“See those two? A first date.”  He pointed to a chubby bowler in a Hawaiian shirt with a woman in pink polyester shorts. She had big hair and ruby red lips.

I watched. Mr. Chubby hit strikes. Ms. Pink threw gutter balls. He was patience personified. He kept laughing, never once tightening his face.

“You’re right. He’ll laugh if she drops the ball on his foot,” I said.

Ms. Pink dropped her ball on Mr. Chubby’s foot. His eyes said Pain but he laughed.

“How about a game of Scrabble?” he said as we left.

“Yes.” Triple word score.      

**Thanks to Albuquerque Reading Works for the challenge to write 100 word stories for their 2021 writing contest. They are an adult literacy center and a good cause.