by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2023
(Oct. 13, 2023) — The mechanical arm slowly rose back into place. Trembling, Dylan straightened himself up as he stared into the cold eyes of the automaton. He was unaware of the screams from the nearby roller coaster, the flashing lights of the midway and “Palisades Park” blasting over the speakers.
His girlfriend shook his sleeve for the fifth time. “Dylan, please! You’ve been at this for hours. It hasn’t given you anything for even trying. No one can win this game.”
Dylan scowled as he shook her off and shoved another coin into the slot. “Get out’a here, Betty! Go home, if you’re tired. This thing promises a cash prize, and I intend to win it! Besides, I can’t let a worthless machine show me up! There’s no one and no thing that’s stronger than me!”
Suddenly, the mechanical arm gave way under the pressure of Dylan’s sweating hand. The winner shouted in victory. The machine finally shot out a piece of paper. Dylan read it and dropped to the ground, somewhere between hysterical laughter and tears. The words had read: “Never make a bet with a carny.”