I swiped my ID against the reader and pushed the door hard, making a beeline to the empty foosball table that I had spent so much time at during my years on campus. The yellow and black stick figures stared back at me in what seemed like anticipation. They knew a game was about to go down. Too bad I didn’t have anyone to challenge in the empty game room. I angrily spun the closest line of players as hard as I could.
“Excuse me, but do you know how motion sick I get?”
I must have been going crazy. Maybe it was that sub I ate. These wooden guys couldn’t be speaking to me, could they?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know inanimate objects could feel sick,” I replied in a sarcastic tone.
“Really? You didn’t hear me screaming for help the hundreds of other times you played this table?”
“It’s not like I would’ve known you were talking to me anyway,” I said. “I’m not really used to things other than real people talking. I’m not even sure you’re really talking right now.”
“I’m not, this is all in your head, dude.”
So I was going crazy. Just what I needed.
“Really? You didn’t hear me screaming for help the hundreds of other times you played this table?”
“It’s not like I would’ve known you were talking to me anyway,” I said. “I’m not really used to things other than real people talking. I’m not even sure you’re really talking right now.”
“I’m not, this is all in your head, dude.”
So I was going crazy. Just what I needed.
“Okay, so why am I hearing you now?”
“You’re going through a tough time. You’re failing that class, right? Think of me as a guardian angel,” the wooden man informed me.
“You’re going through a tough time. You’re failing that class, right? Think of me as a guardian angel,” the wooden man informed me.
“So what great message are you here to deliver?”
“It’s gonna be alright.”
I paused for a moment. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Really?”
“What else do you want, man?”
“It’s gonna be alright.”
I paused for a moment. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Really?”
“What else do you want, man?”
By this point, it was hard to hold back my frustration. “I don’t know! Aren’t guardian angels supposed to guide people to whatever they’re supposed to do next?”
The voice of the wooden man in my head stopped. I could tell he was thinking of what to say next. “Do you realize how many beatings I endure in a day?”
“What do you mean?”
“A lot,” he continued without hesitation. “People just like you. People worried about grades. People trying to think of what to do next. They don’t ever really live in the now. They don’t think of how much they’re actually worth.”
“What are you worth?” I retorted. “You’re stuck on a table kicking a ball around all day.”
The voice of the wooden man in my head stopped. I could tell he was thinking of what to say next. “Do you realize how many beatings I endure in a day?”
“What do you mean?”
“A lot,” he continued without hesitation. “People just like you. People worried about grades. People trying to think of what to do next. They don’t ever really live in the now. They don’t think of how much they’re actually worth.”
“What are you worth?” I retorted. “You’re stuck on a table kicking a ball around all day.”
“I’m doing what I love,” it told me. “I’m playing a game I love and helping others cool off at the same time. I already found where I’m supposed to be. What about you, man?”
I was stunned silent. What was I supposed to say? I was having deep, philosophical conversations with a game table. I might as well continue with my madness.
“What meaning do I have, then?”
“Who knows? This is just the beginning of your life. You have so much ahead of you.You think one failed test will really mess that all up? You have a lot more going for you, dude. Don't let it go to waste.”
I sighed. Why was I so concerned about one stupid test? Had I been forced into thinking this would be an end all, be all for me? I smiled and began walking away from the table. I stopped and turned slightly to see the imaginary audible piece. “I’m sorry I caused you so much pain over the years.”
“Don’t worry, man. Headshots are my specialty.” I swear I saw him grin as I went give that extra assignment one last shot in an attempt to boost my grade.
“Who knows? This is just the beginning of your life. You have so much ahead of you.You think one failed test will really mess that all up? You have a lot more going for you, dude. Don't let it go to waste.”
I sighed. Why was I so concerned about one stupid test? Had I been forced into thinking this would be an end all, be all for me? I smiled and began walking away from the table. I stopped and turned slightly to see the imaginary audible piece. “I’m sorry I caused you so much pain over the years.”
“Don’t worry, man. Headshots are my specialty.” I swear I saw him grin as I went give that extra assignment one last shot in an attempt to boost my grade.
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