Page 18 of Truth or Spare

“Okay…” Dewey looked around to make sure he was still awake as he sidled up behind Theo once more. He felt like he was dreaming and was surprised that Keith hadn’t said worse or laughed at him. Mostly, he was afraid of Theo noticing how much of a bumbling idiot he turned into whenever they were that close. “Hold it like this,” Dewey said as his hand covered Theo’s again and rearranged his grip. “And remember to use your wrist, not your whole arm,” he murmured while they practiced swinging.

“Eli would be brilliant at bowling,” Theo said and turned slightly, rolling his eyes. “He is obsessed with physics and hasa natural talent for any sport. His passion for parkour and skateboarding keeps me up at night,” he complained with a sigh, but paused to stare at Dewey’s beard or his lips. “Not that I miss him,” he added faintly.

Dewey could have sworn that Theo’s neck had craned and their lips had brushed before the front doors opened and a gaggle of blue hairs entered the bowling alley, hooting and cackling at each other.

“They’re here!” Dewey blurted and jumped away, causing Theo to stumble and nearly drop the ball.

“So they are,” he agreed with a chuckle and shook his head, looking amused as he went back to practicing.

Cassie arrived a few minutes later but Dewey was immediately waylaid by Judith Henderson.

“Lettie Clark’s hip is acting up again so we’re short a player. How about covering for her, stud?” she asked, causing Dewey to grimace as he backed away.

“Can’t. Gotta keep an eye on the workshop.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Theo offered, raising his hand. “But don’t get your hopes up. I’ve only had a few brief lessons.”

Judith’s jaw fell and there was a hungry gleam in her eyes as she sized him up. “You’ll do!”

“Not so fast!” Sally Cryer shouted. “We should get him.”

Judith rolled her eyes and flailed a hand at her. “All five of your players are here.”

“Go home, Helen,” Sally barked, her lips pursing as she assessed Theo.

“Hey!” Helen protested from the back of the crowd, causing giggles and titters as the women pretended to argue over Theo.

“Good luck, ladies,” Dewey said as he left them and headed for the back.

He was confident that Theo could manage on his own and was relieved to find nothing but happy, laughing bowlers whenDewey checked on the front of the house three hours later. The floors were free of shoes and clutter and the trash cans, counters, and tables all looked clean. Cassie was chatting with a pair of high schoolers while Theo scored a spare, earning wild cheers from both teams.

The other players were all smitten and thoroughly entertained as Theo bowed and clapped, then mingled like he was in a ballroom and surrounded by elegant matrons. Theo always carried himself like he was wearing a tuxedo and treatedeveryperson he spoke to like a dignitary. Instead of feeling intimidated or embarrassed by their lack of sophistication, people around Theo smiled brighter and carried themselves a little prouder.

Dewey had even caught Keith calling himself “sir” and notching his chin back just a touch higher. It was refreshing, after watching the elderly veteran struggle with the loss of his dog and his job at the auto repair shop a few years earlier. He was gently asked to retire and they saw less and less of Keith around town, but the bowling alley was one of the few places he still visited.

It was especially touching, seeing Keith tuned in and laughing. Like a lot of the older people in Oslo, Keith had seen better days and missed having a purpose. They all did their best to look out for him, but Dewey suspected that making a new “friend” had given Keith something positive to look forward to. And being treated like a gentleman and a peer by the bowling alley’s improbably elegant and worldly new employee seemed to be doing wonders for the old man’s self-esteem.

“Get over here and play a game with us, Doob! How long has it been?” Judith called but Dewey waved her off as he went to check in with Cassie.

“How’s it going?” he asked her, earning a bored shrug as she glanced up from her Kindle. She was a voracious reader andusually had it with her and out if she wasn’t meddling in Dewey’s affairs.

“Same as always. You know, they wouldn’t give you a hard time about playing if youtold them.”

Dewey rolled his eyes and punched the enter button on the register, opening the drawer. “Don’t need all of them worrying about me too.” He kept his gum where the 20s would have gone and helped himself to a piece before offering her the pack. She shook her head and nodded at the lanes.

“You should definitely tell Theo.”

“Don’t need him worrying about me either.”

“Out of all the people in this alley, heshouldbe worrying about you. It’s his job, Doob.”

“No, it’s his job to help me run this place. He’s not a nurse.”

“He’s not a bowler either, but he’s learning,” she said and pointed at the lanes just as Theo rolled his first strike. Everyone cheered wildly as Theo leaped in the air, then scooped Judith into his arms and spun her like they were in a ballroom. She received an exuberant kiss before Theo went around, kissing cheeks and slapping hands. “He’d want to know,” she said, earning a flat look from Dewey.

“No.Youwould want to know because you’re nosy. You like knowing everything about everyone and being an open book. But I don’t want everyone in my business telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing.”

“But, Doob?—”

---