Go Get Charlie

You’ve seen those machines where there are a lot of enticing toys spread underneath this giant silver four prong claw. When you stuff some coins into the slot, the claw begins to move. Using your dexterity and fine motor skills, you maneuver the claw to hover over one of the prizes at the bottom. You must be precise, because one wrong move will open the claw, sending your prize back into the heap at the bottom. With only a certain amount of time to maneuver the claw, you must also be decisive and in complete control. These are the skills required to get the claw to gain a reward for your efforts. Good luck.

Is there any wonder why there are so many prizes at the bottom of the machine. Only few people walking around with one of the prizes tucked under their arms.

As a younger man, I felt that I could master the skill and decisiveness it takes to master this game. I had seen it at carnivals, shopping centers, and restaurants. I always seemed to have a few coins clinking in my pocket, tempting me to give it one more try. I automatically put them in the slot hoping for a better outcome that the last time. Determined, I’d grab the controls to the claw. I’d watch as the claw hover over the prize I desired. With exact precision and single-minded resolution, I’d grab the prize lifting it toward the escape portal. Just as I near the portal, the claw opens and let's go of my prize as I watch my prize fall back into the pile.

Through my many close calls and failures, I’m sure if I had counted, I have lost a small fortune in my futile attempts at this frustrating game. My memory readily recalls the number of times I’ve been suckered into trying one more time to pull an adolescent treasure from that infernal machine. I’m sure I am not the only one who has been foiled by this pick-pocketing deceptive device.

Many years later, I encountered the claw as it continued to play with innocent victims who thought they had mastered the claw. As I watched as a bystander during a harsh winter day when all hope seemed to be sucked from the sky, I saw something that amazes me to this day. Let me tell you what I saw.

Two young girls marched into the playroom I had taken my two children to. There was an arcade and sitting in a forgotten corner was The Claw waiting to ensnare these two girls. As a devoted father, I wanted to educate them about this horrible trap they were about to encounter. I wanted to tell them of my experience of failure I had with The Claw.

“Don’t do it!” A voice inside me was yelling at them.

The oldest girl stepped up to The Clay. In the pocket of her soft pink dress, she pulled out two quarters, the exact amount required to play.

“Careful Jess.” The younger girl implored her big sister, “We only have a few quarters.”

“I am, Sarah.” Jess answered with her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as The Claw’s shadow passed over a stuffed SpongeBob SquarePants.

I watched, silently rooting for her since she seemed to have a steady hand, but I must admit I was a bit conflicted since when I was her age, I never quite achieved my objective.

Tegan was with Skylar in the ball pool which is a small area filled with colored balls for the kids to jump around in. I must admit, I was really beginning to enjoy coming here where I could bring a book while the kids got out of the house for a while to jump around in this play zone and get away from the gray winder day for a while.

Meanwhile, little Jesse was standing on a stool, too short to see what was happening inside the enclosure. She was on her third attempt at the stuffed SpongeBob figure with her tongue still sticking out of her mouth. Sarah was standing flat-footed on the floor trying to see but was much to short to really see anything. With a swoop of The Claw, she clamped down on SpongeBob and began to guide him to the portal. With her hands on the controls, it appeared as if this time she might have the SpongeBob.

“You can do it, Jess.” Sarah raised her arms to cheer her big sister, when the jaws of The Claw opened and SpongeBob went back into the pile. Jesse hung her head in dismay and then she turnedto Sarah.

“Sarah, you have to be quiet while I’m concentrating.” She scolded her little sister.

“I’m sorry.” Sarah apologized appearing shame faced as if she was going to cry.

“It’s okay.” Jesse bent over to look her pouting sister in the eyes. “I just want that stuffed SpongeBob and we can go home, alright?”

She still had her lip protruding, but she nodded her head in agreement. Jesse hugged her despondent sister as Sarah’s smile returned.

“You can do it, Jess.” Sarah whispered her encouragement.

“I am going to do my best.” She put two more quarters in the slot and loosened her neck and shoulders. After taking a deep breath, she exhaled as she pressed the button. Once again, The Claw sprung to life. Sarah was biting her lip so as not to shout out and distract her sister who had moved The Claw into position.

I was so drawn to the drama; I had forgotten to make sure my children were doing alright since Skylar had wandered off the last time, we were here.

With a quick jab, Jesse had SpongeBob once again in the jaws of The Claw. I wanted to yell, but I knew it would distract the child as well as making my own children wonder if I had gone nuts. Sweat appeared on Jesse’s forehead as she lifted SpongeBob from the pile. I was afraid she’d bite her tongue off.

Steer it toward the portal. Toward the portal. I found I was moving my own body as I sat in the chair. All those years I had tried and came up empty; she was guiding The Claw toward the portal. Just a few inches more and SpongeBob would be hers. I could not believe what I was witnessing.

I heard a groan.

I watched as the jaws opened releasing SpongeBob.

I watched as he fell over the portal.

Sarah’s eyes were opened wide.

SpongeBob landed half in the portal where he caught the edge and flipped over back into the pile.

I could’ve heard a pin drop.

