Girl Next Door Page 6

  She put her hand on the rail then stretched over then took a quarter step to the right. Centering herself then, she started walking toward the lane. She took two steps with her hand running along that rail then released it as she swung the bowling ball back and took her last two steps and released the ball with more power than I would have assumed she could.

  The ball careened down the lane a little off center and she knocked most of the pins down. She just turned around and stood there. Randy was in motion over the computer screen built into the table he sat at and put his face almost on the screen, maybe just three inches away, and squinted. Then he called out, “Nice! One, three six, ten.” Then he sat back as Robin smiled then went to the ball return and waited until her ball came back. She aligned herself again with the rail and then bowled again. This time the ball was wide to the right and she knocked all the pins but one down.

  Randy again looked at the screen then said, “One.”

  Vera looked in my general direction. “Robin is our secret weapon. She can finesse the ball. Her muscles memory is better than ours, probably because she is an artist.” I beamed with pride for Goldilocks.

  Once she sat, Bellamy stood and grabbed his ball with a gruff sound. He grabbed the rail and positioned himself. Hr ran his hand along the rail for a second then released it then started forward and bowled his first ball. I was excited for a second. His ball was perfectly straight and hit the first pin dead on, but somehow he left a split, and Randy called out, “Split. Seven, four, six, nine, ten.”

  I said out loud, “But the ball went perfectly straight, he was robbed.”

  Robin snuggled in beside me and said softly, “You don't want the ball to travel straight on. More often than not that will result in a split. You want to be slightly off center when the ball strikes. Haven't you ever bowled before?”

  I felt embarrassed and said in a small voice, “No. Our father never let us do stuff like this.”

  We looked up when Randy called out after Bellamy's second attempt, “Seven, ten.”

  Robin said, “Randy, you mind if Brandye tries one before your practice?”

  He shook his head. “By all means.”

  I was quickly blurting, “No.”

  Vera was reaching over with her hands out. “Get up there and try Brandye it is fun. Give me the little fuzzball.” She wiggled her fingers in a grasping motion.

  Robin was bouncing on her toes with a cute look on her face. It was adorable as she said, “Pleeeease? For meee?” Shit... that was hawt. I was stepping into the fuzzy grey again, actually I never left it. Knock it off Brandye, she's your neighbor!

  I rolled my eyes and smiled. “Ok... for you. But I'm not going to like it.”

  She chuckled as I gave Daisy to Vera. Then my blondie said, “Yeah yeah, gloom and doom like Bellamy.” She felt the balls until she found hers and gave it to me.

  I turned to her as I put my fingers in the holes and asked, “So just throw it at the line there?”

  She grinned and replied, “The foul line. Yes. Stand on the approach then walk forward and release the ball, but don't cross the foul line or your turn doesn't count and you get marked a scratch.”

  I nodded to myself, how hard can it be? “Ok, here goes.”

  I ran up to the line and heaved with all my might and the ball sailed up into the air and came down on the lane with a loud crash and proceeded to roll into the gutter. I just watched in embarrassment as it wobbled down the gutter and disappeared at the end.

  “Shit,” I muttered to myself as Robin giggled gleefully and Randy almost apologetically saying, “Gutter.”

  Robin retrieved the ball from the return for me then she placed it in my hand but stood behind me. I could feel the heat of her body pressing against mine. It felt good. I could smell lavender. I caught myself inhaling. She put her hand on the ball. “Ok. First thing. You have to release at the bottom of your swing, not on the upswing or the ball goes airborne like that and the owners get irate.”

  I glanced at her smiling face as she continued. “Now, point your thumb toward the pins.” She twisted the ball a bit as she felt my hand position. “You should see some sort of marks, arrows on the approach in front of you.”

  I nodded and said, “I see them.”

  She said, “Ok pick one and use that as your guide each time, then you can adjust your swing using that same base. Remember, thumb toward the pins, release at bottom of swing.” She squeezed my shoulders and stepped to the side.

