Izzy stepped from the sidewalk into the street like a phone zombie. She didn’t see the car coming. Allyson rushed out into the street and she wrapped her arms around her friend. Izzy paused and struggled slightly. She lifted her head and had the same startled, displaced look that Brandon always got when he was woken up for school.
“What?!”
A car zoomed by, missing them my inches. The air pushed against them, and Allyson looked to the spot where Izzy would have been if Allyson hadn’t stopped her.
Smashed.
She pulled Izzy back to a safe place and then grabbed the phone from her hand.
“I’m saving your life!”
Izzy looked at her in disbelief. “What?”
Then Allyson hurried over to Sondra.
“I’m sorry. I’m going to have to go,” Sondra apologized to them, holding up her phone.
Allyson could see the worry in Sondra’s eyes. Sondra wanted to be there for Zoe, but Allyson knew Zoe well enough to know she could handle things—everything—herself. How was Zoe ever going to grow up if Sondra ran to her every time she had a small little issue?
“No, you’re not going to do that!” Allyson grabbed the phone from Sondra’s hand too. And then she started running with both phones. Running as fast as her stilettoed feet would carry her.
They could be turned away from the restaurant, but she would not allow her friends to be turned into phone zombies. She would not let Sondra go “save” Zoe, when she really didn’t need any saving. If they couldn’t have a nice dinner, at least they could have each other. Friendship was food for the souls. That was written somewhere, Allyson was sure. Or at least if it wasn’t it should be.
She was saving their lives. She was saving them in ways they didn’t realize. They had to unplug so they could remember what the real world was all about. So they could be a part of it again.
Her heels clicked against the asphalt as she ran. She didn’t have to look behind her to know that the other two women followed. Their shouts and their own heels clicking on the pavement gave them away. She hurried faster so they wouldn’t catch her. Hurried faster so she could get to her van before they caught up.
They ran, but as if in slow motion. Allyson tucked her small purse up under her armpit and pulled up Izzy’s phone, reading the text and returning an answer, typing with her thumb.
“I’m sure Marco can find the rash cream on his own!” she called. “I have full confidence.”
Izzy stopped and stood there in disbelief. “Except he can’t.”
“He can’t,” Sondra echoed, taking Izzy’s side.
“Sean told me to unplug. He said unplug and this is me UNPLUGGING.” Allyson’s voice was near frantic now. Her heart pounded, and her hands tingled with nervous energy. She looked to the older woman. “Okay. I’m listening to my husband, Sondra, it’s biblical, right?”
That was the first time Allyson ever used that excuse, but it seemed to work. Izzy’s mouth was open, and she looked to Sondra.
Sondra opened her mouth as if to say something, but then paused and scratched behind her ear. Sondra didn’t have a defense for that because it was biblical indeed.
Allyson opened the minivan door, and then she shoved Izzy and Sondra’s phones into her center console, between the front seats, closing the lid on it with a loud click. She pulled her own cell phone from her purse and tossed it in. An energy surged through her as she did that. A freedom that she hadn’t expected. She was unleashed. She was in control. And her friends would appreciate it; too, she was sure, once that got those frantic looks off their faces.
Allyson stepped back and eyed them. “No phones!” Allyson waved her arms like a baseball umpire calling out that someone was safe. “No phones. So this is what we’re going to do.” The words spilled out, and then she realized that she didn’t have a plan. What were they going to do?
“And we’re gonna . . . We’re gonna . . .” She looked around as if the answer was hanging in the air around her, and that’s when she saw it. The new bowling alley,
Down Ten Alley,
that had just opened up. She’d heard that it was the happening place. It wasn’t a fancy dinner, not by a long shot, but they could have fun. She pointed that direction. The blinking lights on the bowling alley building beaconed her, beaconed them.
“We’re going bowling! Yes! Bowling.”
Izzy and Sondra looked at each other in disbelief. She read their looks. They believed that she had lost her mind . . . and maybe she had. Allyson smoothed her hand down her black dress. Who said that one couldn’t get dressed up for bowling? Maybe she’d start something.
She pumped her fists in the air like she did in junior high when she’d pretended she was a cheerleader. “Who wants to go bowling? I know I do.” Allyson’s smile widened. “Sondra?”
