This is part 2 of the bowling stories. Once again I take liberty with the order and time line in order to move the story along. Its goal is to entertain and capture the feel and essence of that period in my life. I will leave it up to you the reader to interpret what's real and what has been tweeked for poetic licenses' sake. As I'm writing these stories from the 2 perceptions of writer and character, I find each guiding the other in a journey to meet with an understanding of how the other ticks. I can feel the truth and vitality of my past seeping into the one who actually created it. It's as if the other holds a deeper understanding of what is really transpiring. This forges a necessary foundation in order for both to meet and respect each others life and the choices they made. If it sounds a bit confusing don't worry, it does to us as well. Let me remove my philosophers cap and put on my story telling one. Which I can assure you is much more comfortable and worn in. If I remember correctly I was in the car on the way to Friendly's telling my mother the tale of my first action match. My mother can accept and appreciate a certain amount of hyperbole as long as the seeds of truth are pure. It became sort of a game in order that I could tell my mother things I wouldn't otherwise be able to. She could see clearly through my curtain of embellishment. If we hit a snag she would somehow reach inside me to clarify. Looking at it now, I see she would allow me to exaggerate my stories as long as we both understood that if she sensed danger and asked I would answer accurately and without hesitation. This technique worked well for both of us most of the time. If I was with a group of kids that I knew would get me in a jam, I would plead in front of her as a cue to tell her to please get my silly ass out of there. It both preserved my teenage reputation and mutual trust of my mother and I. Unc however preferred things a bit simpler. As I got older and wilder and he had less and less control, he chained me with my own conscience by saying " Boy, you know the difference between fibbing and lying. You also know the diference between right and wrong. If you don't, I failed in teaching it to you and I'm truly sorry." This put the onus of responsibilty square on my shoulders at a fairly young age. Didn't I just say I was changing caps, hold on while I check to see if I'm wearing the right one. That's better, I can breath a little easier. That other cap was squeezing my poor little head way too tight. So we arrive at Friendly's ice cream restaurant. We sit down and this cute waitress comes to take our order. Her name tag says Marylou. I order for my mother and myself and tell Marylou to please give unc a bit more time to think it over . Unc glares at me and puts his hand on Marylous' arm saying " Plese don't pay attention to this little weed over her. I just haven't gotten around to prunning it yet. listen chile, just bring me what you think an old man like me would like and I'm sure it'll be jest fine." The brightest most beautiful smile bursts forth from her lovely face and in a mock professional tone she answers" And what would sir like to drink with that." Unc matches her smile and says "Why don't you bring me cup of joe the same color as me and a Hudson river special straight up." Marylou looks confused and is thinking, while unc covers his face from us and whispers to her "A glass of water no ice please" She puts her arm on uncs shoulder and say " I see I'm going to have fun with those jokesters in the kitchen. They're always telling names of orders that I don't know." Unc sits there with his listening face on as she opens up and tell him all about her life and dreams. He doesn't say even one word justs nods and smiles. Realizing she's been going on for quite a while she stops and puts her hands on her hips saying " You just gonna let me stand here spilling my guts. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." Unc responds with an uncharacteristic round of kikikiki(the song of his laugh). She leaves and Mama looks at unc and says " Old man you're dangerous and shameless, you know that?" unc still grinning says"if you say so Miss Ruth if you say so" My mother starts to laugh which is similar to a horse whinnying. Then she says "Well I do and you are you heart breaker you." I can tell unc is blushing because his skin is turning a dark burgandy color. He swats his hand at her saying " I'm just having a little fun is all." my mother smiles and winks saying "As am I Mr. Jones as am I." Our food comes and as always it's an orgy of delicious grease and heavenly sent sweets. The only reason I even eat is to experience the tasty ice cream floats and egg creams they serve here. The rule is no real food no goodies. No room for discussion on this topic. Satiated with our repast we pay and head home. I get up at 6am to start getting ready for my first day of Bantem League Bowling. I eat, shower put my bowling bowl in the car and sit down to watch my favorite cartoon Honk Kong Phooey. I don't know if anyone remembers this show , but I loved it. It starred Catman Scruthers as the voice. If you want to know more about Hong Kong Phooey check lnk-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Phooey
