Page 92 of Fierce-Michael

His second shot got the three pins and he had the first spare of the group.

But it was many frames later that he got another. Kelly had two and Ty was at least knocking pins down on every frame but not many.

“How come I can’t get more?” Ty asked.

“Some of it is where you throw it,” he said. “The other is the ball is light and the pins weigh something too. Kelly and my balls are heavier.”

“Can I use yours?” Ty asked.

He laughed. “You won’t be able to pick it up.”

“How about you roll it between your legs with some help from your father?” Kelly offered.

“Please, Dad?” Ty asked.

“Sure,” he said. He got his ball and went to the line with Ty; they lined up in the center and put the ball between his legs. He and Ty had their hands on the back of it and gave it a shove, his being much more than his son’s.

The ball didn’t stay in the center and he hadn’t expected that it would, but it did knock down six pins which was more than Ty had been getting on his first try.

Their second ball, they got a spare and Ty was jumping up and down and shouting so loudly that there were a lot of eyes on them.

“I did it,” Ty said. “I did it!”

“You did,” he said. “But we have to be a little quieter in our excitement.”

Ty was still jumping but whispering in a shout that had almost hurt his voice.

Kelly was laughing and he had to admit it was cute.

They bowled two games, Ty being proud of his scores of sixty-three and sixty-eight. Kelly had two games in the 140’s and he wasn’t much higher than that but felt manly enough to know he got the highest scores of the day.

“Can we get some lunch now?” Ty asked.

“We can,” he said. “Did you build up an appetite?”

“I did,” Ty said. “I think Kelly should pick out our lunch. Don’t you think so, Dad?”

He hadn’t prompted Ty to do that. “I think that is a great idea. What do you want, Kelly?”

“I think when you go bowling, the best food to have with it is pizza,” she said. “Do you like pizza, Ty?”

“I love pizza!” Ty shouted.

“Shhh,” he said while he laughed.

They’d put their balls back and were walking to the counter to return their shoes.

“Sorry,” Ty whispered. “I’m having so much fun. Are you having fun, Kelly?”

“I am,” she said.

“I’m sorry if I’m too loud,” Ty said.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “You’re a kid and should be having a great time.”

“Kelly is right,” he said. “But we do have to be aware of those around us also.”

“I’ll be quieter in the restaurant,” Ty said. “But it’s noisy here too and this way you can hear me.”