This was really heartfelt. Someone maintaining a sense of normalcy when online ordering prevails, the pizzeria barely see anyone else, and gas being so high. She comes in and plays ping-pong.
Most people who suck at pinball suck because they treat the flippers as a singular defensive mechanism against a drain and not independent offensive weapons to hit targets and score points.
I really liked this one, Jimmy! I love that he recognized she was after something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but instead of pressing, or challenging, or trying to coax it out of her, he just let her play. The two of them needed her to be there for different reasons, and Cliff was happy with that.
Thanks Brian! This relationship may have been influenced/inspired a bit by the relationship ( at least the early part of it ) between Junk and Theresa in Michael Zadoorian's book Second Hand. It's certainly not an homage, but after re-reading what I wrote I can see the tug of it.
I liked it. Feels like a great beginning of something longer - even a one-location story or play. It leaves us wanting to know more about Miranda, Cliff and maybe even those places the drivers go. One thing - I’m not sure this paragraph is clear: Cliff, an only child adopted by a family of Welsh descent who looked like a video game plumber who might own a pizzeria like the one Cliff did, knew one thing:
You have singular on plumber. Yes family is a singular word but doesn’t quite work. More like: …who looked like a bunch of video game plumbers…
Technology is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to convenience. I don’t believe there will ever be a time where people stop going into stores 100%, but I believe there will be more stores like Pepperoni Jabroni’s, empty the majority of the time with a handful of people actually entering the stores throughout the day.
As for Cliff, that was very sweet of him to consider doing for Miranda. Maybe her pride might be a bit bruised if she ever found out, but we can all use a break sometimes.
Adjusting a tilt bob isn't a cheat, really. If you own a pinball in a rowdy bar, you want it adjusted at a sensitive setting to prevent real damage. If you have one in your basement with trusted players, it's ok to relax it a little. Players who love to play know the difference between body English and machine abuse/cheating. It's a fascinating mechanism and I'm not a tinkerer or one fascinated by gizmos.
Ding ding ding! Another ringer! The funny thing to me is pinball doesn't SEEM subtle. Not on the surface. Then again punk rock and horror films often don't SEEM subtle either. There's A LOT of depth under what seem like loud surfaces. You are a multilayered multifaceted cat. I hope to stop into Small's Bar and meet you in person someday. The IRONY is neither punk rock or horror movies are really my thing but I LOVE IRONY. Also I sort of take that back about horror films. Nobody watches MOST of the Walking Dead if they hate horror films. I DO sort of dig the Zombie genre.
I'm at Small's every Wednesday, which is a great conversational day,and I'll be there this Saturday, which will be more crowded and not so conducive to conversation but great people watching.
If you like Zombies, watch Apollyon. We shot it at Trinity Lutheran near Eastern Market and my friend Whitney Wagner gives a marvelous performance without speaking.
This was really heartfelt. Someone maintaining a sense of normalcy when online ordering prevails, the pizzeria barely see anyone else, and gas being so high. She comes in and plays ping-pong.
Most of what I write is heartfelt in some way. Occasionally I write one that's a lark or an experiment. Glad you liked it.
I always sucked at pinball.
Most people who suck at pinball suck because they treat the flippers as a singular defensive mechanism against a drain and not independent offensive weapons to hit targets and score points.
I really liked this one, Jimmy! I love that he recognized she was after something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but instead of pressing, or challenging, or trying to coax it out of her, he just let her play. The two of them needed her to be there for different reasons, and Cliff was happy with that.
Thanks Brian! This relationship may have been influenced/inspired a bit by the relationship ( at least the early part of it ) between Junk and Theresa in Michael Zadoorian's book Second Hand. It's certainly not an homage, but after re-reading what I wrote I can see the tug of it.
I liked it. Feels like a great beginning of something longer - even a one-location story or play. It leaves us wanting to know more about Miranda, Cliff and maybe even those places the drivers go. One thing - I’m not sure this paragraph is clear: Cliff, an only child adopted by a family of Welsh descent who looked like a video game plumber who might own a pizzeria like the one Cliff did, knew one thing:
You have singular on plumber. Yes family is a singular word but doesn’t quite work. More like: …who looked like a bunch of video game plumbers…
By the way - what’s a video game plumber?
The clue is in the mustache: Mario, from the franchise of games.
Great story!
Good detail.
Had me really interested.
Was never any good at pinball, rarely played. More enjoyed watching others.
Did you know if you help a butterfly break out of its chrysalis it will never be perfect?
I was 5th in the State of Michigan in Doubles in 98. That was fun.
I didn't know that about a butterfly, but it makes a ton of sense
Technology is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to convenience. I don’t believe there will ever be a time where people stop going into stores 100%, but I believe there will be more stores like Pepperoni Jabroni’s, empty the majority of the time with a handful of people actually entering the stores throughout the day.
As for Cliff, that was very sweet of him to consider doing for Miranda. Maybe her pride might be a bit bruised if she ever found out, but we can all use a break sometimes.
Adjusting a tilt bob isn't a cheat, really. If you own a pinball in a rowdy bar, you want it adjusted at a sensitive setting to prevent real damage. If you have one in your basement with trusted players, it's ok to relax it a little. Players who love to play know the difference between body English and machine abuse/cheating. It's a fascinating mechanism and I'm not a tinkerer or one fascinated by gizmos.
tilt is an apt title for this one Jimmy, lovely pacing and exchanges here.
Thank you. The rhythm and pacing of a story is important to me when I read, so getting it right when I write is a joy.
Ding ding ding! Another ringer! The funny thing to me is pinball doesn't SEEM subtle. Not on the surface. Then again punk rock and horror films often don't SEEM subtle either. There's A LOT of depth under what seem like loud surfaces. You are a multilayered multifaceted cat. I hope to stop into Small's Bar and meet you in person someday. The IRONY is neither punk rock or horror movies are really my thing but I LOVE IRONY. Also I sort of take that back about horror films. Nobody watches MOST of the Walking Dead if they hate horror films. I DO sort of dig the Zombie genre.
I'm at Small's every Wednesday, which is a great conversational day,and I'll be there this Saturday, which will be more crowded and not so conducive to conversation but great people watching.
If you like Zombies, watch Apollyon. We shot it at Trinity Lutheran near Eastern Market and my friend Whitney Wagner gives a marvelous performance without speaking.
Took me back to the early 80s, hanging out at the pizza shop/party store, where we had a slice and played pinball, and or Pack Man, Galaga, Astroid.
The pizza maker at Maria's on Grand River was obsessed with Tempest. He'd let orders pile up if he had a good game going.