at work.”
Emma stood to the side and watched Jacob put a dollar bill
on the counter.
“Here you are my good man. I intend to win the lady a
stuffed tiger.”
The carnival worker didn’t respond at all; he must hear it a
million times a day. He handed Jacob three rings. “You have three chances. All
the prizes are outlined. If you get all three rings you win the big one.”
Jacob took the rings and rubbed his hands together. “Okay,
ducky, here it goes.”
He threw the first ring, but it bounced off of the post.
“Damn it,” he yelled. He threw the second one and it landed on an empty prize
post. He carefully threw the third one and it bounced off again. The worker
collected the rings and stood off to the side of the game.
Jacob slammed down another dollar. “Three more chap.”
The worker handed him three more rings. All three times the
rings bounced off the posts. Jacob cursed. Emma burst out laughing. “Jacob,
let’s just go and move on now.”
He stomped his foot and turned back to the counter. “No, my
lady wants a tiger, and a tiger she will get.” He slammed down another dollar,
and was handed three more rings.
After five more failed attempts, Jacob was about to give up.
The carnie handed him a small tiger, no bigger than the palm of his hand.
“Don’t tell anyone,” was all the man said.
Jacob, feeling defeated, accepted the mini tiger and thanked
the man. Holding it behind his back, he walked up beside Emma. He pulled it out
and handed it to her. “It’s not exactly the one you wanted, but I still got you
a tiger.”
Emma took the tiger and smiled. “I love it, Jacob, its
purrrfect.”
He smiled back at her knowing she meant it.
They rode the Ferris wheel, and he took her on the
merry-go-round. She was having such a good time she nearly forgot about her
problems. She felt like a kid, so carefree. She wondered when the bubble would
burst, when the other shoe would drop. “Hey, you’re doing it again. Don’t let
that fool ruin this.”
He held his hand out and she accepted it. “I’m sorry, Jacob.
I am having a wonderful time. That’s what I was thinking about. I really wasn’t
thinking about Matthew.”
He squeezed her hand and led her off of the ride. “Come on,
it’s time for your next adventure.”
Jacob led her across the park to an outdoor amphitheater.
People were wandering around and it looked as though a show was being set up.
Jacob squeezed her hand. “Follow me.” He led her into the amphitheater and
straight down the center aisle to the stage.
“Jacob, we can’t just walk in here.”
He laughed at her. “Who says? Have I steered you wrong yet?”
Lena and Todd were there, standing by the side of the stage.
Jacob waved to them as they approached. Emma couldn’t help but notice Lena
beaming a smile when she saw them. Lena walked over to Emma and hugged her.
“It’s so good to see you again. I know the circumstances were less than
desirable before, but the result was well worth it.”
Emma had to agree. If her car hadn’t broken down, she never
would have crossed paths with Jacob again. So, something good did come out of
her ordeal.
Jacob walked off and left Lena standing with Emma. She
watched in apprehension, so Lena rubbed her arm to comfort her. “Come and sit
with me a minute. You know how guys can be, I’m sure he’ll be out in a minute.”
She winked at Emma, and led her to two empty seats directly in front of the
stage.
When they were seated, Lena asked, “Has Jacob mentioned to
you that Todd is in a band?”
Emma shook her head.
“Well I don’t know if you are up on the music scene, but
Todd’s band has quite a following. Have you ever heard of The Gray Stripes?”
Emma vaguely remembered hearing something on the radio, so
she nodded her head. “Well his band is playing tonight, here at the
amphitheater. Jacob asked us if it would be okay if the two of you came a
little early for a sort of preview.”
Just as Lena finished her
Emma stood to the side and watched Jacob put a dollar bill
on the counter.
“Here you are my good man. I intend to win the lady a
stuffed tiger.”
The carnival worker didn’t respond at all; he must hear it a
million times a day. He handed Jacob three rings. “You have three chances. All
the prizes are outlined. If you get all three rings you win the big one.”
Jacob took the rings and rubbed his hands together. “Okay,
ducky, here it goes.”
He threw the first ring, but it bounced off of the post.
“Damn it,” he yelled. He threw the second one and it landed on an empty prize
post. He carefully threw the third one and it bounced off again. The worker
collected the rings and stood off to the side of the game.
Jacob slammed down another dollar. “Three more chap.”
The worker handed him three more rings. All three times the
rings bounced off the posts. Jacob cursed. Emma burst out laughing. “Jacob,
let’s just go and move on now.”
He stomped his foot and turned back to the counter. “No, my
lady wants a tiger, and a tiger she will get.” He slammed down another dollar,
and was handed three more rings.
After five more failed attempts, Jacob was about to give up.
The carnie handed him a small tiger, no bigger than the palm of his hand.
“Don’t tell anyone,” was all the man said.
Jacob, feeling defeated, accepted the mini tiger and thanked
the man. Holding it behind his back, he walked up beside Emma. He pulled it out
and handed it to her. “It’s not exactly the one you wanted, but I still got you
a tiger.”
Emma took the tiger and smiled. “I love it, Jacob, its
purrrfect.”
He smiled back at her knowing she meant it.
They rode the Ferris wheel, and he took her on the
merry-go-round. She was having such a good time she nearly forgot about her
problems. She felt like a kid, so carefree. She wondered when the bubble would
burst, when the other shoe would drop. “Hey, you’re doing it again. Don’t let
that fool ruin this.”
He held his hand out and she accepted it. “I’m sorry, Jacob.
I am having a wonderful time. That’s what I was thinking about. I really wasn’t
thinking about Matthew.”
He squeezed her hand and led her off of the ride. “Come on,
it’s time for your next adventure.”
Jacob led her across the park to an outdoor amphitheater.
People were wandering around and it looked as though a show was being set up.
Jacob squeezed her hand. “Follow me.” He led her into the amphitheater and
straight down the center aisle to the stage.
“Jacob, we can’t just walk in here.”
He laughed at her. “Who says? Have I steered you wrong yet?”
Lena and Todd were there, standing by the side of the stage.
Jacob waved to them as they approached. Emma couldn’t help but notice Lena
beaming a smile when she saw them. Lena walked over to Emma and hugged her.
“It’s so good to see you again. I know the circumstances were less than
desirable before, but the result was well worth it.”
Emma had to agree. If her car hadn’t broken down, she never
would have crossed paths with Jacob again. So, something good did come out of
her ordeal.
Jacob walked off and left Lena standing with Emma. She
watched in apprehension, so Lena rubbed her arm to comfort her. “Come and sit
with me a minute. You know how guys can be, I’m sure he’ll be out in a minute.”
She winked at Emma, and led her to two empty seats directly in front of the
stage.
When they were seated, Lena asked, “Has Jacob mentioned to
you that Todd is in a band?”
Emma shook her head.
“Well I don’t know if you are up on the music scene, but
Todd’s band has quite a following. Have you ever heard of The Gray Stripes?”
Emma vaguely remembered hearing something on the radio, so
she nodded her head. “Well his band is playing tonight, here at the
amphitheater. Jacob asked us if it would be okay if the two of you came a
little early for a sort of preview.”
Just as Lena finished her
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