Friday Night

It's Friday night at the Ranchbowl, a bowling alley with a bar attached and the crowd is starting to congregate in the bar since the live band is almost done setting up. The doors to the outside sand volley bowl court are still open as the nighttime lights kick in as part of the crowd mill in for drinks and some tunes. It's hot, but it's summertime in the Midwest. It would probably be cooler in the bar if the random beer bottle hadn't been thrown at the AC system during a fight last weekend but business hasn't waned that much plus people occasionally pop into the bowling alley to cool off when needed. Ice cold beers seem to be selling exceptionally well and may be the reason fixing the AC hasn't been a priority.

The band starts playing an appropriate song for the weather and the situation it seems.

Ted has just come in from outside in the smoke area laughing with three girls in tow as the bouncer checks their arm bands for legal age drinking patrons entering. He thinks twice about taking one last drag since the guy is looking at him almost daring him to get thrown out. Mike sips his beer and gets in a few more practice shots at the darts board fending off another set of guys coming over to see if he was done so they could play. Chester looks at his phone from his stool against the wall by the sound engineering's booth and notices Will and Ronald both just checked in and texts the rest of the group that they're here. Will and Ronald catchup on the way in and Will is slightly surprised Ronald looks at the photos he shows on his phone and listens to his story about his kids chances of winning first in this season's tournament soccer league. Donald groans from behind the bar looking at the wall and the time. He still has an hour left on the clock and when the other bartenders aren't looking he downs a shot of tequila as compensation.

Mike and Todd find two guys coming up to challenge them to darts with the addition of a few ladies hanging around Ted now in tow.

Donny finds himself putting down the shot glass to several customers rushing the bar for beer, soda, or mixed drinks all waving money at him. The other bartenders are already filling order at their area of the bar.

Chester while waiting for the last two to show up overhear the sound engineer curse since he just lost sound for some of the equipment between sets.

Ronny and Will are outside waiting in line to get ID'd and let in.

"Sure Mike, I'll let you try and beat me after the last time I wiped the floor with ya."
Laughing heartedly I turn back and tell the girls. "Give me a moment, need to teach my friend how to play darts. Your drinks will be by soon." Giving them one last wink I head over to Mike.

@ Holmag for Ted

The two young guys physically have facial spasms calling darts a silly game.

Unfortunately Ted's first dart bounces off the board and falls getting a laugh out of the two, the next two land on 10 and 8 netting him eighteen points.