  I raised the ball then began my approach, I swung back then forward. The ball released fairly well with a little thunk and it stayed on the lane the whole way down. I knocked over two pins and I squeaked out in glee.

  Robin held her hand up for a high-five as I passed by her to sit back on the seats. Randy started calling out pins then stopped, saying, “I'll save your dignity, you're worse than me.” Everyone laughed including the Gutter Snipes.

  I laughed. “You all are sooo mean! This is my first time... and I got my eye on you Snipes over there!” This got more chuckles and a couple of the Gutter Snipes holding their hands up in surrender.

  I watched as everyone else bowled practice frames. I couldn't stop from grinning. I was indeed the worst bowler present. I retrieved Daisy when Vera bowled, but she seemed smitten and would ask for Daisy every chance she got.

  Randy showed me how to read the screen so I could spot for him when he took his turn.

  Then another tone went off. Robin whispered to me, “One minute warning.”

  Evander was on the intercom with a less than thrilled tone that made me wonder just how many years he has worked here for all the life to be sucked out of his voice like that. “Welcome to Ballard Bowl everyone. This is the fourth game in the American Blind Bowling Association Spring Tournament. On lane fifteen we have the two and one Golden Pins, and on lane fourteen we have the three and oh Destroyers.” He droned on, announcing all the teams, then he added, “Chili fries are a dollar off for all participants today. Remember to have fun and Tuesday nights are free bowl nights.”

  I snickered. “Who drained the life out of him.”

  Robin grinned back. “He's worked here thirty years with those awful shoes. How would you fare?”

  I nodded. “Fair point Goldilocks.”

  She stuck her tongue out at me and then we observed as the match began. It was fun watching the teams playfully mocking each other. I'm not sure what is good and isn't in bowling, but they seemed to be doing really well if I used my pathetic two pins as a yardstick. Both teams would congratulate anyone who got a strike or picked up a spare regardless of if they were on their team or not.

  I smiled with pride, Robin had two strikes and two spares and they were only on the seventh frame. This thought made me scrunch my nose and grab her hand and bump shoulders. I sort of liked it so I didn't let go of her hand until it was her turn again.

  I was the honorary spotter after a bit, calling pins out when Randy was bowling and he had me spot while he ran off to get some chili fries. Can you blame the man, I mean, yum. He brought four large baskets of them back with him, dropping two off with the Gutter Snipes. Gawd they were sinfully tasty.

  When it was all over, the Gutter Snipes beat Robin's team by a single pin. There were hugs and high fives passed out between the teams. This really isn't the cutthroat competition you would imagine. It was more like everyone was here just to have fun. It felt more like a social event to me. I relayed this to Robin who said, “Well for most here it is. Most of us tend to hide ourselves away at home and not venture out much. Annette almost forced me to do this and now I enjoy the social interaction. Don't ever tell her she was right though.” I grinned at her conspiratorial smile.

  Everyone seemed to relax after that and maybe a third of us stayed and did some free bowling. I paid Evander for a couple games for our motley crew. I got better, they said I was bowling a sixty-three at the end of the second game and I actually got one strike! The last pin was wobbling and spinning for a few sec
onds, then it looked like it just got tired and laid down to take a nap. I'm quite sure you could hear my squeeing down in Vancouver.

  When Robin gave me a congratulatory hug, I'm positive we both hung on a little longer than necessary, but gawd her lavender smell was intoxicating. She giggled. “Did you just smell my neck?”

  I blushed hard. “Yeah... sorry. You smell nice.” This just got a self-satisfied smile from the evil woman.

  When we said our goodbyes to the team, I was able to pry Daisy from Vera's hands, barely. Then I gave them each hugs. I caught the flicker of a smile on Bellamy's face, breaking his gloom and doom attitude. I said, “Softie.” He couldn't stop his grin, so he turned away.

  We walked across the street to the little park there for Daisy to do her thing. After placing her offering in a little baggie and throwing it away, Daisy, Robin and I sat on a bench for a minute. I took in the park in this gaslight district, saying, “I love the ornate streetlamps and cast iron benches that adorned this area.”

