Winning

Kent walked with his daughter, Lyric, through the parking lot toward the fairgrounds.

“Stay with me, Lyre. Don’t want to lose you.”

“I’m right here, Daddy. You won’t lose me” She took his hand. “Where are we going?”

“It’s called a fair. Like a carnival. It’s got rides and games…”

Lyric laughed and pointed. “And tons of people!”

She was in awe of the multitude streaming toward the entrance. The line at the ticket booth appeared endless. Colorful flags fluttered overhead. Music came from within the fairgrounds.

Lyric tightened her grip on her father’s hand.

“Look, Daddy! Balloons! Can we …?”

“Sure, but later. Let’s get inside first.”

“Is Mommy inside?”

Kent sighed and looked down at Lyric. “Not today, kiddo. You’re with me. Mommy’s busy.”

“When will we see Mommy?”

“I’ll drop you to her after the fair. Today’s our fun day.”

Lyric looked doubtful. “Drop me…? But…”

He picked her up and held her close. He smiled. “You have to know we both love you, kid. But Mommy and I are very busy now. So, we’re sharing you.”

Lyric nodded as if she understood. Kent set her down.

It was their turn to buy tickets. He paid and they walked onto the grounds through the turnstile.

Lyric stared at all the activity. Thousands of people walked this way and that. “Wow!” She tightened her grip on her father’s hand.

A man on stilts, wearing a top hat and tails bent down and offered her a flyer. Laughing, she took the flyer and gave it to her father to read.

“What did the giant give me, Daddy?”

Kent scanned the flyer. “They’re putting on a magic show. Let’s eat and we’ll see it after. Want to go on a ride?”

“Oooh! Cotton candy…”

“How about after lunch? Is today a taco or a hot dog day?”

“Oooh! A hot dog with lots of mustard.”

“Deal…”

Kent and Lyric found the food court. They didn’t have to wait long. He bought their hot dogs and tucked a napkin into her t-shirt to catch dripping mustard. They ate and laughed together.

He watched the milling crowd. Beat the rush. The food lines were growing. He smiled down on Lyric. She’s a good kid.

“Let’s go on a ride. Roller coaster or Merry-go-round?”

“Merry-go-round… But what about my cotton candy?”

“Right. Can’t forget that…”

They stood, watching the vendor build fluffy spun sugar for ravenous children.

Lyric said, “Pink’s my favorite.”

Kent paid and they walked down the fairway toward the rides. On either side of them were various games of skill with prizes of plush animals and other toys. Barkers lured fair goers with promises of easy wins of big prizes.

Lyric pointed at a plush teddy bear. Kent followed her gaze. The game looked to be an actual game of skill, and not pure luck.

The barker spotted them. “Knock over the bottles and win a prize. Step right up!”

Lyric looked up at her father.

He said, “I can do that. Let’s get you that teddy bear.”

Grinning, Lyric nodded. It was huge with a white belly and soft, light brown fur. Its eyes were bright and it had a sly smile.

Another man, stood at the second counter. He tossed the ball up and caught it one handed. Dancing a little in anticipation, he wound up and stepped forward but balked at the last second. Grumbling under his breath, he placed his feet, readied himself, wound up and threw.

Two of the five bottles scattered. Frustrated, he grunted.

Chewing her cotton candy, Lyric looked up to see her father’s sardonic grin.

The barker said, “Two down, three to go. Two more chances. Don’t waste ‘em…”

The man chose another ball and readied himself.

Kent stepped up to the counter and eyed the second stack of metal bottles. He slapped a ten down. “Set ‘em up. That bear’s going home with my sweet little girl.” He grinned at Lyric.

The barker brought three baseballs to Kent.

The guy paused. “Too late. That bear’s mine.”

Kent laughed. “Doesn’t look like it from here. Better hire someone who can throw.”

“It’s exactly like mine, when I was a kid.”

“You had your chance. Step back, ‘cause I’m taking it.”

The guy looked at Kent and Lyric. She made a little wave.

He nodded, “Hi. I’m Jack.” He refocused.

The barker stood aside and smiled. They were making his day.

Jack pitched his second ball at the stack of bottles and toppled one more.