Sondra’s eyebrows lifted, and her face froze into an awkward smile, like Bozo the clown. She looked to Ally from the corner of her eyes. “Fine, absolutely.”
That was all Ally needed to run with this. She didn’t ask Izzy. Allyson knew that Izzy would come along. She didn’t have a choice. Her cell phone was locked up in Allyson’s van, and Ally had the keys. She had no way to call Marco. Besides there was food at the bowling alley. It was the closest food. Yes, Izzy would come.
Allyson hurried ahead, across the parking lot to the bowling alley. The wind picked up slightly and blew on her neck, and she knew what she had to do. As she strode ahead she reached up and pulled the pins from her hair. It tumbled down, falling down her back and over her shoulders. Allyson tossed her curls from side to side. If she was going to be free tonight, they were going to be free.
She glanced over her shoulder to the two women who followed her. “I’m letting my hair down, ladies!” She let out a whoop.
Izzy and Sondra looked at each other, still in shock, but they continued moving forward. That had to be a good sign.
Allyson did a little jig. “Bowling! Yes!”
“Fine. Absolutely,” Sondra said going along with it with as much enthusiasm as a church lady could muster.
“I’m not wearing vending machine socks.” Izzy’s voice carried through the night air.
And as they neared the front door, the scent of sweat, socks, and French fries greeted them. It was something at least. It was something.
CHAPTER NINE
If Sean had learned one thing as a father it was that the best way to handle a houseful of kids was to get them out of the house. Staying in the house meant a messy house. Getting out of the house, his kids could mess up some other place and he could walk way. Someone else would pick up the pizza crusts off the floor. Someone else would wipe up spilled milk. Someone else would have to Windex fingerprints off of every glass surface, even those ones that you were certain the kids couldn’t reach. As long as he kept Beck out of the bathroom, and made sure he didn’t go toilet diving, he’d be good. He’d also win points from Allyson for NOT allowing Brandon to play violent video games. It was a win, win, win.
He stood beside Kevin’s car with the kids buckled up inside of it. That’s another thing he’d learned—not to unbuckle kids until the very last moment. Car seats saved lives. Car seats saved a dad’s sanity. He was sure that the person who’d invented them liked the idea of
restraint
just as much as safety.
He and Kevin moved to the back of his car, leaning against it. Sean looked up to see Marco’s car driving toward them. It jerked and swerved as he pulled up into a parking space.
“Whoa.” Sean and Kevin jerk their heads back, in unison.
Marco swatted at something inside. Then he wrestled himself out of the car, stumbling. As soon as he was out he quickly slammed the front door as if something was trying to get out— something was chasing him. It took a moment for Marco to catch his breath. Catch his balance. Sean could see the twins quietly strapped in the backseat.
Dude, what’s your problem,
he wanted to ask.
“You alright?” Sean called to Marco.
Marco lifted his hands into the air, as if trying to wave off their worries. “Yeah, I’m fine, under control. Can you help me get my kids out?”
Sean moved closer to the car. He looked inside and noticed white spots on the seats—like bloops of spit-up. Yet Marco’s toddler boys were too old for that. Then something small and fluttery darted at the window, hitting it, trying to get to him.
Sean flinched and jumped back. “Whoa, what was that?” His arms and hands flew over his head, and he ducked down certain that whatever that thing was it was going to go through the window and get him.
Marco cast his gaze down to the ground. “A bird.”
Sean’s eyes grew wide. “A bird?”
“Yes, it’s a bird, okay? My kids, they wanted to bring the pet bird.”
Sean’s jaw dropped open. “And you let them?”
“I didn’t know it was going to be flying all over the place!”
The bird continued to dart around inside the car, and the twin boys in the backseat watched nervously.
Sean glanced at Marco again.
Rookie.
From his stance, and the look on his face, Marco appeared as if he was going to dart. Of course, Marco always had that look after Izzy had the twins. Sean had always found humor in that. Marco had seemed so freaked out about having one child that God gave them two, right from the start.
Kevin glanced into the car in disbelief. Sean was sure this wasn’t the evening his childhood friend had been planning. Not at all. He pointed to the cage on the floorboard of the passenger’s seat. “Why don’t you put it in the cage?”
Marco bounced with frustration. His fists swatted the air as if pummeling down Kevin’s question. His large body bounced a bit too. “Don’t you think I thought of that? Look, it was in a cage!” He threw his hands up. “The locking mechanism is not intuitive.”
