Quarter Culture

His new friends

It’s hard getting in on it
Walking in and seeing that game
Illuminated on the screen
It’s the first game I ever played
The first time someone included me
I’m here every week
Quarter in hand
To crowd around the machine
Surrounded by familiar faces
And waiting for a spot for me.

He used to call me over
Give me his spot so I could play
I’d lose and lose and lose
But I always won
I got to see that smile on his face.

Now things have changed.
It’s the same machine in a different place
Same nice people
Wearing a different face.
I’m not here all day
So they know to make me spot
For a minute or two
Just one round
Just so I can play
But showing up
With just one quarter
Is not enough here.

Just one shot
That I know I’ll lose
So I can join the fun
But the new crowd brings piles
And piles and piles of quarters
Claiming the next game and the next
So when I go to claim my spot
It’s gone before I speak up.

I don’t get to see that look on his face anymore,
Pleased to watch me play
To grow and learn
To have fun doing what he loves
Because his new friends bring endless quarters
And they don’t play with losers
So now I’ll never be able to win
Because one quarter is no longer enough