The Tragedy of a Pinball Wizard

A Few New Friends

While Mr. Otis was disturbed by this surprising display of power he had just witnessed, his still had his resolve. They were finally ready to get past all the delays and play some pinball.

"Let's go, Mr. Otis." Oliver stated calmly. The two set off on their way to Wally's Pinball Palace. As the pair made their way down the street, they passed a homeless man on the sidewalk. Oliver paused and gazed upon him.

"Hey man, you got a home?" Oliver asked him.

The man looked around him at all his belongings that were scattering the ground around him. "No, I don't. I am, unfortunately, homeless." The man seemed sad and distraught.

"Play blackjack with me." Oliver stated plainly.

"Blackjack?" The man asked, taking a swig of whiskey. "I'm too drunk to play blackjack."

"On the contrary, my misfortunate friend. You are not drunk enough to play blackjack! Drink more!" Oliver exclaimed, snatching the bottle away from the man. "Drink, damn you! Drink!" Oliver cried out as he poured the contents of the bottle down the man's gullet. The man was champ chugger. He had the bottle polished off in less than fifteen seconds.

"More! More! I need to drink more!" The man choked. The man then stood up from the ground and looked at his surroundings. He spotted a convenience store across the road from them. He knew what he had to do.

"I know what I have to do." The man said. "Come on you two. We got a mission."

"Damn you, man. We're trying to play pinball! Not go on adventures with the likes of you!" Oliver was growing annoyed.

"You dragged me in to your shenanigans, now you've got to see it through." The man said in his gruff voice.

The man began to cross the street. He didn't look both ways! Almost immediately, the man was struck by a speeding car locked in a high-speed chase with the police. The sirens blared in the near distance.

The man rolled over the car and landed flat on his back in the street. The man groaned in pain. Then, the police cars involved in the chase came and ran directly over the man. The man was dragged a short distance before rolling to a stop face down on the concrete.

"Hey, are you ok?" Oliver called to him.

"The mission hasn't stopped! Charge the convenience store!" The man yelled back. He stood up and shook himself off. He again focused on the convenience store that stood before him and started running toward it.

He safely reached the other side of the street. He looked back at his new pair of friends and jumped up and down for joy. He had done it! He reached the other side! The man was then reminded of the mission. Celebration would have to wait for later. There was still work to be done.

Oliver and Mr. Otis crossed the street safely and joined their new companion. "What's the plan here buddy boy?" Oliver asked.

"Just follow my lead." The man whispered, gesturing toward the door. The three entered the convenience store. The man approached the counter and leaned on it with his elbow. He looked the young cashier in the eye and asked, "how are you doing on this fine day?"

The cashier replied, "I'm doing just fine, sir. Are you OK? I just saw you get hit by, like, three cars out there man!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." The man brushed off. He didn't want to get distracted from his goal. "You ever get robbers in here, kid?"

"Robbers" Like, as in people who rob things? Like convenience stores? Those kinds of robbers?" the teenage clerk asked.

"Yeah, those kinds of robbers." The man clarified.