  She leaned against me, head on my shoulder and she breathed out, “Tell me.” So I described everything I saw as the other senses could identify with. She ran her hand along the intricate cast iron legs on the bench as I described them. I loved the look on her face, absorbing everything I said. This woman was quickly becoming one of my best friends. To think it took me a week to introduce myself.

  Chapter 6 – Sunday Funday

  We made our way back to the car and she collapsed her cane and got in. I passed her Daisy and shut her door then walked around and got in the driver's seat. I looked at the happy blonde as I asked, “So where to? Care for some adventure?”

  She nodded with a grin and I started the car and drove us to Pike Place Market. She looked a little uncomfortable. I assured her, “Just for lunch, then we can figure out what we want to do.” This released some of the tension I saw in her and she just nodded.

  She left her cane in her purse and just placed her warm hand in the crook of my arm, it felt so natural, like that's how it should always be. I was holding Daisy's leash back on my left. She was still straining against the leash, I knew it wouldn't be long before she stopped that. She was already reacting well to the other subtle training tricks mom had shown me.

  We made our way from the parking structure toward the market. I really loved this part of the city, and Pike Place was a place of wonder for me. From the open air market to the main structure with all the sublevels of shops. When the crowd started getting denser, I grabbed Daisy and put her into my oversized bag. She poked her head out and looked around excitedly at all the people passing us by.

  Robin asked cutely for the three hundredth time, “So where we goin' Bran?”

  I chuckled and said, “Follow your nose.” As we made our way past the triangle building into the Post Street Alley. We entered the east building and the constant drone of voices of the crowd were shut out. I'm embarrassed to say I closed my eyes and tried to take in my environment like she did. I know, I'm lame, don't rub it in. But I could indeed smell our destination as my mouth started watering in anticipation.

  I opened my eyes as we went to the end of the corridor. A tiny smile was growing on her lips as that tantalizing smell that has no rival in this world was getting stronger. I opened the door to The Pike, a little bakery slash cafe and a wave of fresh baked bread smell rolled over us. I could have food-gasmed right on the spot, but I knew the smell was nothing compared to the taste.

  The five outside tables were packed and the few expanded metal patio tables inside were almost filled up too. There was one in the corner by the display cases that were filled with delectable bread loaves, scintillating scones, and fluffy looking rolls.

  My smile couldn't have gotten any bigger when I saw Mrs. Zatta, or Mrs. Z as she liked to be called, come motoring over with menus in her hand. When the sweet old lady saw me, she put the menus down on the display case as she passed it.

  She squinted and scrunched up her face, “Lessa?”

  I giggled. “Brandye, sorry Mrs. Z.”

  She chuckled. “One day I'll be able to tell you two apart.”

  I smiled at her. “This is my neighbor and bowling coach, Robin. And Robin, this is Mrs. Zatta, about the best baker and cook in the universe.”

  Mrs. Z put her hand out and did a double-take when Robin put her hand out in a slightly different direction. She tilted her head in instant understanding and took Robin's hand and shook it. Ok, am I the only dense person in the world who didn't realize Robin was blind? Robin's smoky voice chimed out, “It is nice to meet you Mrs. Zatta. It smells simply divine in here.”

  She looked at the beast that was all tongue and ears poking out of my bag as I lifted the fuzzy girl out to place her on the floor. She beamed down at the little one. “A new one? She's adorable.”

  I nodded. “Yes, this is Daisy. It is her first official outing as a working dog in training.”

  Mrs. Z beamed down at her then us. “You ladies make yourselves comfortable. I bring something right out.”

  I nodded as she dashed off more spryly than you'd give someone of her advanced years credit for. Then guided Robin to her chair and put her hand on the back of the chair. We both sat and I shortened Daisy's leash and slipped it under the leg of my chair. Robin asked, “So what kind of food does she serve here?”