We arrived at the bowling alley at 7:45am and Pearl Keller was waiting. She introduced herself, then her and my mother filled out forms for me to bowl. It was a singles league and you bowled 1 game and moved on to the next player. You would get 1 point per match and a point for high game and series. I bowled reasonably well for my first time. Anytime someone bowled over 200 they would announce it. Like congratulations to Marylou Malinaro for bowling a 215. Hmm that name sounded familiar. I switched lanes and low and behold there was the beautiful waitress from Friendly's. Was she Marylou the bowler? Yep she was, it seems she was the best bowler for her age in New York State. Wow! Cute and talented, what a combo. She puts her ball on the rack and organizes her stuff for this match. Unc comes over to me and says " Boy, that little finger your thinking with ain't gone do you a damn bit of good. Pay attention or I'm going to the bar to watch t.v. and have a beer This girl right here is going to mop the floor with you if you don't get that doey eyed look off your face. You hear me?" This got me mad, because .. well because he was right damn it! I take a wire brush and scrape my shoes to get ready for the match against Marylou. We have 2 practice shots on each lane Marylou only takes 1 and sits down with her arms crossed like I was keeping her waiting. My first shot goes in the gutter. My second goes in the gutter. Oh my god what must she be thinking of me? I see unc shaking his head and walking away. Oh great now what? The speaker comes on and says "Saturday Bantem bowlers begin bowling." Marylous' name is already on the screen the score keeper looks at me and says" Your name?" I say " Jody with a y not an I." Marylou lets her first shot go and the ball looks like the Tazmanian devil going down the lane. right to the gutter and then what? It come tearing back to the pocket and cutting through the pins like a buzz saw! O.k. my turn pick up the bowl put your fingers in it get set. Push away let it drop count 1-2-3-4 wait for the weight of the ball at the bottom of the .. Oh shit it's off my hand and oh no please not in the gutter again. Great walk back like it's not important. I get set, go the next ball gets off my hand a little better and leaves 9. Marylou is waiting as I walk back. Ignoring me she slides by me to the ball return and starts her routine. The ball looks like it's going in the gutter and then without signaling it makes a left turn and Blammo! Another crushing strike! That's a double for her o.k. I go and get a Jersey lucky strike. She hasn't even looked at me . All right that's it! This bitch is toast. I sure amm brave when I talk in my head. I stand waiting to throw my next shot and I stay behind it and down at the line. Crack! A ringing 7 pin. O.k. that was at least a decent shot She hurls a swishing strike for a triple. I make my spare. Next shot I get set and unleash an godly ball with great rotations and Blammo! See I can do it too. Crack she leaves a 10 pin and misses it Oh my god! She is human. I'm up and Blammo another flush strike in the pocket. She goes and bang another 10 pin This one she makes and looks relieved. I strut to get my ball, shake my self loose and toss another nice shot for damn! another ringing 7 pin. She gets her ball and crack another 10 pin. She makes the spare. I set myself and let it fly and oops I tugged it, hold on, oh no, crunch 4-6-7-10 split. Ahh Why me? It was a bad shot . o.k. pick up 2 that's good. She strikes on the next 2 shots and I spare. It's the 9th and the foundation frame for the T-box. I throw and get lucky with a trip 4 pin for a strike she goes and boom! Oh my god an 8pin.Wow ! That was rough.Damn! She doesn't even blink. What a little studette. O.k. that's enough , now I'm routing for her? No I don't think so. She spares. If I throw the first one in the 10th It's all over. I set up, swing and unleash the best shot of my life. I turn around and walk back before the ball hits. Deliberately not looking at it. A la unc! Blammo I don't look up or at her I go make the next shot and bam 7pin I miss the pick up but it's all over I won. I hear "Congratulations Jody Shultz for a 208 game." Marylou walk up to me and says " From Friendly's right? You were with that nice man and your mom? I stand there dumbstruck and barely get out " Yup, uh huh" She then says " It's nice to have another good bowler. Walking away she turns and says "You know, that's the last time you'll ever beat me don't you?" She winks and laughs and walk right into unc. I let out a laugh and cover my mouth to keep from cracking up more. I'm tempted to say " Smooth exit Marylou" but I don't. Her and unc are talking and he goes off with her to watch her next match. I stand there and say "Hey unc, what gives?" and throw my arms out to the side. " What am I chop liver?" Nobody hears me. Ok. I better get my gear. I have one more match to bowl. I bowl 180 not bad and a 550 series . I'm happy with that. Even more happy I beat the legend and heart thob. Marylou Malinaro, It's just music to the ears isn't it? I in all sincerity would like to give a shout out to Pearl Keller who is in the Bowling hall of fame for service and promoting the sport. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't still be bowling today . Thanks you're a wonderful lady. I thank my readers too. See you tomorrow Good night.
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