“The Bowling Story” by Jen Michalski
I haven’t been bowling in a while, but it is something David, Amber and I enjoy. We’re not great, David’s better than I am by far, but it’s fun. So the title is what attracted me to this story in The New Yinzer. I’m also glad I found The New Yinzer’s website. To be honest, I didn’t know Pittsburgh even had a literary magazine.
The story is about two couples, designated by letters, woman A, man B, that kind of thing. Actually, it’s not a story about the couples so much as a story about the story about the couples. I didn’t explain that well. It’s an interesting style, though. I can’t really describe it better.
The bowling story will begin and end in a bowling alley. There is a man, there is a woman, or maybe there are two couples. A team. There is no baby, although one of the women may be pregnant and not know it. Maybe one woman, A, is cheating on one man, B, with the other man, C. Maybe man B finds out because the man, C, and woman A have placed their initials together in the high score line of the Centipede machine.
The story also has musings in the writer’s voice, about a memory from her childhood, that she later incorporates in the story.
It’s been a while since I read a story in this style. I didn’t love it, and didn’t feel any connection to the characters, but I’ll probably remember it for a while. You can find the story at The New Yinzer.
John hosts Short Story Monday at The Book Mine Set. Head over there to see what he and others have been reading.
The above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate.
That does sound like an interesting approach. And thanks for introducing me to the New Yinzer.
Pittsburgh has a literary magazine…wow. and what is a Yinzer?
You definitely have me curious about this story. I’m off to check it out. Also, thanks for the link to the New Yinzer. I’m always oh the look out for new short story sources online.
Caite –
“Yinz” is basically the Pittsburgh/ Southwest PA version of the plural you or you all. I don’t how to describe a yinzer. I guess it’s a blue collar Pittsburgher, but the phrase is also kind of a show of regional pride. They’re making fun of themselves, but are proud of who they are, too.
Yep, we have a literary magazine. And yep The New Yinzer is a name that makes fun of who we are. Blue Collar Pittsburgh? Literary Magazine?
Welcome to the NEW Yinzer, yinz.
That sounds like an unusual story. Thanks for letting us know about The New Yinzer… I learned something today!
Susan – I was hoping you’d stop by. I’m not truly a Yinzer, so was hoping I described it okay.
I enjoy bowling even though I’m terrible!