Gambling with Scratchers (Part 1)

“Remember, it's not about winning or losing, it's about having fun.” Rollnaldo had me off to the side, as he gave me a pep talk. We were only moments away from the scratcher competition beginning.

I nervously held my snow shovel piece in my hands. “Really?”

“No, not really.” His tune suddenly changed. “Do me a favor and crouch down.”

I did as he said and knelt down.

He grabbed me by the face and stared me in the eyes. “It's all about winning! Don't forget, if you lose, I'm probably going to end up back in jail.”

No pressure.

“Attention all contestants!” A voice echoed through the city square. Just in front of the giant ticket, there was a platform that a roulette ball person with a handlebar mustache was standing on. He was holding an oversized cone in his hands, which he used to amplify his voice. “Please gather around. This year's annual scratcher search is about to begin.”

“I guess it's time.” I said.

The two of us, along with the dozens of other participants, made our way over to where the roulette ball guy was.

The roulette ball cleared his throat before continuing. “I will begin by reading the official ru-.”

“I already know the rules, let's get on with it.” A familiar voice rudely interrupted him.

The roulette ball let out a sigh. “I know you're eager, Scotty, but I need to explain the competition to any newbies that are participating.”

Scotty rolled his eyes. “Very well, but everyone knows I'm going to win again anyway.”

He was met with a series of boos from the surrounding bystanders.

“I'm sorry to everyone here with aspirations of winning this contest, but I can't change reality.” He arrogantly responded.

“As I was saying.” The roulette ball guy brushed over Scotty's interruption and continued. “In a few moments, all of you will gather over there in a circle around that pile of scratcher tickets.” He pointed across the plaza to a mound of tickets that was nearly as tall as the giant scratcher itself. “No one is permitted to touch the pile until the competition has begun. Failure to comply with this will result in instant disqualification.” He held up an old-timey boxing bell. “At the sound of this bell, the competition will officially begin. All competitors are permitted to use whatever tools they would like, as well as any applicable gambling sorceries they would like to aid them in scratching the tickets. The bell will ring again when someone manages to find the winning ticket.”

“*Cough* Me. *Cough*” Scotty felt the need to chime in.

“In my hand is an example of what the winning ticket will look like.” He held up a grey ticket that had its ink scraped off that read ‘Winner!’ in gold letters. “Are there any questions?”

A guy wearing a welders mask raised his hand. “Yes, does it count if I accidentally light the ticket on fire.”

“No, the ticket must remain intact.” The roulette ball guy responded.

Hanging his head, the guy in the welding mask started walking away, dragging a fuel tank behind him. A few other contestants left as well, including a nerdy looking guy holding a paper shredder and a dude in a lab coat carrying a large vat labeled ‘acid’.

“If there are no other questions, please line-up, single file.” The roulette ball ended his speech.

🎰🎰🎰

It's game time. Ran through my head, as I stood facing the towering mountain of scratcher tickets that laid before me. It would be a lie if I said I didn’t have butterflies in my stomach.

“Remember Lucky, try your best… but if you lose, I'm completely screwed and you're going to be on your own.” Rollnaldo, who was standing just within hearing range at the front of the crowd of spectators, called out to me.

“Well well well, look who it is again.” A voice spoke beside me.

Of the roughly one hundred other participants in this contest, somehow I ended up with Scotty the Scratcher right next to me.

“Baaaaah.” Another voice chimed in on my other side. By another stroke of misfortune, that weird knight from registration was seated to my left.

“May the best man, which is me, win.” Scotty remarked.

“Baaaaah.” The knight guy responded.

The roulette ball guy stood in front of both the competitors and spectators. “Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the thirtieth annual scratcher competition. I’m Balliam and I'll be officiating tonight. One hundred and seven contestants from across the Kasino Kingdom have gathered to see who is the fastest ticket scratcher!”

The crowd of people, which consisted of both gamblords and non-gamblords, let out an excited roar, as they clapped and jumped up and down. The only person in the crowd who wasn't joining in was Rollnaldo who stood silently with a serious look across his face.

“If all contestants would please ready their scratching tools.” Balliam instructed.

All the competitors pulled out a wide range of items to compete with. They had everything from small items like bobby pins and pocket knives to excessively large tools like a guillotine and a field plow. There were even items being used that didn't make any sense, like a ball peen hammer that a guy in a hard hat was holding and a flint lock pistol that a guy dressed as a pirate had. Beside me, the knight guy unsheathed his great sword. Scotty, to my surprise, pulled nothing but a simple gold coin out from his pocket.

Balliam began to count down. “Three… two… one.” The boxing bell let out a ding as he hit it with a tiny wooden mallet…