The bird flew around and then landed on the head rest. Moving with slow movements, Marco opened the door. “Stay Mama!”
Kevin offered a wide-eyed look as if Marco had lost his mind. “Its name is Mama??” Marco’s hair was tossed and wild, as if he hadn’t brushed it in days. Now his eyes were wild too.
Marco puffed out his chest. “Izzy was the one who let the twins name her.”
Kevin scoffed and then swatted his arms around in the air, mimicking the flying bird. “You’ve got a bird flying around, Marco.”
Marco slowed opened the door and leaned in. “I don’t think he’s scared of it. I think he doesn’t want to hurt it,” commented Sean.
Finally, they got the kids out. It took ten minutes to unbuckle them, tame them, and hold them. Sean put Beck into the stroller. And he held Bailey on the crook of his right arm. Marco walked with one twin in each arm. Brandon walked by Kevin. Kevin was Brandon’s favorite person. Allyson believed it was because they were at the same mental age, but Sean knew it was because Kevin didn’t treat Brandon like a little kid. Brandon felt appreciated, grown up when he was with Kevin. They didn’t always play death video games, but when they played Kevin always invited Brandon to join in. Sean just wished Allyson understood that.
They stood before the family play center. Treetop Family Adventures. Sean knew that once they got inside it would be loud. It would be crazy, and the kids would love it.
“Okay, so here’s the plan.” Kevin’s tone was serious, and he glared at the front door with intensity. His mission tonight wasn’t getting to a new level, so he’d make this place, their fun, his mission. “We take them inside, stamp their hands, and they can’t get out. Like
Shawshank Redemption
.”
“Love it,” Marco replied.
They all continue to stare, and Sean tightened his fingers around the stroller’s handle.
Let’s do this thing.
***
The clang and clatter of bowling pins being knocked over, and of balls clunking down the long wooden lane filled the air.
Sondra offered to go first, and Allyson almost felt bad for swiping her phone away. She could tell that Sondra was trying to get into it. Trying to make the most of Allyson’s flub.
Sondra picked out a ball, careful not to chip her fingernail polish, and she put her fingers inside the holes. She approached the lane with determination, and then a woman’s voice filled the air.
“Oh, hey!” Mattie Mae Lloyd called out. A huge laugh erupted from her lips. Everything was bold and loud about Mattie Mae. Today she wore a bright pink sweater, green skirt, and green headband. She waved to Sondra and looked pleased to see their pastor’s wife having fun, letting loose. Mattie Mae wore a black bowling glove on one hand—the sign of a true bowler. Allyson wouldn’t be surprised if she was on a league.
Sondra appeared shocked by Mattie Mae’s eager wave. “Oh, hey,” Sondra said meekly. “Hey.” Her words were lost in the sound of pins tumbling on other lanes.
And instead of leaning over, exposing her legs any more under her skirt, Sondra sat the purple ball at the end of the lane and gingerly kicked it with her foot. The ball rolled slowly halfway down the lane and then dropped into the gutter. She strode nonchalantly back to where Izzy and Allyson sat with a little hop to her step. Sondra didn’t even look back. Obviously the people around her were more important than if she’d knocked down any pins.
What a balancing beam Sondra was on, Allyson realized. Sondra wanted to have fun for Ally’s sake but not too much fun to make the church women a few lanes over believe that she’d “gone wild” at the bowling alley.
Sondra approached were Izzy was sitting. “Why don’t you go ahead?” She pointed to the lane. Izzy rose and moved to take a turn, her full skirt swishing as she walked.
Sondra eased herself into the hard plastic chair across from Allyson. “That threw me a little bit.”
But then the worried look on Sondra’s face changed to one of feigned excitement as she leaned forward and fixed her eyes on Ally. “Well, this was a good idea, Ally. Fun night after all!”
Allyson was thankful for how easily Sondra let things roll off her back. She wished she was more like that. If Sondra was on a canoe on a raging river, she’d be the one sitting there calmly, letting the motion of the current carry her, and swaying along in peace whether it be bouncy or calm. Allyson on the other hand would be trying to row against the current. She’d move from bank to bank, and try to make her own way, and in her struggle she’d get waterlogged, and flip, and find herself soaking wet and on the opposite bank from where she wanted to be.