Friday Night Flingo

It had been almost seventy-five years the local broadcast station serving a military community telecasted its lottery money tease “Flingo” in the 11pm to 11:05 time slot. Hosted by legendary crooner Mel Bourne the ball dropping lucky few minutes was a weekly commitment made by 98-year-old Toni Linton who marched down to the convenience store to select at seven pm promptly and found herself home resting in the special chair rocking rolling observing the numbers revealed.

This routine activity started after her beloved Billy never returned from battle instead only an identification dog tag and charred ashes looking like debris from a skyscraper imploding inside a construction site made its way home successfully.

Only a few months ago since she chose an armed forces member as a devoted partner, the bride starred in a photographer’s dream wedding filled with the patriotic pageantry. But when the romantic honeymoon ended, duty called leaving orders on the table commanding “Billy Ship Out.” They conversed by writing letters back and forth, Billy mentioned that the strategy-making process by his bosses were not correct. Then it happened the dreaded door knock and the triangle flag presentation with the words that she never wanted to hear again, “your husband was killed in action only remains were recovered.”

Days after the funeral and everyone left, Toni finished her day’s work and found herself watching television in the same innocent adolescent manner. As the eleven hour approached a new host to the “Flingo” program was introduced, ‘Mel Bourne,’ the former lead singer of the band “Supremacy” well known in the area for his hit song, “Wrong Decision,” an antiwar time ballad set to music.

Every time the week ended Toni dropped a General George Washington choosing the numerals that were assigned to enlisted Billy. There were times when a freebie or a couple of dollars were awarded, and the winnings were put back into the education donation pot. But she never hit the jackpot that would make her a one in a million statistic. Never did Billy’s serial combination come out on the small screen.

During tonight’s broadcast Mel Bourne made a sad announcement stating, ‘this was going to be the last episode and next week the commission will start selling the scratch off instant variety.’ Clutching what was the final try Toni did not blink as the Miss Hometown beauty contestant released the circular objects. When each one rested peacefully in a row Toni saw they all were displayed right there on her ticket. Having the thought “Billy’s number finally came up” she closed her eyes, and there he was dressed in a uniform dry cleaned.

“Are you finally ready to party now?” He asked her and she affirmatively answered despite now having a lifeless body sitting in that special chair where Mel Bourne had a “Flingo” monitored by Billy for decades.