LogFAQs > #927223006

So, Bottle Up.

The guy game-runner is the only one there tonight -- I'm just gonna call him Buddy since that kinda sounds like his name and he's the only person not wearing a name-tag there that I've seen. He's also all alone. It's just us for awhile while he smokes his Juul out in the middle of everything (most carnival workers will step to the side of their games to smoke)..

He's mad at me for not coming earlier when there were a bunch of kids here earlier -- apparently it's Kid's Day. He's also complaining how hot it is outside, which he was correct about. I ask him about what it takes to set the game up every day. He tells me about how they have to remove the wires, speakers, and prizes every night...but at least trucks drive up to his booth to ease the loading. I'm into these conversations about how the fair works.

I eventually tell him I want to play and have my $5 out, and he tells me winners have to pay $5 for one try. I look at him funny and ask him "Is that what the rules say?" while I point at the rules. He's insisting on it and I'm calling him out on it, but eventually I cave in and negotiate with terrorists -- I'll pay $5 for one try THIS TIME, but that's just because it's only going to take one time to do it today.

And folks, that's when it happened.

Buddy then took the closest pole and told me he's going to curse my pole. He rubbed his hands all over the rod I'd use to stand the bottle with and made like the faintest of humming noises, then he finally handed it to me. "There, it's cursed."

To reiterate: dude had cursed my pole with the carnival curse.

I asked him if the bottle was cursed too. He said nah.

I line up and stand the bottle on my first try, effectively breaking the curse and shutting him the fuck down on his little $5 winners-only hijack he thought he'd get away with. This one felt good.

However, right before I pick the HUGE rainbow koala I was about to pick, there was what felt like a very Tell Tale Games-like moment. A woman beside me exclaimed "No, not the koala bear -- that's the one I want!" I turn to see this cute chemo-or-a-statement-type-of-bald-headed lady with her boyfriend, and she's right to shout right then because that was the only koala of its kind available for grabs. I feel the Tell Tale Games-bar dwindling down on what to do, and I think I did what made the most people happy:

"Tell you what, I'll wait here in case you can win the prize -- I'll let you have it if you can win."

The game-runner gets a boost and the couple gets hope. He happily accepts and spends about fifteen dollars before deciding he can't do it. He then walks to me and puts me in another situation:

"How 'bout if I gave you $25 for the prize, would you do that for her?"

My heart churns a bit. I tell him I'm giving these prizes to kids and non-profits, and he understands. We shake hands and they leave. I lean to Buddy as they leave and say something like "Damn, don't it cost $25 just to get here?" He laughs, not knowing it only costs me $15 since I ain't paying for their parking.

For the record, I fully intend to give these to kids and non-profits, but I do have a price since these have all been coming from my pocketbook. That price? More than $25, I assure you.

Buddy then takes me to the koala bear I wanted and showed it had a decent tear on its leg -- styrofoam or cotton or whatever fell out as he showed me the hole. I change my mind and go with a big ole' purple monkey I've been eyeing awhile.

I ask Buddy what time would be best to show up tomorrow. He says 8:00 PM. I told him I'd try to come around then. Realistically though, I get off work at 5:00 PM and I don't wanna go home before the fair or play that late, so I might actually show up earlier -- we'll see. At least I got some info on when they think their busy times are.
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