weirdmonger
THE LAST BALCONY (www.nemonymous.com)
The Last Penny
The Last Penny
posted Thursday, 20 April 2006
The penny finally dropped.
The sunhatted lady pushed the plunger and the freed ball bearing lodged itself upon the sprung trigger. One single flick of the lever and the silver shot rattled round the vertical display like a frantic whippersnapper trying at all costs to avoid not only the many “lose” slots but the few “win” ones, too. It managed, against all the odds, to succeed this time and fell back automatically upon the trigger.
It was a pity the last customer at the seaside that season had already disappeared on her high heels into the tugging gusts of early evening.
The change-giver peering round the teetering towers of unused coppers in his booth looked at his watch, clucked his tongue irritably and recrossed his legs.
He’d want to spend a penny, too, before long.
(published 'Eastern Rainbow' 1992)
posted Thursday, 20 April 2006
The penny finally dropped.
The sunhatted lady pushed the plunger and the freed ball bearing lodged itself upon the sprung trigger. One single flick of the lever and the silver shot rattled round the vertical display like a frantic whippersnapper trying at all costs to avoid not only the many “lose” slots but the few “win” ones, too. It managed, against all the odds, to succeed this time and fell back automatically upon the trigger.
It was a pity the last customer at the seaside that season had already disappeared on her high heels into the tugging gusts of early evening.
The change-giver peering round the teetering towers of unused coppers in his booth looked at his watch, clucked his tongue irritably and recrossed his legs.
He’d want to spend a penny, too, before long.
(published 'Eastern Rainbow' 1992)
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