A Tigger, A Drop Claw Machine, and a Baby in One Arm

My wife and I did our Christmas shopping at the same time, that is we shopped for each other's presents in the same store. We split up. I took Baby J. in my cart, and my wife went her way. After bumping into one another a few times and doing our best to avoid seeing what the other got us, Baby J. and I finished our shopping and checked out. My wife was still shopping, so I gave Baby J. a bottle, and still we sat and sat. My wife is a slow shopper.

So past the cash registers, in the store, they have a little arcade section, where they have some video games, some little kid rides and a couple drop claw machines. I thought I'd get on one of the little rides with Baby J. I got change for a dollar but then when I got to the ride, I realized there was no way on Earth I was fitting in it, and I didn't really know how it would go with her being alone in the ride. I didn't need to create a horrible baby accident after all that shopping. So I looked around and I saw the drop claw machines.

The first machine was too expensive. One dollar a try??? That's ridiculous. The second machine had nothing but necklaces. I wasn't really in the mood to win a necklace. The third machine was just right, 50cents a try and plenty of good stuffed animals. I looked in the machine for what was most grabbable. I spotted a bright orange Tigger doll all the way in the back that was on top of everything else. I shoved in my quarters, and with a Baby in one hand and a joystick in the other, I maneuvered the claw to the Tigger. I swatted the Tigger six or seven times with the claw until I felt it was in just the right position. Then I hit the button, the claw dropped down and...

UP CAME THE TIGGER. I shouted, "YES!!!" way too loudly. Baby J. jumped. I'm pretty sure I made a big ass of myself. You have to realize I've played these things like 1000 times in my lifetime, and I've never gotten anything.

So then I steered the claw to the drop area. Hit the button again...

And nothing.

God damn it. The Tigger doll wouldn't drop. So, I hit the glass a couple times. For a moment, I thought I was screwed. But then, thank God, the Tigger fell.

SUCCESS!!!!

50 cents later, one try at the drop claw, and my daughter has a brand new Tigger doll. It's the little things in life that bring us joy.

D.

p.s. I wish I had a picture of the moment of success...