  I wish she could have seen the silly look on my face when I said with humor in my voice, “Ambrosia.”

  She snorted then blushed slightly. The red on her cheeks made her look so... into the fuzzy grey area we go again, happily. Then she said, “It certainly smells that way. Fresh baked bread smell could be sold as an aphrodisiac.”

  I nodded. “Agreed. Actually there aren't many things on the menu, there don't need to be since each and every item is delicious.”

  She nodded with a grin. “What are the choices?”

  I scrunched up my nose in thought. “You know... I really couldn't tell you. I have only seen a menu here from a distance. Mrs. Z knows Mom and us and just sort of brings us whatever strikes her fancy. But you seriously want to propose to whatever she brings out.”

  She scrunched up her nose and smiled. “Now I'm getting excited to find out.”

  We just started talking when Mrs. Z returned with a tray and placed a pot of freshly brewed coffee, and a carafe of ice water on our table then placed a plate with a fresh, out of the oven, ham bake in front of each of us. Oh Gawd... I love these! She said, “Careful ladies, the plates are hot. Dig in.” She put two tiny bowls down by Daisy and patted her head. It was a little mini bake all cut up and a bowl of water. Then she stood up and looked at us apprehensively.

  Robin tapped tentatively to her right and found her fork. She kind of outlined the bake with the tines of her fork, then we both cut off a piece of the bake and took a bite. Oh... Nirvana. Given the choice between this and sex, it would be a tossup. We both moaned in delight, then Mrs. Z grinned and disappeared back into her kitchen like a satisfied elf.

  With her mouth full Robin said, “Ohfw muy gooowd.”

  I giggled... which made her smile... then I said, “I told ya so.” She just nodded and dug in. As the bakes cooled, I'm not ashamed to say that both of us picked them up with our hands to munch on them.

  I was amazed to watch Robin pour herself some water and coffee. I never thought about the fact that I take so many things for granted. I can see when my glass is full. I took note how she held the rim of the cups and used the tip of her finger inside them as a gauge to determine when her water glass was full. She hung a little device from her purse in the coffee cup and it gave a tiny beep when the mug was full of the hot liquid. I wasn't sure if I should have offered to pour or not, now I know it doesn't matter.

  As we started slowing down, we remembered to talk. She started us out with, “Oh god, I feel like a pig. This is just so good.”

  I giggled, she smiled, then I said, “No need to apologize, her food has that effect. I have lost track of how many culinary awards she has won in the few
years I have known her alone.”

  Then we started talking about our childhoods. She held me in rapt fascination as she spoke about growing up visually challenged in a sighted world. I was saddened by her confession that she tried to be normal and fit in when she was really young, almost like she was embarrassed by her affliction. This had my guts churning for reasons I still can't quite nail down. Except for the fact that I don't believe she should try to fit in when she was born to stand out and shine like a star in the sky.

  She had come to that conclusion in junior high. She said it was like some sort of switch was flipped in her mind. She realized she shouldn't try to be like someone else. That being herself was good enough. That people's perceptions of what is “normal” are seriously twisted and out of whack in most cases.

  She fought with her parents to keep her in public school when they were talking about putting her in a special school that would cater to her needs. Her father was the hero there, he agreed with Robin. Her mother has just always been too over protective. Robin believes she made the right choice. I smiled, I thought so too and I told her that.

  She moved the topic to me. She was fascinated by the twin aspect of my growing up and how it affected me. She noted that Lessa seemed to protect and shelter me. She's perceptive. That is how it has always been. Less was the strong one, I was the smart one.

  My muscles began tensing and my breathing was speeding up as anxiety started rolling over me in waves when the subject of my parents divorce came up. A soft hand covering mine brought me back down to earth. I looked at our hands and noticed my silver dollar in mine. I hadn't even realized I took it out. I started to apologize, but she softly warned me. “Don't you even dare say you are sorry. Let's change the subject.” Her smile made me forget all about it and we moved the topic to art.