The New Amsterdam Vampire Bowling Team

"You're up."

The display over the lane has our names: Me, Coral, Wen, Rocky. No Gunnar, of course, and there'll be no mention of why.

"I don't understand why we're here."

"I figured we needed a change."

I throw my first ball. It's been forty years, maybe fifty, but the muscles remember: the ball curves elegantly and the pins scatter. An 'X' appears on the scoreboard as I return to my seat next to Coral. "These people will be full of cholesterol."

"The clubbers were always full of liquor. What's the difference?" She gets up to bowl, throws a strike as flawless as mine.

I shake my head, look around. Rocky is at the jukebox, looking for music; but of course there's nothing in it old enough for him to like. Wen is battling a stand-up arcade game, the kind that cost a dollar, and there are children watching her. "I don't think they're playing."

"Bowl for Wen, I'll bowl for Rocky."

We finish the first frame and start the second. I should be looking around, picking out a 'donor', arranging to bump into them, compliment them on their play, whatever, but instead I'm concentrating on the game. I used to play at a place in the fifties, a road house with a bar attached. The balls were coated with rubber, then; Things change. My ball sails down the lane and crashes into the pins, a little too loud. Another 'X' appears on the screen.

We finish out the second frame. As I get up to start the third, Coral is staring at the board: there are too many 'X' marks for her liking. "You should throw a spare. No perfect games, we don't want to attract attention."

The annoyed look that crosses my face is subtle and ephemeral, but she notices. We've known each other a long time.

"What?"

"I wanted the turkey."

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. But you're leaving at least three pins standing by the end." Coral knows best.

21 comments:

  1. I ADORE the New Amsterdam vampires! I absolutely love the tone of this piece, the line about Gunnar, the hints at their ages, the final line. Wonderful bit of writing!

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  2. I'm not really into vampires...but I really enjoyed this story. I had to laugh at wanting the turkey, and the concession to leave a few pins standing - even vampires want the perfect game!

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  3. Love it. And yeah, a full team throwing a perfect game would probably bring lots of attention their way.

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    1. Thank you. Discretion is definitely the better part of valor. :-)

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  4. Two perfect games in the same session would definitely make everyone notice. The vampires surely need to keep a low profile.

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  5. This is written so well! I could easily see this as a movie or television series. Great job!

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    1. Thank you! :-) Though I think there's probably enough vampire-themed TV and Movies right now.

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    2. Probably, but I'd still watch it. :)

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    3. Hehe, me too, since I'd be writing it, lol. ;-)

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  6. Just when you think you might have had enough of vampire stories this one comes along. Love it - unique - great tone - great angle. Nice writing!

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  7. That cholesterol line made me laugh at loud. This is great fun.

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  8. This is certainly different. Bowling vampires is so imaginative, and there are some great lines in this. Thank you for linking up!

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  9. Of all the things vampires have time to get good at, bowling never crossed my mind. Yet it makes perfect sense, of course.
    'we´ve known each other a long time' - terrific line.
    Fun read!

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  10. Fun take on the prompt with a refreshing spin

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  11. Cholesterol, liquor, what's a vampire to do? This was a fun read!

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