Hustler

First in a series of "Very Short Stories" a project I'm working on in my spare time. The story is to short to need a description.

Hustler

By: Jeremiah Elliot Hisel

 

Sunset on a hot summer day. An outline of a man appears in front of the sun. Slowly he walks toward a small diner connected to a bowling alley. As he opens the door to the diner the people inside turn to see this tall, thin sharply dressed man wearing sunglasses, enter. He makes his way to the small counter and rings the small bell next to the cash register, to signal his need for service. A large brunette woman enters from the kitchen through a swinging door and asks "How are ya hun, ready to order?" The man smiles takes off his glasses and replies "Sure am, can I get a burger a fries?" She takes his order and takes the slip to the cook in the back. The man turns and looks around the room. There’s a couple in their sixties sitting in a booth and two younger guys sitting near a window overlooking the bowling alley. He then walks to an open booth and takes a seat. As he sits he starts to fidget with the silverware desperately trying to find a place for it that feels right to him. People stare at his unorthodox behavior with the items on the table. After a few minutes of positioning he has the table in order. The brunette waitress brings his food and sits it in front of him on the table. "Thank you" he says in a soft tone. He repositions the food to keep the table in order. He then starts to eat, after every bite he makes sure to wipe his mouth with his napkin. A few more people enter the small diner from the bowling alley’s door. He watches them and asks himself "I wonder if they’re house players?" He starts to listen to the two young men sitting across from him in the next booth. "I shot a 240 yesterday" one states, " I’ve done 260 before, but its been a long time since" the other says. He thinks " 260, 240 sounds nice." he finishes his meal and starts to clean up his table. He takes out his wallet and removes a large sum of money. He sorts through the large sum of bills, making sure that the two men take notice. He pulls out a five dollar bill and places it on the table. He puts his money away and shifts his body around so he can see the group of people. " So who’s up for a game?" he asks. People look at him somewhat shocked at his outburst. " Come on I’m new here and I haven’t played bowling in awhile, so it could be fun" he says. They say nothing, so he precedes " Fine why don’t we make it fun a small wager?" " Like what?" the younger guy asks. " How a bout a hundred bucks a game" he says smiling. "You call that a small wager" the young man replies. The other says " I don’t know where your from but that’s about a days pay here." "All right how about this if you win a game I’ll pay one hundred, but if I win you pay me fifty" spoken with a small grin on his face. The two guys look at each other. "Come on if it gets any more friendly I’d be paying you guys to play with me" he says with a laugh. " I heard you guys bowled a 240 and a 260" he says. "Alright I’m in" one says. The young man introduces himself " My name is Brandon and this is Rick." "Nice to meet you Brandon, I’m James" he says simply. James stands up and says " So I guess I need to rent some shoes." All three men walk into the bowling alley and pick two lanes for play. James walks to the counter and ask for a pair of shoes. Brandon says to Rick "Can you believe this guy he’s using house equipment, this is gonna be the easiest hundred bucks I’ve ever made." James sits down on the bench and puts on the shoes. "I wonder what weight I should chose," James says. He picks up a fifteen pound ball and inspects it, "This will do" he says. Brandon removes his ball from its case. He then slips on a wrist guard on. " Should I be wearing one of those?" asks James. " Not unless you play frequently" Rick says. " So you guys must be pros then huh?" James asks. Brandon and Rick look at each other and laugh. "So who’s up first?" James asks. "I’ll go first" Brandon replies. He then takes his place and gets ready. He holds his bowling ball in his right hand and quickly moves forward then releases the ball. It spins clockwise as it makes its way to its target. "Strike" yells Brandon as the ball crashes through the pins. "Good shot" James replies. Then James takes his place and readies himself. He moves forward fast and quickly releases. "His form is top notch" says Rick to Brandon. "He’s no beginner" Brandon says. The ball finds its target, Crash the pins fly, and It’s a Strike. Rick turns to Brandon and says "This guy’s a hustler." "I can still beat ‘em" Brandon replies. "So you’re up" Brandon nods and takes his place. James watches Brandon closely. "Come on now make this shot" Brandon says under his breath. He throws the ball with tremendous force. It spins on its route to the pins. Smash! Pins fall and Brandon snarls "I can’t believe I missed that damn pin." I single pin stands while all others have fallen. "Guess you’re gonna need to pick up the spare" James says. Brandon doesn’t reply. He picks up his ball and sends it on its way to the single standing pin. "go it" Rick says with a smile. James takes his place and collects his thoughts as he slides his way to the foul line. He releases the ball and it slides its way to the first pin. Another strike. "Where did you say you normally bowl?" Rick asks. "I don’t remember saying anything about that" James says jokingly. "I think we’re getting hustled" Rick says under his breath. The End