GoChi Week 2021: A Fulfilled Life: Part Four
Day Four: Sports @gochi-week
âI got you this time, Goku. You will not beat me at this.â
Goku shook his head amused with ChiChi. She was at it again. They have been married for several years and it has been an adventure of learning and understanding the woman he will spend the rest of his life with. Aside from being a great cook and mother to their children, ChiChi was a great companion, a caring person but also a woman with a quick temper and competitive streak. Â
He saw a spark of ChiChiâs competitive nature whenever they sparred. ChiChi couldnât beat him at martial arts so she tried to win in other ways: card games and board games. In these games, Goku and ChiChi broke even and when she did win, Goku wasnât upset. He cheered ChiChi for her victory which made it hard for ChiChi to gloat. However, when ChiChi suggested they play sports not martial arts, Gokuâs competitive edge came alive.
He beat ChiChi in tennis, soccer, volleyball and baseball. ChiChi released her fiery temper whenever she lost. Sometimes Goku deliberately spanked her hard in their games just so ChiChi got mad. She tossed tennis rackets and broke baseball bats in half when she lost.
This time, ChiChi picked a sport that didnât require a lot of physical activity where Goku will have the advantage, and with the stakes of their usual bet, ChiChi knew Goku will give it all to not lose.
Goku bent to pick up the equipment of the game: a bowling ball. âSo, I just roll this and hit those white thingies?â
âThose white thingies are pins andâŠ..â ChiChi cringed at Goku hold the bowling ball like a basketball. She could let Goku think thatâs the correct way to hold a bowling ball but she wanted to win honestly. âYouâre holding your ball wrong. You have to stick your thumb, middle and ring finger in these holes.â
âGot it,â Goku understood. âStick my fingers in here like I stick them in you.â
ChiChi slapped Goku across his chest. âNot funny.â
Goku shrugged. âIt was to me.â
ChiChi picked up her bowling ball. âYou get two rolls but the goal is to hit all or as many pins as possible with the first roll. The more pins you hit, the higher your score.â
ChiChi stepped to the foul line. âYou canât step over this line before you roll your ball.â She took a few steps back. âNow watch what I do. Your back needs to be straight. You need to be centered on the pins and bend your knees slightly. Walk to the foul line, swing your arm back and forward like this and release the ball.â
Goku studied ChiChi as if sheâs showing him fighting techniques. He memorized her pose; how many steps she took to the foul line; how far back she stretched her arm and swung forward. When ChiChi released the bowling ball, it rolled down the lane smoothly. Seven pins tumbled. ChiChi picked up another ball and knocked down the remaining three.
The game seemed easy to play. Hit the pins with the ball. Goku figured he could do that. He had a practice shot like ChiChi which went well but when the game started Goku rolled the bowling ball too hard. With the force behind his roll, the bowling ball smashed three pins so hard, they broke into pieces. Â
ChiChi slapped her forehead. âToo hard, Goku.â
Goku laughed off his error. âOops.â He picked up another ball. âIâll be lighter this time.â Goku released the bowling ball behind him and into the chest of an innocent bystander who was knocked off his feet and went soaring over the customer service counter. âSorry! I donât know my strength!â
ChiChi groaned, âItâs the tennis incident all over again.â
Gokuâs strength was always an issue when Goku and ChiChi visited public facilities to play sports. When they played tennis together, Goku hit the ball so hard an attendant was knocked out. When they played baseball at a park, Gokuâs home run broke the windows of ten cars in the parking lot.
âI donât think heâs dead,â Goku saw the bystander wiggle his legs. âProbably got the wind knocked out of him.â
âAnd broke a few ribs,â ChiChi muttered.
âSee?â Goku pointed as the bystander gingerly stood. âHeâs okay.â He waved at the bystander who sent Goku a middle finger salute before he limped away. âWell, thatâs rude.â
âHe can be as rude as he likes, Goku. You almost killed him. We should be glad heâs not suing us or making us pay for damages like the baseball incident.â
Goku cringed recalling ChiChi screaming at him at the money spent to repair the car windows he smashed. âGood point.â Goku picked up another ball. This one rolled into the gutter. âAw, man. I ainât starting off too good with this.â
ChiChi smirked pleased with this. She rolled her ball and got a strike. âYes!â ChiChi threw a fist in the air. âA strike!!â
As ChiChi danced around him gloating about her strike and winning their bet, Goku picked up his bowling ball. If ChiChi can get a strike, so can he. He stepped forward and rolled. He groaned when his ball rolled in the gutter again. On the second try, Goku put a little more strength in his swing and knocked all the pins down. âWhoo-hoo!!â Goku cheered when the last pin tumbled. âI got a strike, too!â
âWrong!â ChiChi cackled. âIt doesnât count, Goku.â
âBut,â Goku didnât understand, âI got a strike like you.â
âYou crossed the foul line.â ChiChi pointed at Gokuâs right foot that was an inch over the foul line.
