Bowled over at the fair

COLIN entered the school fair and scanned the booths.

There were tons of games, including beanbag toss, ring toss, bowling, and magnetic fishing. After he purchased a few ticketsand signed a slip of paper, which he assumed they used for attendance, he headed straight for the booth run by his gym teacher, Mr Stanford.

“Hey, Colin,” his best friend Will said as Colin walked by a table full of raffle tickets.

“Want to enter the raffle for that basketball hoop?” Will pointed to a brand new hoop on display about ten feet away.

Basketball was Colin’s favourite sport, and he’d love to have a hoop of his own. But instead of jumping at the chance to enter the raffle, Colin shook his head and mumbled, “No thanks. I’m the most unlucky person there is. I’d never win.”

Will shrugged. “It’s only fifty cents for two tickets. Are you sure?”

Colin shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded. He walked over to the bowling booth.

“Hello, Colin,” Mr Stanford said, handing Colin a bowling ball. “First throw is on the house.”

“Thanks.” Colin lined up his shot. He knocked down all the pins.

“Nicely done!” Mr Stanford said. “If you get another strike, you win a prize.”

Colin handed Mr Stanford a ticket and lined up his second shot.

He knocked down all but one pin.

“So close!” Mr Stanford said.

Colin shrugged. “I knew I wouldn’t get a strike. I have the worst luck ever.”

“Well I hope you still had fun,” Mr Stanford said. Colin forced a smile and walked to the beanbag toss. He made the first toss but not the second. He played every game, coming so close to winning each time, but never getting a prize.

Finally he’d had enough. He walked toward the door when Will ran up to him with a big smile. “You won!” Will said.

“Won what?” Colin asked.

“The raffle. Everyone gets one free entry in the raffle just for coming. You beat out people who bought over twenty tickets a piece.” Will handed Colin the slip of paper with his name on it.

“I won?” Colin asked.

“Yeah. Do you still think you’re unlucky?” Colin smiled. “No, I guess I’m lucky after all.”