Page 58 of Just The Way You Aren't

“Did he call the next number yet?” Mr. Price asks his table neighbor, loud enough for all to hear.

Damien gives me a look. “Next number, coming right up.” He turns the cage and pulls out another ball, loudly calling, “I-19!”

Thankfully, it all goes well from there on out. After a few more turns of the cage, Mrs. Horowitz yells, “Bingo!”

Damien nods and turns to the prize table.

There’s a collective groan. “Honey,” Mrs. White explains with failing patience. “You have to check her card first.”

“Check her card?” Damien glances my way, uncertain.

I start to stand, but Mr. Cunningham clutches my arm. “Please don’t leave me,” he says worriedly. “I might get it wrong again.”

Then Mr. Price rises from his chair and goes to Mrs. Horowitz, picking up her card. “I’ll figure it out, Gertrude.”

“Thank you, Lloyd. You’re such a dear.” Mrs. Horowitz smiles.

Mr. Price limps up to the podium, gout foot and all, and gently pushes Damien aside. He checks the balls in the tray, then nods. “You’ve got prize level one, Gertie. I think there might be a Beanie Baby up here.”

“Aw, those ain’t worth nothin’ anymore,” Mrs. White snorts.

Mrs. Horowitz blushes. “I still like them.”

“I’ll bring it to you.” Mr. Price picks up the bean-bag dog and is just about to hobble back the way he came, when Damien gently takes it from him.

“I’ll get this to Mrs. Horowitz,” he says. “You rest your foot.”

Mr. Price nods. “I’ll help you up here, son. Pardon me for saying, but you’re hopeless.”

Damien blushes, but laughs at the same time. “You’re probably right, sir.” He takes the Beanie Baby to Mrs. Horowitz, then jogs back to the podium.

Mrs. White gathers up Mr. Price’s cards and brings them over to me. “I figure you’re the most impartial one here.”

“True.” I grin at her. “Thank you for bringing these over.”

“You’re welcome.” She goes back to her seat.

“Now,” Mr. Price explains quickly to Damien. “If Gertiegets another bingo, she can trade her prize in for the next level up. You see how that works?”

Damien nods. “I get it.”

“Good.” Mr. Price goes to the bingo cage and, like a seasoned auctioneer, begins calling out numbers once more.

The seniors relax and concentrate on their cards.

As the night wears on, it is Mrs. White who ends up winning the fifty dollars, but Mrs. Horowitz still compliments Titan on being her lucky charm, having garnered herself a new Beanie Baby for her collection.

Mr. Price didn’t get one bingo of his own. But he is a gracious loser and shakes Damien’s hand. “Nice working with you, son. You’ll get the hang of this. See you next week.”

“I’ll be here,” Damien promises. He looks at the Echo Dot. “One of these is about fifty bucks, right?”

Mr. Price glances fondly at it and sighs. “Just not in the budget, I’m afraid. I’ve got to make sure my social security stretches every month.”

Damien nods. Then he goes in his wallet and pulls out a fifty. He picks up the Echo Dot and hands it to Mr. Price. “Thanks for the help. I’ll make sure Silver Hearts is reimbursed. I really couldn’t have done this without you.”

Mr. Price takes the Echo Dot and cradles it like a newborn baby. “Th-Thank you,” he says.

“Enjoy it.” Damien looks at me.

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