âBut⊠IâŠ.â Goku pouted. âAwwwâŠ..â
It was wickedly pleasing for ChiChi to see Goku losing. For once, heâll be on the losing end and sheâll be the victor in their bet. âGet ready to lose and be at my mercy for once in our bet.â
The mentioning of their bet caused Goku to suddenly perk up. âI still have a chance.â
On ChiChiâs next roll she got a spare. Goku knocked seven pins down during his first roll and missed the last three. With each frame, ChiChi grew more confident of her lead and winning the bet until the beginning of the sixth frame when the tide started to turn against her. Goku got his first strike.
ChiChi thought the strike was a fluke and was confident in her lead over him but Goku chipped at her lead when he knocked down nine pins and finished it with a spare in the seventh frame. He got another strike in the eighth frame and in the ninth knocked down nine pins again but got the spare. In the final frame, he got three strikes which made his total 157.
As Goku got more comfortable and caught up to ChiChi, ChiChiâs confidence wavered which caused her to make mistakes. Instead of a strike, ChiChi knocked down eight pins in the seventh frame and six pins in the eighth frame. She got a strike in the ninth frame. In the tenth frame, ChiChi knocked down nine pins and recovered with a spare.
For the final roll, ChiChi had to knock down at least six pins to win. Six pins were easy at the start of this game but the pressure was getting to her. Â
I was so sure I had Goku in this one. Heâs gonna win the bet again.
ChiChi stepped to the line. She extended her arm back and slowly rolled it forward in practice. She repeated to get the right form, the right momentum and swing to knock six pins down.
On the fourth swing where ChiChi expected to release her ball, Goku grabbed her arm.
âGoku!â ChiChi cursed. âYouâre cheating!! Let me go!â
Goku stood behind ChiChi and pulled her to stand straight. âYour form is wrong and your grip on your ball is too tight. If you swing like this, the ball will roll in the gutter.â
ChiChi tried to shake Goku off. His advice came off as mocking to ChiChi. âWhy are you talking like youâre the expert? I taught you how to play!â
âIâve studied your form, ChiChi.â Goku tightened his hold on ChiChi slightly so she stopped fighting him. âWhen you were winning, you were relaxed and knocked more pins down. When I started catching up, you got frustrated and lose your concentration. Your anger makes you lose focus.â
Goku placed his left foot beside ChiChiâs and pressed against it forcing ChiChi to bring her legs closer. âYouâre spread too wide here.â He pulled her back two steps. âYouâre releasing your ball farther than before.â Holding her throwing arm, Goku gently swung it back and forth. âSwing with this motion.â
ChiChi didnât want to openly admit it but Goku was right. Her anger did cause her to lose focus. It did in every sport they played together but even with her temper, Goku still had the physical advantage. It wasnât the same this time. She was the sole cause of her loss at bowling. It was humbling and embarrassing Gokuâs kindness brought guilt to ChiChi for her earlier behavior towards him. âI canât believe youâre helping me.â
âIâm helping because your victory is my victory.â
Goku smirked thinking about the bet. In his mind, they were both winning regardless of the outcome here. âDonât think about it and win the game, ChiChi.â
Feeling a surge of confidence, ChiChi swung the bowling ball a final time. It wasnât a perfect roll. It wobbled to the right but when it collided with the pins eight fell down, bringing ChiChiâs total to 160.
âYeah!â Goku threw both arms in the air. âYou won, ChiChi!!â
Unlike Goku, ChiChi wasnât in the mood to cheer or gloat. Tears sprung from her eyes out of relief and a bit of joy but mostly for the love of her husband. He didnât gloat about his impending victory for him. He helped ChiChi and sacrificed his victory. ChiChi lightly punched his arm. âWhy do you have to be so sweet? Itâs not fun beating you when youâre sweet.â
âAh, ChiChi, you know these games are just for fun with us. Youâre the one who takes it too seriously.â
âThatâs because you always win. I was so focused on beating you and finally winning our bet. Now that I have, itâs not even fun.â
âBut the bet will be fun right?â Goku was hopeful. âIt always was when I won.â
âYou almost cracked your head and nearly dropped me when you slipped in the shower,â ChiChi reminded him. âLuckily,â she smirked, âI have a safer idea.â
âRoleplay. Iâm the princess rescuing her tied-up prince but before I free him, I take advantage of his vulnerable positionâŠ..â