finally.

A man.

He stands in front of a QuikMart off a local transit route.
In his right hand is a quarter, well-worn on both faces. In his left, a lottery sheet.
Flakes of silver cascade like a shower of precious metal.

The man is biting his lip.

Hard.

The sun stands sole witness.

Sweat drips off his nose.
He takes notice, only long enough to hastily swipe it away.

His lip has grown whiter than his teeth.

Abruptly, his teeth release their violent hold.

He sighs. It is a sigh he is familiar with.
It is a sigh brim-full with emotion; a mosaic of disappointment, futility, and self-loathing.

He pulls out his wallet; glances inside.

Empty.

It strikes him like a punch to the gut. His lips squirm.
“Broke…” he mumbles.

His eyes roam aimlessly as he rubs his worn quarter betwixt his fingers.
He pauses; his eyes, they focus.
He flips the coin thoughtfully.

Takes a step. Another step. And again.

He is suddenly upon it.  The coin is inserted, the lever twisted.
Washington’s unsuspecting bust is lost amidst the mechanism. Gears mesh. Disks turn.

A candy drops into a miniature slide; tacky lights herald its arrival.
A cheesy jingle serves accompaniment as the candy follows the path of the slide down and around in a spiraling descent.
Finally, it reaches the dispenser.  The man retrieves it zealously.

He chews; a bubble pops.

He walks away.

Finally, content.

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