This is the 108th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.
Bowling Brothers, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 19th March 2013
Word count: 333
The story:
“See, your problem is just like this game,” the solicitor said as he approached the lane.
“What? I need to line up my opponents and smash them with something heavy?” Charles Hewes said sarcastically.
“We’ll call that plan two, shall we?” the solicitor John Henry said.
“Let’s,” the client said, still sarcastically.
“Okay, listen bowling metaphor might help. Your problems are many, and your resources relatively few. Those pins are your problems, you’re best solution is to get as big a solution as you can handle. Then line up and commit.” The solicitor took a step back, lined up and dashed forward, leaning into and then releasing the ball, which spam smoothly down the wooden lane.
“You split,” Charles said.
“That’s the rub,” the solicitor said heading back to the ball return rack, “You have to line up just right, hold the potential just right and release just at the right time. And if you miss one or two, you can always clean up in the second round.” The solicitor lined up and threw the ball again, knocking over one of the pins.
“I get what you mean,” the client stood up and picked up a ball, “Timing and execution.” He calmly ran forward, threw the green ball he’d picked up down the lane. He took out all but one pin. “I’m just worried about that one stubborn problem.” He lined up and threw again gaining a half strike.
“Even stubborn problems get wiped out with enough effort,” the solicitor said.
“So that’s your advice,” Charles said.
“Just an observation,” John said, “You know I can’t advise you formally on this. I can’t be involved in the seedy side of your enterprises.”
“Who said this was anything dodgy?”
“Isn’t it?”
“I can’t answer that,” Charles said with a smile. “Its you’re round I’ll get the beers in.”
“You do that, I’ll beat your arse while you’re drunk,” the solicitor laughed.
“John your a great solicitor, but a lousy big brother,” Charles said laughing.
Aspiring 