Bowling Brothers

Surprised, Tony looked down and saw a dark building. It was hidden among some tall trees and had a long, flat extension. The bowling alley is probably in the extension, thought Tony, as he felt himself getting goose bumps.

They landed in front of the building, which looked uninhabited and neglected. There was no glass in the windows, and the front door lay broken next to the entrance. The empty black openings yawned at them. The only light was coming from the long, flat extension, which was attached to the right side of the building.

“Cozy, isn’t it?” said the little vampire.

At that very moment there was a deafening crash that made Tony shake from head to toe.

Then someone yelled, “Darn it, missed again!” A second voice answered with a booming, gleeful laugh. The little vampire joined in.

“Hee-hee,” he chuckled. “Gregory missed. Now I have a chance to win. Tonight’s going to be my lucky night!”

And elbowing Tony painfully in the ribs, he hissed, “Quick, give me your tips!”

“My—tips?” murmured Tony. “Uh… I have to see the bowling alley and the balls first, and watch how you bowl.”

“Okay, then sneak over and look through a window. I’ll bowl while you’re watching.”

With that, the little vampire disappeared into the building, and Tony tiptoed on. Luckily, right in front of the first window of the extension there was a thick bush that he could hide behind. Cautiously, he pushed the branches aside and peered nervously into the candlelit interior of the bowling alley.

At first all he saw was a bare wall. But then a stout figure, clad in a black cape, came into view. It was a bald vampire holding a ball in his right hand. George the Quick-Tempered. Tony had never seen him up close before, and he was startled by how unattractive he was. He had a flat nose like a boxer, bulging lips, and a protruding, brutal-looking chin. I wouldn’t want to meet him on a moonlit night! thought Tony, and felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

What happened next was so comical that Tony had trouble keeping a straight face. George the Quick-Tempered bent his knees and, trying to get momentum for the large ball in his hand, bent his right arm backward. It was the perfect posture for shotput, but not for bowling. Tony had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud! Then George counted: “Three, one, zero.”

On “zero” he propelled the ball away from him. Once again, there was a terrible crash, which sounded as though the bowling alley was about to collapse. It wasn’t surprising, considering how strong the vampire was.

The crash was followed by an outburst of rage: “Rats! I only hit one!”

Tony giggled softly. With George’s style, hitting even one out of the ten pins was an achievement.

Now Gregory rushed past George the Quick-Tempered—to get the ball, Tony presumed. For a while, Tony saw nothing but the dingy white wall on the other side of the bowling alley. Then Gregory reappeared. He held the ball in his broad, hairy hand. Tony noticed his long, pointed fingernails, and shivered.

Gregory obviously didn’t have the slightest idea how to bowl either. He stood up as if he were playing handball, raised his left arm and threw the ball with all his might. Tony heard a rumble, then Gregory cried out with joy, “Two! I got two of them!”

“Only two?” a hoarse voice answered, and now the little vampire appeared on the scene. “I can hit three!”

“You?” said Gregory, laughing contemptuously.

“Yes, why not?” replied Rudolph.

He disappeared into the front part of the extension and came back carrying the ball.

“You’re in my way,” he snapped at Gregory and George the Quick-Tempered. Reluctantly, they moved aside to let him pass.

“You’re feeling pretty cocky today, Little Brother!” growled Gregory.

Rudolph grinned and raised both arms. He held the ball above his head as if he were about to pass a basketball.

No! Tony almost called out to him. At the last moment he held his hand over his mouth in fear. He watched in disbelief as the little vampire fired the ball onto the ground. The resulting rumble and crash were even louder than when Gregory had thrown it, and the bowling alley seemed to shake on its foundations.

“Idiot!” Tony heard Gregory yell. “Now there’s another hole in the lane!”

“He didn’t hit a single pin, either,” added George the Quick-Tempered, giggling maliciously.

Rudolph’s face had gone dark red. “Ha, just wait!” he exclaimed angrily. “I’m going to run a few laps outside, and when I come back, I’ll be a bowling wonder!”

“A bowling wonder?” repeated George the Quick-Tempered with amusement. “Well, you’ve certainly made me wonder, Rudy!”

Rudy? Tony couldn’t help grinning at the nickname.

“Yes, a bowling wonder!” the little vampire confirmed, and he left the bowling alley with his head held high.