A short story set in the 1980s about a girl who visits the arcade (unwillingly) with her friend.
…beep! Beep! BEEP! Gradually pierced into Selina’s eardrum. She groaned and reached over to her bedside table making downward movements of pressure, as if she was a claw machine gone rogue. Finally, silence. This was quickly interrupted by a knock at the door followed by instructions from her mother, “Selina, you have a phone call, it’s time to get up!” She muttered something rude under her breath then slowly got up. On the phone Jillian eagerly invited Selina to join her at the arcade for the release of pac man, ‘pokies for kids,’ Selina muttered. ‘What was that?’ Jillian replied. ‘I said cookies for kids,’ Selina stammered, ‘I heard they sell cookies near the arcade.’ ‘So you’re coming, good see you at 12:00’ was the next thing Jillian said. Before Selina had time to respond, Jillian hung up. ‘Blow!’ Thought Selina. ‘Selina,’ came her mum’s voice from the kitchen, ‘You are going aren’t you?’ Selina paused, she couldn’t really say no, her mum would just argue and she didn’t want to say yes. ‘Fine!’ She replied.
Later that day Selina pulled up outside a brightly coloured building, at the front sat Jillian, a tall girl with very curly blonde hair which added to her height. ‘Hello,’ said Jillian, coming up to greet Selina. Selina replied with a stiff hello back. The two girls walked into the arcade, Selina a bit more hesitantly than Jillian. The room was filled with sweaty, smelly teens all queueing up for a go on the machines, Jillian’s blue eyes sparkled with the reflection of the screens. ‘ Come on!’ Nagged Jillian, pushing Selina towards the machine with the shortest queue. Selina rolled her eyes but obeyed her.
Selina looked round, she could see towers or addictive screens looking for their next unsuspecting victims.
The queue gradually got shorter and soon there was only one girl in front of them who smelled strongly of hairspray. She had a slice of pizza delicately balanced on the machine while she aggressively hammered the buttons. Selina felt like the machine was unimpressed by this behaviour and was intentionally making the game harder for the girl. Despite the girl’s frustration, her cassette walkman remained attached to her outfit themed belt. Selina recognised her fringe jacket from the front cover of the latest dolly magazine which she saw plastered out the front of her local newsagent. At that moment the machine screen flashed “New Highest Score: Glam Rock Icon” ‘Wow, you’re good!’ Jillian exclaimed, ‘urh Glam rock icon?’ The girl removed her headphones and turned around to face Jillian and Selina, ‘Thanks,’ replied the girl, ‘but you can call me Jane.’ Unseen by the others, Selina rolled her eyes. ‘Nice to meet you Jane,’ Jillian voiced, ‘My name is Jillian and this is my friend Selina.’ Jane shook Jillian’s hand then held it up to Selina , Selina looked at it hesitantly then shook it as she were afraid Jane might bite her.
Jane showed Jillian a few tips on how to beat the machine which helped Jilian get her highest score; which is not very much compared to Jane’s. ‘Selian, you’re up next, want some tips?’ Jane addressed Selina. ‘Actually, I don’t think I’ll play,’ Selina replied, haughtily. ‘Oh come on,’ nagged Jane. ‘it’s really fun,’ put in Jillian. Selian paused, ‘Well alright, I’ll have a quick go,’ succumbs Selina. She made her way to the machine, she felt a little nervous but she didn’t know why. Selina pressed go, the music started and selina began to move the joint stick around frantically. Jillian and Jane were sharing words of encouragement but selina didn’t hear them – she was so in the zone. Then all of a sudden the game stoped, the three peered at the screen, there was silence while they took all of it in, ‘Wow, you are good, you got a better score then I did on my first try,’ Jane broke the silence. Selina smiled, ‘Really?’ she questioned. ‘yep,’ replied Jane, ‘In no time you will be better then me.’ Jillian patted selina on the shoulder, ‘Glad you came?’ Selina gave a little laugh ‘Very!’
‘Well then I think we should all go get cookies,’ Jillian said, remembering what Selina had said that morning. Great idea!’ chimed in Jane.
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