It Bearly Happened

(It’s the day before Valentine’s Day and my girlfriend and I sit in the arcade room of our local Laundromat. A man walks in, and begins playing on the claw machine. After a few unsuccessful attempts, he continues funneling money into the machine. I am in awe. Every time he loses.)

Me: “Awww.”

(For the first time, he looks back and cocks a smile. But soon after he leaves.)

Man: “Screw this.”

(I sit, disappointed. But then, not more than a minute or two later, he comes back.)

Man: “I’m getting this d*** bear!”

(He continues. Finally, after four or five more attempts, he gets the bear.)

Me: “Oh, my god!” *claps*

(Without looking, he throws the bear at us. It’s a black bear holding a red heart that says “Love”)

Me & Girlfriend: “Thank you!”

Man: “No problem.”

(We took the bear home, and gave him a place between our stuffed animal-collection. I still don’t think he knows how much that made our day.)