“Oh.”

“So, what are you two doing?” Aimee asks.

“Playing Monopoly.”

“The real version or your homemade one?”

“Why would I buy one if I have one?” I ask.

“Oh no! I get it,” she says. “With not enough money and with houses and hotels that fall over. I think it’s perfect!” And she gives me a shove and a look only a friend who’s known you forever could give you. She knows my mom made that game and I’ll never get rid of it.

“So,” Aimee continues, “do you want to hit Cape Bowl? The playhouse gave us a ton of tokens for the machines and free bowling game coupons. I think it’s so the kids who don’t live here can check things out. But we got some, too.”

“I mean, we don’t have any money,” I say.

Aimee shoves me a bit. “I know. I told you. We’ve got tons.”

So, we all head up to Cape Bowl, where there is an arcade, a bowling alley, and a snack bar.

Michael swings open the door and lets us all walk in ahead of him.

We decide to bowl first. When we get up to the counter to get shoes, Ronan hangs back. “I don’t need any shoes. I’ll just wear mine.”

“You can’t,” I tell him. “You have to get shoes.”

He looks down at my feet. “Are you getting shoes?”

I reach into my pocket and pull out some ankle socks. “For bowling? Yeah. You have to have special shoes.”

“Special shoes as in ugly shoes? Why can’t I just wear mine?”

“You stumble if you wear yours. The bowling shoes slide.”

Ronan looks a lot happier. “Slide? Cool.”

We all get shoes, and Ronan stares down at his feet like he’s grown an extra toe. But then he takes a running start and slides down the lane about six feet.

I go first, and Ronan watches everything I do. I get seven pins, but Aimee claps like I hit eleven.

While Michael is walking over to pick up a ball, Aimee starts to yell, “Brandy! Over here!” Then she turns to me. “Look, Dels. Brandy is here.”

I turn slowly, not happy about who I’m going to see. I haven’t had a chance to tell Aimee about the situation with Brandy and Tressa. And now they’re heading our way. Turns out they are assigned to the lane next to us. How did I get so unlucky?

“Hey,” I say.

Brandy seems unhappy to be next to us but says hi back. They begin to put on their shoes.

“Okay,” Ronan says. “How hard could it be? You just stick your fingers in the three holes and throw the ball at the pins.”

“Well, you roll it. Not throw it,” I say.

Tressa laughs, and I’m thankful I don’t have to see her much.

Ronan takes a running start and swings the ball out in front of him, but doesn’t let go. He flies into the air and lands in the lane with a loud thud. Everyone turns. Brandy and Tressa laugh. Michael and Aimee laugh, too, actually. I mean, when I see he isn’t really hurt, it’s hard not to laugh. I’ve never seen anyone launch themselves down a lane before.