Free Dark Ride by Todd Loyd

his sister gushes over. He stands in a booth manning his own game of chance.
    Oh no , thinks Jack. He could blow the whole evening. What if he recognizes me? He'll text Blair.
    â€œCome on, kid. Think you can outwit me?”
    Kid, huh? thinks Jack, who is actually relieved that Colton has no clue about his identity .
    Normally, Jack would have ignored the challenge, but the prospect of perhaps outwitting Blair's love interest and maybe impressing Amy in the process is too much to ignore. Jack shuffles towards the booth followed by Amy and Scotty. Their curiosity is peaked as well.
    â€œSo what's the game?” Jack asks.
    â€œIt's called the shell game, kid. All you have to do is keep your eye on the ball. I will place it underneath one of these three cups and then shuffle them. When I'm finished, simply show me which cup hides the ball and you win a prize.”
    â€œSounds easy enough,” Jack declares, laying a dollar on the counter.
    â€œPay attention, Jack, these guys are good,” Scotty points out.
    Colton places the ball under a cup and begins to whirl the cups in and out of one another. At first Jack has a hard time keeping his eye on the ball, but as Colton continues to maneuver the cups, Jack's confidence rises. Finally he stops.
    â€œSo which cup is it under?” Colton asks with a cocky grin.
    â€œThat one.” Jack points to the cup on the left.
    The smile on Colton's face disappears. “No way!” He lifts the cup Jack selected, revealing the red ball.
    â€œGood going, Jack,” Amy says and laughs.
    Jack beams with pride.
    Obviously not pleased, Colton continues, “Good job, kid. How about best two out of three? You're not going to be so lucky twice.”
    As Jack ponders playing again, Mason strolls up to the party. He is carrying a huge blue stuffed bear. Jack looks to Scotty, who marvels at Mason, not realizing he has been doomed to lug a bear the size of a medium-sized dog around the park for the next two hours.
    Colton coaxes Jack, trying to win back his pride. “Look, I'll let you play for free. You win again, and I'll give you the biggest prize I've got.”
    With Mason already winning the bear, Jack has no desire for the gang to be saddled with two such monstrosities. However, he likes the feeling of besting the older boy. It gives him something to tease Blair about.
    â€œYou're on,” he accepts.
    Colton repeats the shuffling again, but this time he's faster, concentrating on making it extra hard. When he is finished, he confidently announces, “No way you followed that.”
    Jack shrugs and calmly points to the cup in the middle. This time Colton is incredulous. “No way!” He lifts the cup, and once again, the ball is revealed.
    â€œYou've got to be kidding me. No one has ever been able to beat me twice!”
    â€œI guess I've got beginner's luck,” says Jack, who likes this game that he is obviously good at.
    â€œWow, Jack, you're a natural,” says Scotty, applauding.
    â€œWhat prize do you want?” the defeated Colton asks in an irritated voice.
    Jack looks at Amy and asks, “You want something?”
    A small blush of red appears on the girl's cheeks. “Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need another stuffed animal.”
    â€œCome on, Jack. Get that big orange rhino,” encourages Mason, who points to the colossal beast hanging above their heads.
    â€œUh, no thanks,” Jack declines.
    â€œWhat? Come on, chicks dig these things.” Colton pats his blue bear.
    â€œBut, you won. You need to choose something,” Spurlock offers.
    Jack thinks for a moment, looking at the cups. “I tell you what, do you have another set of those cups and a ball. I think I like this game?”
    â€œYea, we've got plenty of them. You want a set? You can have one. I'm sure the boss would rather part with a set of these cheap, ten-cent cups over a five-dollar animal.” Colton ducks behind the counter and