Stig and Dan

[The Tamagotchi Guardian]

‘Green,’ ‘Blue,’ ‘Blue.’ ‘Yellow,’ ‘Green,’ ‘Red.’ Whatever they did, they couldn’t get a win. In between losses, Stig would frown and pull angry faces at Dan. Almost instantly, Dan was down to a handful of change (10ps, 20ps and 50ps) and one £1 coin. ‘This is it, for the win.’ Stig complained at his dramatic tension. ‘Oh just put it in!’ he demanded, almost snatching the £1 off him. Dan frowned and inserted it. The reels started to spin. The first reel stopped on ‘Gold,’ the colour you needed three of for the jackpot. The second reel screeched to a halt, also on ‘Gold.’ The couple of seconds between the second and the third reel stopping felt like hours to them. Sweat poured down Stig’s face and Dan’s cheeks turned red. They begged the reel to stop on gold. Stig couldn’t look and instead watched the sign at the top of the machine that said ‘Jackpot’ in neon lighting and would light up if they won. The boys could see the reel slowing down, so slow that they could actually see the colours passing. ‘Red,’ ‘Blue.’ After blue came the reel they were desperate for, ‘Gold.’ Dan covered his face with his hand while Stig still watched the ‘Jackpot’ sign. Dan imagined the 100 gold £1 coins that would come flooding out of the machine if they won. He imagined the stuff they could buy. The reel moved onto ‘Gold’ at what seemed like a snails pace. But unfortunately for them, it carried on, past ‘Gold’ onto ‘Green.’ Then it stopped. Both of them were unbelievably upset at the outcome. Stig had one of his famous temper tantrums and stormed out of the arcade. ‘Stig, come back, please!’ Dan yelled, ‘Come on some cheap machines with me!’ But Stig was long gone.