During a Chol HaMoed trip to Luna Park, my son noticed another park visitor who was walking with his son, who was holding a gigantic stuffed animal.
I asked the man where he had won his prize, and he indicated a booth featuring a basketball challenge. Turning to my son, I asked if he would like me to win an oversized stuffed animal for him – “Yes!” was his enthusiastic response. We proceeded to the game area with this objective in mind. Drawing upon my background as a basketball player in my youth, I felt confident in my ability to win.
The booth was crowded, and we waited our turn. The pricing structure was $5 for one shot or $10 for three shots, with a single successful basket securing the large prize. Underestimating the difficulty, I opted for one attempt, paid $5, and missed. My son's disappointment prompted me to try again, but another $5 yielded the same result. Recognizing the challenge, I decided on three more attempts for $10, resolving that this would be my final effort.
After missing the first two shots, everything hinged on my last opportunity. I concentrated, aimed, and released the ball; it struck the rim and bounced back into my hands. Although official rules did not permit a rebound shot, I instinctively took another shot, and this time the ball landed in the basket. The booth attendant, seeing only my final basket, announced my victory over the microphone. Wishing to act with honesty and integrity, particularly in front of a crowd, I explained that the winning shot occurred after a rebound and thus did not comply with the game's rules – I did not really win. In response, the attendant stated that I deserved the prize for being honest and presented my son with the stuffed animal. My son was ecstatic – he won his prize and learned a powerful lesson that day.
