I sprinted to my favorite game at the arcade. I inserted my card, but when I pressed the start button, nothing happened. I stared at the game with hope. I pressed the start button once more, but it still did not work. I was hopeless.

That sunny Saturday morning I had woken up at 7:00. 

While I was eating breakfast my mom said, “Neil! I have very big news for you.” 

 “What is it?” I asked.

 My mom replied, “We’re going to…Video Game Valley!”

 “When are we going?” I questioned.

 “Today at 3:00 pm,” My mom answered.

 “Hooray!” I screamed.

I went to find my membership card for Video Game Valley. It was in one of my desk cabinets. I kept myself busy doing target practice with my Nerf guns and finishing a Lego I had forgotten about. Finally, my mom called me to get ready. I wore my best clothes. I couldn't wait to play my favorite game, Sneaky Sasquatch. 

I entered Video Game Valley and saw someone familiar. I went a little closer, and I saw that it was my best friend, Ishan! 

“Ishan! Over here!” I yelled.

 He looked in the direction of my voice. “Huh? Hm?” he said.

 “OVER HERE!” I screamed, louder.

 “Is there someone talking to me?” Ishan asked.

 “OVER HERE!” I screamed, even louder, waving my hands like crazy. I realized that he couldn’t hear me over all of the commotion. 

“Oh, hi Neil!” he yelled once he saw me.

“Hi Ishan!” I said.

Once we greeted each other, I asked him if he had gotten his membership card. He told me he didn’t have it. 

“No worries,” I said, “I have mine right here.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my card. 

“Let’s go play Sneaky Sasquatch!” I said.

I sprinted to my favorite game at the arcade. I inserted my card, but when I pressed the start button, nothing happened. I stared at the game with hope. I pressed the start button once more, but it still did not work. I was nearly hopeless. I had one more idea. 

“Follow me, Ishan,” I told him, running to the managers.

“Um, excuse me, Mr. Manager, but my favorite game is not working,” I said.

 “Where is it?” he asked.

 “Follow me,” I told him.

 I went back to Sneaky Sasquatch. The manager followed me back.

 “Nothing happens when we press the start button,” Ishan told him.

“We even inserted the card,” I continued.

The manager took one look at the game and told us, “Look kids, it’ll take a little while to fix this game,”

 “How long?” I asked.

 “Around three to four months,” he told me.

 Three to four months? I thought. Is this man crazy?! 

“Look, I’m really-” that was all the manager could say. I cut him off. 

“No, it’s okay,” I told him, sadly. “I guess I’ll just have to find some better arcade to play in.” 

I walked back to our parents. I felt tears come to my eyes. 

“Let’s go home,” I insisted. 

“Why do you want to go home?” asked Ishan’s dad. 

“Sneaky Sasquatch is not working,” Ishan said. 

“There’s nothing else to do here,” I continued. 

“Did you ask the manager?” my dad questioned. 

“Yeah,” I replied. 

  h

“How long will it take?” asked Ishan’s mom. 

“Three to four months,” Ishan answered.

 “Okay,” my mom said. “I guess we can go home. 

On the way to the door, I saw a video game that caught my attention. Minecraft, Newest game yet in Video Game Valley the sign said.

“Hey mom,” I said. “That video game looks cool.” 

“Which one?” my mom asked. 

“The one that says Minecraft,” I answered. 

“You can play it if you want,” my mom told me.

Ishan and I went to it. I inserted the card and pressed the start button. Thankfully, it turned on. We took turns playing the game.

 “Wow, this is actually a really good game,” I said. 

“I’m pretty impressed,” Ishan told me. 

“Good enough to be a favorite?” I asked. 

“Yeah,” he replied. 

“I agree,” I said. “This is an awesome game.” 

After a couple of minutes, our parents came to us.

“Well, well, well. Look who found a new video game to play,” said my mom.

We just kept on playing our video game.

“Take that, zombie!” I said.

“Are you… ignoring us? What’s going on?” my mom asked.

Ishan and I were so focused on Minecraft that we didn't even notice our parents. They kept trying to get our attention, but we were too caught up in Minecraft. 

“Aw man,” I whined. Do we really have to leave? We only got 30 minutes to play Minecraft.”

“Yes, we have to leave,” my mom told me.

“What do we have to do today?” I questioned. “It’s Saturday at 5:00 pm. I can stay up for five more hours.”

“But your eyes shouldn't be locked on a screen for this long,” my mom told me.