspicious.
"Well I heard from Olsen and he said you should be getting your check soon," Roy said and grinned with glee.
"Oh," Johnny said with hesitation. "Hey I'll believe when I see it and not before."
Roy shrugged, knowing his happy go lucky go friend was now cynical and wary.
"Well, he said they should be sending you back pay, tax free!" Roy said excited. "So what will you do with it?"
"Do with what?" Johnny said and stared out into the yard.
"The money, doofus," Roy said with concern.
"I dunno probably put in the bank. My rainy day fund, you know," Johnny said and looked at his watch, 4 P.M."Hey man it's getting late I should go." He stood up.
Roy stood up and then smelt the rolled pork roast Joanne was cooking for dinner.
"No man you're staying for dinner, unless you got a hot date. Besides we have tomorrow off too," Roy elbowed his friend.
"Are you sure Roy? I mean haven't I eaten you out of house and home enough," Johnny said and shook his head.
"No, Johnny besides I can never repay you for what you did," Roy whispered, finally telling his best friend of the sacrifice he had made.
"Roy, man, it was worth it okay, but man I …"
Joanne came out into the patio.
"Dinner in about an hour. The kids are finishing up their homework and then we can set the table." Joanne smiled, walked over to Johnny and looked him in his misting brown eyes.
"And you are staying for dinner," Joanne put a finger in his chest.
"Yes, ma'am."
Johnny nursed his coffee as he waited for Sandy; last shift maybe had been the worst, along with the disastrous first bowling event of the league. His crew mates lived up to their reputations. He shook his head in disgust and then looked up.
Sandy seemed to be glowing, so at least someone had a good thing happen.
"Johnny, sorry I'm late," Sandy said as she slid into the booth.
"Hey, no problem," Johnny yawned and signaled for the waitress.
The waitress filled Sandy's upturned cup with coffee, refreshed Johnny's and then gave them both menus.
Both nodded and looked at the menu, and then sat it down.
"I think I know the menu by heart," Sandy said and looked at her lunch mate.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Johnny said and set down the menu, signaled the waitress.
She came over quickly, took their orders and then left.
"Johnny, what's wrong?" Sandy took a sip of her coffee, and then reached over for the cream and sugar.
"Oh nothing, the whole bowling league is a joke is all. Lucky we didn't get our lunch handed to us is all," Johnny took a sip of his refreshed coffee.
"C'mon Johnny it couldn't have been that bad?" Sandra smiled as their food was brought.
Johnny took a huge bite out of his burger and chewed with reflection.
"Yeah, you're right," Johnny finished chewing and swallowed, "we didn't end up on the six o clock news."
Sandra laughed and took a bite of her salad.
"I'm being serious; I swear the guys must have at least a six pack before they showed up. Called our opponents every name in the book and they were surprised we lost the match," Johnny shook his head, dipped his fries in ketchup and ate them. "Man it was a big mistake. John Gage does it again."
"Johnny, you're doing good. I mean you didn't end up in jail, right?" Sandra laughed.
"Yeah, yeah I guess it was all right then," Johnny said and smiled. "Thanks."
"Hey that's what friends are for," Sandy laughed again.
