the taste of winning

ahh. summer must be right around the corner, for the soda companies have once again brought back the under-the-cap-instant-win games. i admire the marketing aspect of this phenomenon. for i, a typical non-soda drinker, have been seduced to repeatedly buy Big Soda's products because of the"1-in-3 wins" promise. the questions of what i win is inconsequential. it could be a car, a free soda w/ the purchase of a soda, a free music download, or even a donkey (hey, w/ the way gas prices are skyrocketing, riding a donkey to work is starting to sound like a viable option). winning at anything makes me feel special. it causes a euphoric feeling to shiver throughout my entire body. naturally, i want to win.

when i purchase a soda i can feel the excitement of what i might win pulsate through my veins. this excitement flows from my chest, up my shoulders, down each arm, into my hands, and ends at the tips of each finger. the hairs on my arms act as though they can sense a winning cap, and they dance a little victory-jig as my hand reaches to open the bottle. with a quick twist of the thumb and forefinger, the bottle decompresses and the "pppsssttt" of the carbonation-release sounds. i slowly bring the cap into view. all the while reassuring myself that "no matter what the cap says, i will always be a winner." but, there it is! the three most dreaded words that can be crammed onto the underside of the 1 inch plastic cap: Please Play Again. the hairs on my arms quietly sulk away. making sure that nobody noticed how conceited they had been acting.

the open soda in my left hand is insignificant. regardless, i try to wash away my disappointment with the caffeine infused beverage. but, even the drink tastes sour. it's nowhere near thirst quenching. is the ink that scribed "Please Play Again" different than the ink used to congratulate the winners? has this bad ink dissolved into the beverage, thus tainting the thirst quenching capabilities? or has the disappointment caused my taste buds to retreat into a state of depression where even the purest of wines would taste spoiled?

to date, i am on a losing streak of 0 for 2. logically thinking, i should win the next time. this shimmer of hope lifts my spirits. third time's a charm... right?