Bowling for all abilities
By Sally Carpenter
Within cozy mysteries, all the
characters seem to be in perfect health. They never get colds or sore throats
or headaches or break their arms or suffer any maladies. They have 20/20 vision
and good hearing. Occasionally a grandparent might use a cane. Characters who
use wheelchairs are showing up more, but are still the exception.
In my Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol
series, I added a major secondary character who is blind. I have poor vision, so
this type of character hits close to home. Celeste Farmington, Sandy’s sister,
first appeared in the third book. “The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper.”
It’s fun to view the world through
her eyes, so to speak, and be aware of how she moves, speaks and reacts. I had
a blind friend in college, so I use him as a reference to how Celeste acts.
She has a fold-up cane, but she
doesn’t always use it. She isn’t at all like the blind character in the W.C.
Fields movie who swung his cane around inside a store and breaks the
merchandise. Celeste has darks glasses, but doesn’t always wear them.
Celeste feels uncomfortable in
crowds, and hasn’t fully mastered good social skills. As a result, she can be
blunt and demanding. But she’s sweet and her family loves her.
Despite her challenges, I’ve tried
to find ways to work her into the stories. My latest book, “The Notorious Noel
Caper,” opens with Sandy taking part in a celebrity charity bowling tournament.
I couldn’t work Celeste into the scene—could I?
A little research proved that blind
people can indeed bowl.
The American Blind Bowling Association
Inc. was established in 1951. It’s open to legally blind individuals, including
those with limited vision. The association maintains teams, leagues and
tournaments with prizes.
Blind bowlers use the same standard
lanes as sighed people, same rules, balls and scoring. The only difference is
the use of a handrail, comprised of metal tubing, that stands about waist high
and runs the length of the floor from the approach to the foul line. The rail
is moveable, and is weighed down with bowling balls at the base.
The blower holds the rail with one
hand and the ball in the other. The rail serves as a guide to keep the bowler
in a straight path as she takes her steps to the foul line.
A sighted person assists by keeping
score, calling out the numbers of the fallen and standing pins, and sometimes
giving suggestions on how to throw the ball. However, the assistant never
touches the bowler while she’s bowling or throws the ball for her.
Videos of blind blowers can be
found on YouTube; simply type in “blind bowlers.” Bowling is one of the few
sports in which blind people can participate, and those who do love it.
So, Celeste accompanies her brother
to the tournament and joins her blind team mates, the Bowler Babes. Her
presence adds a nice touch to the scene, gives Sandy someone to talk to, and
demonstrates that blind people can live full, rich lives.
I’m giving away a free story to
readers who sign up for my mailing list. Go to sandyfairfaxauthor.com and
scroll down to the “Get My Story” button.
Sally Carpenter is a native Hoosier living in Southern California. She’s worked as an actress, college composition instructor, jail chaplain, movie studio page and is now with a community newspaper. She’s the author of two cozy mystery series, Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol (five books) and the Psychedelic Spy (two books), both with Cozy Cat Press. “The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper” was a 2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel. She has short stories published in three anthologies. You can reach her at facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54.
To purchase “The Notorious Noel Caper,” go to https://www.amazon.com/Notorious-Caper-Sandy-Fairfax-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09CN1W7V1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2MBYN26X5IDY7&keywords=notorious+noel+caper&qid=1634786090&sprefix=notorious+noel+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-2
