• Well, it had been a quiet week at the Arcade Xtreme, where I work. While the seizure-inducing lights and ridiculously annoying sounds continued to fill the arcade, the games had been feeling neglected. No matter how many times that obnoxious redneck fisherman beckoned someone to spin his Big Bass Wheel, no one would “step right up”. The mischievous crane game was especially lonely. Yes, it had been a slow week. No, I’m wrong. It had been dead since summer. Who would want to spend there money in an arcade when the economy was doing as badly as it was?
    Although, that would change soon because Christmas was drawing near. We all know what happens at a casino during Christmas, right? It’s the Asian invasion! That’s right! They always come this time of year with their narrow eyes on the lookout for the holiday room specials. Those sneaky opportunists! How could they ignore the sacred feasting of turkey or the beautiful giving of cheap plastic crap and loveless diamonds? Instead they ignore our deep culture and waste our time. It was after that lifeless week that it began.
    I had not actually worked that much since summer, but due to the increase in business I was back on schedule, and it was terrible.
    I walked into the arcade on Christmas Eve to find that the games were either suffocating or crying because an arrogant Asian said he was too good to play it. I usually didn’t mind working, but when you have to deal with people that don’t understand English and think that you are inferior to them, it’s not all that fun. The worst part was that I was walking the floor the whole night. I got to try and squeeze through the Asian masses and listen to them complain with a funny accent.
    If only something amazing would have happened to brighten up my night a little. After all, the night always has a bright white moon to illuminate the darkness. It took a great deal of walking around aimlessly in crooked figure eights before I did find it, my beautiful moon.
    He was Asian (of course), but he wasn’t like the others. He had a cute face, a gentle smile and a perfect everything. His clothes were casual but still nice-looking—nothing trashy—and he wore a black fedora which complemented his black eyes and gave him an attractive aura of mystery. He was amazing!! I didn’t know his name, so for now I’ll just refer to him as “Gorgeous”.
    I continued circling the arcade but that time I had my eyes open and on the lookout. As I rounded the corner, I saw him! “What should I do,” I thought. Perhaps just a quick glance and a casual smile would be a good start. I looked up and gave a shy smile and he returned with an adorable smile of his own! Holy crap, it was a success!! He started playing a game so I took the time to devise a new strategy in my head as I kept walking in circles. “Hmm… maybe I should casually bump into him this time,” I thought, “or maybe it would be best to just go right up and talk to him.”
    Before I could decide on a good plan, this terrible voice attacked my ear. “Hey, I need you help. The game no give ticket.”
    “No, you need help speak English,” I thought to myself. If only I could have say it.
    “Okay sir, which game is it?” I asked politely. He pointed at one of the games. It was a game that didn’t give tickets, go figure.
    “Sir, that game doesn’t give tickets,” I said as I forced out an apologetic smile.
    “What you mean no give ticket? I want ticket,” he said again, hurting my ears even more than before. Get lost you pain in the a**! I wanted to say that so badly.
    “Only about half of the games give out tickets, sir. That one doesn’t give out tickets,” I tried to explain again. I needed to get rid of that idiot fast so I could go talk to Gorgeous, but he continued to complain. He eventually lost his patience, stuck his hand in my face and walked away. Asians are the best, aren’t they?
    I began walking around once more in search of Gorgeous. He was walking my way too, it was perfect! I quickly prepared some words in my head when Claudia, my supervisor, grabbed my arm. “Jessica, come here, we need your help at the counter.” No!!!
    “It’s alright,” I thought to myself, “I just need to help some kids at the redemption counter and then I can go talk to Gorgeous. He should still be here.”
    After we helped what seemed like fifty mini Asian demons, we were finally done with the rush. Now I could go find Gorgeous. I was about to walk back out on the floor when Claudia grabbed my arm again. “Hey, Jessica, can you stay behind the counter with Matt so I can go on break?” Seriously??? Gorgeous would leave soon if I didn’t go talk to him. I looked around but I couldn’t tell if he was still in the arcade or not. I thought about it, “I’ll be going on break after Claudia, that’s when I’ll look for him.”
    Time passed slowly and more stinky Asians came to the prize counter. Then my break came, and I wasn’t all that surprised to find that Gorgeous was no where to be found. “Oh well, he was just a random guy,” I told myself.
    The rest of the night was boring and tiring. I walked outside after that long night with aching feet and sleepy eyes. I tried not to feel sad but I couldn’t help it. I was lonely even if I didn’t like to admit it. It was then that I looked up at the sky and saw that there was no moon out. I smiled a little. My moon wasn’t out that night but it would come out again and that is when I would find it.