Kent snorted, and threw his first ball. The top bottle spun away, but the others didn’t move.

“Give it up…” Jack said, as he prepared to throw. He grunted as he lunged but the ball missed the stack and bounced off the back wall.

Kent threw his last two in quick succession. Both throws missed the mark.

Jack made a sound like a squealing pig. Lyric giggled, but stifled herself when Kent glared at her. Smiling, Jack shook his head, opting not to comment further.

Their back and forth had Lyric entranced. Forgotten, her cotton candy dangled from her hand, not quite touching the pavement.

The two men faced each other for a moment, but said nothing. Each slapped their bills down for another round. The barker accommodated them. He restacked the bottles and stood clear.

Nothing changed after six more baseballs were thrown. Suspended from the booth ceiling, the plush bear mocked the two contestants in silence.

Three more rounds passed with no win. Kent and Jack barely spoke, and to each other, not at all. Each ball was thrown with increasing fury. They vented their frustration with guttural shouts and stamping their feet.

Careful not to sound mercenary, the barker encouraged them. After counting what remained in his wallet, Jack bought another turn.

Impatient, Lyric wanted to ride the Merry-go-round, to see the show with the tall man in the top hat. Something…

But she didn’t dare wander away. Daydreaming, she dropped her cotton candy and didn’t notice until she felt it underfoot. She threw it in a nearby trashcan and wiped her hands on her shorts.

“Can we go, Daddy?” Kent looked at her as if she’d appeared from nowhere. She said, “I’m bored.” She looked down the fairway.

He thought, So much for our day of fun. Kent glanced at the barker and at Jack. They were in no hurry. He would wipe that smug expression off Jack’s face. Could have bought this thing for less… But need to do this.

Smiling through his tension, he bent down to Lyric. His forehead glistened. “One more pass, baby. I’ve got this licked.”

Jack scoffed.

Kent slapped more bills down. Without looking at Jack, he said. “You still here? Thought you were finished.”

“No. Got all day.”

“Have fun. The bear goes with us…” He held the ball up.

Jack whistled an aimless tune.

Holding the ball in his fist, Kent turned. “Shut it.”

Jack shrugged and stopped whistling. He couldn’t stop smiling.

Returning to the contest, Kent sighted on the fresh stack of bottles. He wound up and threw. The ball struck the pyramid squarely, sending bottles spinning noisily to the ground. Metal on metal made a satisfying clatter.

“Yes!” Kent cheered and pounded the counter in triumph. The barker nodded.

Lyric yelled. “Yay! You won, Daddy!”

The barker pulled the bear down and gave it to Kent, who passed it to Lyric. She pulled it close, hugging it tightly.

Jack leaned down to Lyric and said, “Congratulations!” She saw tears welling up in his eyes.

He and Kent shook hands without warmth.

Jack turned to the barker, “Do you have another? That… maybe, I could buy?”

The barker shook his head. “Wish I did. That was the last one. More tomorrow…?”

Kent patted Lyric on the head. He could hardly see his daughter behind the giant plush bear.

“Let’s go, kid. Merry-go-round’s waiting…”

“Wait, Daddy.”

“What’s up?”

She walked up to Jack and reaching out, offered him the prize. “Here, Mister Jack. This is yours.”

Kent stepped up. “Hold on. Lyric… Don’t...”

“I want to, Daddy. He’s sad. It’s his... when he was little… I don’t even know its name.”

To himself, Jack murmured, “Billy…”

The men exchanged glances. The pause slowed everything. With eyes downcast, Kent nodded. Jack took the bear from Lyric. He and the bear bowed together.

He said, “Thank you, Lyric, from both of us…” Nodding to Kent, he said, “Thank you both.” Holding the bear like a child would, he walked away.

Kent looked at his smiling daughter.

He said, “You know you didn’t have to do that…”

“But I did…”

“It was a nice thing to do.”

“I needed to let him go. Jack needed him more.”

Kent nodded at his daughter’s wisdom.

“So… Merry-go-round?”

Lyric said, “You pick. My treat.” She held up a five-dollar bill. “My allowance…”

“Okay…! Up for a roller coaster ride?”

Lyric laughed. “Can’t wait.”

Holding hands, they ran toward the roller coaster.