“I’ll be a gentleman and let you go first.” Walking to the side of the machine, I slip off my suit jacket and roll up my shirt sleeves. “This is serious competition, I need to be ready for all the action. I mean, you are at a slight disadvantage in what you are dressed in, but I won’t handicap you for that.” I watch her take off her cardigan that no more than ten minutes ago she was wearing as armor, and now she throws it to the side on a couch that sits along the wall.

“If it’s that serious, what are we playing for? There has to be a wager.” That glint I love so much is back in her eyes now.

“Oh, that’s dangerous territory. I’m not sure you would like the things I pick.” My mind is racing with all the options I could use. And I bet it’s not what she’s thinking.

Her little giggle is such a relief to hear. “You’re a guy, I know exactly what you would pick, and it would involve getting naked. But that is off the table, so you better rethink, mister.” She pokes her finger into my chest, and it’s so nice to see her playful side coming out.

“Well, I hate to say you’re wrong, but… you’re wrong. So, let’s start with an easy one.” I lean back and sit on the arm of the couch next to the machine. “The person who wins this game gets to ask the other person something about themselves and they have to answer honestly. It can be as silly or as serious as you like. Like how can you still eat avocado?” Which is enough to have us both laughing, and it takes the sexual premise out of the discussion—well, sort of.

“Game on, and get ready for me to bombard you with questions when I win,” she says proudly as she pulls the ball launch back and lets it go, and the first ball shoots up into the playfield part of the machine. The relaxing sounds of it hitting different targets start running through the room. The machine’s music is playing the theme song, “Sweet Georgia Brown” of the Harlem Globe Trotters, and you can’t help but smile when you hear it.

Looking at Harper, she has such intense concentration and is throwing her whole body into this. The ball bounces around, and every time I think she is done for, she manages to get the flipper to hit it just right, and it bounces back up into the game and racks up plenty more points. I’m sure it’s beginner’s luck, but she’s actually scoring well for her first ball.