THE DOLLAR DEPARTURE

THE DOLLAR DEPARTURE

I found four quarters in a gutter neatly stacked.

The coins looked so out of place amongst the trash.

I picked them up and cleaned off the muck.

Then I went to the arcade so I could spend that buck.

I placed the dollar in a game that I had never played before.

The machine was odd and hummed and seemed to shake the floor.

I saw the last high score was listed as someone named CRS.

The game began with trumpets blowing and the words 
FIRST TEST.

The arcade felt electric as I played and fell into a digital daze. 

There were monsters to fight, tricks, aliens and even a complex maze.

I was a quick study though, I pounded those buttons and worked the joystick until my wrist was sore.

And although I wasn't familiar with the game, I received the high score.

The bells and whistles of the machine rang and sounded out loud.

The game spoke and told me I was the best and should be very proud.

Then the weirdest thing happened to the video game screen.

It shined and opened up to reveal a button that was green.

It glowed as if to call me closer and the word push was written underneath it.

So I did, and was transported to a strange world and couldn't believe it.

Once there, a man was standing in front of me as if he was waiting for my arrival.

He said he was so glad to see me and I was going to help with his survival.

I was confused, then he asked if I was with anyone or told people I played the game.

I told him I was alone and no one knew I went to the arcade.

He shook his head with disappointment, frowned for a second then snapped back out of it as his face turned glad.

"Well, welcome," he said and told me the adventures he had.

"By the way, I'm Chris," he said. "But you have already seen my name."

Then he gave a worried look and said, "You see I've been here for years and I was the last high score on the game."

by Jimmy Jenkins Jr.