It really seemed like all the air was sucked out of the play zone.

Jesse’s head went straight back in discouragement as she let out a guttural groan.

SpongeBob lay face up with that stupid smile on his face as if to say, “Na-na-nunana.”

I said a lot of bad words in my mind as I watched a despondent little girl bow her head in defeat.

How many times had I stood there with the same feelings she was going through? I could not even say. I had nothing but regret. Why did I put myself through the same thing she was going through now. Childhood can be so cruel sometimes, because you don’t know what to do to change your fortune. Sarah hugged her big sister who was fighting off her tears.

“It’s okay, Jesse.” Sarah whispered to her sister.

“I had him. He was in The Claw.” Jesse sniffed, “But all of a sudden, the jaws opened and he fell back inside. This thing cheated me. It cheated me bad.”

“Do you want me to try?” Sarah asked as she smiled.

“No. You’re too short. You won’t be able to see the toys or The Claw as it comes down. I appreciate that you’re willing to try.” Jesse hugged Sarah, “One day you will be big enough to give it a try.”

“And I will get that SpongeBob for you, I promise.” Sarah hugged her sister once more.

Special memories are frozen in time.

Jesse stepped off the stool she was standing on and looked directly into Sarah’s eyes and spoke these words which will forever be engrained in my mind.

“Go get Charlie.” Jesse said in a very determined voice.

Without any further instructions, Sarah turned on her heel and left the play zone.

Charlie? Who the heck was Charlie.

“Dad, are we going soon?” Tegan asked. It took me a moment to realize she was even there. I had been so engrossed by what was taking place a few feet from me, I had forgotten that my kids were even in the play zone.

“Yes, sweetie.” I nodded.

“Can we stay a few more minutes?” She asked with a smile. She was asking to stay while I figured she wanted to go home. This place was like Disneyland to the kids with a severe case of “cabin fever.” Living in Chugiak could really take the spirit right out of you between the subzero afternoon temperatures and the dreary gray skies and the depressing Arctic fog. I looked over and saw Skylar was having fun. All was good as I watched Tegan run back to the pool filled with color balls.

Suddenly Sarah returned with a small urchin standing next to her. He wasn’t even as tall as Jesse. He wore a stocking cap on his head, and his hands were in the pockets of his down jacket. His head was cocked back as if he owned the place.

“Hi Charley.” Jesse greeted him.

Charley? This pint-sized kid was Charlie? How could this kid be?

“So, is this the machine?” He talked out of the side of his mouth.

“Yes Charlie.” Jesse pointed to The Claw.

Are you kidding me? I got to watch this. There is no way this little tike could win the SpongeBob prize that Jesse coveted.

Charlie scaled the stool that Jesse stood on when she was attempting to grab SpongeBob.

“Sure.” He waved his tiny hand as if this was a no-brainer for him. He went through the same motions Jesse had gone through before attempting to grab SpongeBob. He took in a deep breath, moved his head from side to side with his eyes closed. As he exhaled, Jesse put two more quarters in the slot.

More money wasted, I figured, but I had to see this no matter what the outcome would be.

Without any hesitation, Charlie moved The Claw directly over the target. Using the controls, he maneuvered The Claw directly over SpongeBob. In a second or two, The Claw descended over the targe. With sharp shiny teeth open, The Claw engulfed the citizen of Bikini Bottom who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Another turn of the steering wheel and Charlie had SpongeBob dangling over the portal. Pressing another control, the jaws opened sending the hapless stuffed toy directly into the portal. Jesse grabbed her prize out of the portal.

With SpongeBob in tow, she hustled over to Charlie’s side who had just stepped off the stool. She threw her free arm around him and gave him a big kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you so much, Charlie.” She was so happy.

“Don’t get all mushy on me, sis.” He shook his head trying not to smile.

It was a miracle. What I had just witnessed was a miracle. This ranked right up there with the 1980 Winter Olympics when the young American Hockey team defeated the professional USSR team at Lake Placid. It would not be remembered like that, but in my heart, it was a close second place.

I wanted to go over and shake Charlie’s hand, but the three of them walked out of the play zone as the machine had one less stuffed SpongeBob SquarePants in the bin.

I walked over to the machine. I put my hands on the controls, the same controls Charlie used to nab the stuffed figure for his sister in under ten seconds.

What made him so special? How come when I stood at the controls, I could not get the same results?

“C’mon kids, it’s time to go home.” I walked over to where they were swimming in colored balls.

“It’s only three o’clock.” Skylar pointed at the clock behind the pool.

“Yes, I want to get home before dark.” I shrugged.

“We just live five minutes from here.” Skylar countered.

“Yeah, it’s five minutes before sunset.” I answered back.

As we walked out of the Fun Time Play Zone, I couldn’t help but think of Charlie. Would he one day achieve success in other thing he would try? I did not know the answer, but I did think highly of his chances at the time.

“Did you guys have fun?” I asked them when they got into the car.

“I did.” Tegan nodded her head enthusiastically.

“Yeah, me too.” Skylar chimed in.

“So did I.” I said under my breath.

It’s not every day you get to witness a miracle.