Nora The Explorer

“Have you ever gone skinny dipping?” He asked.
“No.” I answered.
“Would you do it?”

“I’m not sure. It sounds fun and freeing…maybe in private, with no one watching.” “What if some wierdo runs away with my clothes? And I’m left with the only option to run naked like Archimedes shouting Eureka!” No one would believe it was because I discovered anything😄! After a moment of silence, “Whatever happens at the thermal bath stays at the thermal bath, okay?” He asserted. “Okay,” I agreed. This is how the night started.

I remember a week before we got here: my friends and I attended a fair where for the first time I played a raffle game. We had decided to part and for each to visit the stands we were interested in and collect as many raffle tickets as we could. That was the first rule of the game. After a while, one of my friends came up to me, “I got an umbrella at one of the stands!” Super excited, “That’s so cool. I want one too, could you take me there?” I asked. She led me to the stand (familiar with the company) where I then asked about what was needed to get a prize. “You just need to spin the wheel, that’s all.” I was told. “Really? That’s easy enough” I said. I thought. Without dilly dallying, I spun the wheel. Now, if you’ve read my previous posts, it won’t surprise you when I say the wheel was marked with a language I do not yet speak. But there’s no way to not understand a – no, you did not win anything- in any language.

I saw the wheel slowly come to a stop at the same time as my heart sunk. It’s only an umbrella, you might say, but to me it was more. It was a prize I needed. I was so sad. The lady gave me a pen at least, right? (By the way lady, your pen doesn’t work 😤). “Could I play again please please pleeease?” My inner child begged. “No, sorry. Unless you …” I gave up. I expressed my interest in their establishment and told them that I’ll arrange for a visit soon. One thing about me, I don’t consider myself the ‘lucky’ types. That said, I’m hopelessly hopeful. I took my loss and moved on to another stand where, as if to console me, I won a coffee! I don’t even like coffee but best believe I drank my prize to the last drop.

The long-waited moment finally came, and we were all sat. Everyone with their raffle tickets, giggling and with high hopes. By everyone, giggling and with high hopes, I mean me. People winning, on my left, right and centre. Not me. Some winning even three prizes. Not me. Not my friends next to me. Every time we heard”… And the winner is 14 … green … fish!” We would check each other’s tickets hoping it just might be- but it wasn’t. We came close at times but not close enough. Have you ever asked God, “why not me?” and “why I’m I not lucky” “If not me, why not my friends?” As the games continued, we took on the role of cheering, 📣👏👏, for those we knew and those we didn’t. I thought I had a good chance with 10 tickets but upon looking around and seeing others with far more, even 30- and how they got time to collect all those, I still wonder. My hope was on the floor, and I wanted to go home, before which l heard, “31 yellow cat!” ” The winner is 31 yellow cat” “Wait a minute! That’s me.” “That’s me!” I shouted as I shot up and ran to collect my prize. Finally!

I could hear my friends cheer behind me. I knew, it was a win for us. I opened my prize and guess what? I got a ticket for two, to visit the thermal bath: The very establishment whose stand I lost at the game of spin the wheel! You lose some, you win some. Unbelievable! I get to visit them on their tab! It felt like they gave me another play and I won.

Did you really think I was going to tell you what happened at the thermal bath? “What happens at the thermal bath stays at the thermal bath.” Remember? I had a great time. Is all 🙂. Thank you for reading 😘.

If you ever play a game of raffles, collect more than 1 ticket please, unless you’re really the ‘lucky’ type, for I am convinced my win had nothing to do with luck.