Was it the thrill of the opening game, the unexpected double overtime victory, the camaraderie of my buddies, the ten dozen chicken wings medium with hot sauce on the side or the two kegs of beer? Whatever it was, we were going to the home opener in three weeks.

Since my buddies’ credit scores are in the double digits it fell to me to get the tickets. The double digit credit scores should have been a hint, but they swore they would pay me back.

On the phone with the ticket mistress, with the absolute reassurances that my buddies would pay me back, I became the proud owner of 6 tickets to “the game”.

Lower level, 40 yard line, $75 each, plus a handling fee, a state entertainment fee, along with a convenience fee, (a fee paid for the convenience of buying them), a stadium surcharge and a fee to cover the fees. All told $135 per ticket or $810. High fives all around when I made the announcement, we got the tickets and the reassurance they would pay me back.

Now the wait for the home opener and the promised payback. One week later the tickets arrive in the mail, postage due.

My first call, “Tim, I got your ticket, you owe me $135 dollars.”

“To the game, the opener, remember. What do you mean you have to check with your wife?”

The phone goes dead.

The next call to Larry. “Larry, I got your two tickets for the game, $270.”

Great, Larry swears he will pay on game day.

The final call to Pat, “Pat I got your ticket. Great, you want another ticket, no problem we got six.”

Two weeks before game day and the home team tanks, it seems the first team they played was out partying the night before and wrote our team off as a non-contender. Basically our team barely beat a bunch of drunks in overtime.

Game day outside a near empty stadium.

Larry texts me – N town where r U?

Reply-@ beirgarten on Marietta St.

Larry- OK on my way to the Marriot.

Me-NO at BIERGARTEN on Marietta St.

Larry- When did you leave the Marriot?

Me- Just get your @$$ to the biergarten on Marietta St. I am on the upper deck.

Text to Pat-I have your extra ticket.

Pat- What tic? I am @ gate zzz 98 scalper tickets.

Me-WHAT, I have your tics!

Larry – @ biergarten where r u?

Me- @ biergarten where r u?

Pat -@ gate ZZZ 128 like I said.

Me- not you Pat, Larry.

Larry- They don’t have a upper deck.

Pat-I know I am at gate ZZZ 128.

Larry-Hey Pat, Larry.

Me, screw this I call Larry.

“Larry what do you see?”

“A parking garage.”

“Look just past the parking garage.”

“The, Beir Garten, OH that Beir Garten.”

Pat calls-“Hey man, the scalpers are almost giving tickets away, hold on I will call you right back I think I can get this guy to pay me to take the tickets.”

“No, you idiot I got your tickets, you owe me $270. Hello Hello.”

Larry and his friend show up.

“Here’s your tickets, $270.”

“WOW man thanks, OK if I catch you next month when I get paid.”

Pat texts Larry -Where are you sitting, I’ll c u inside.

Now inside the stadium, in our, which have turned into my seats, out $810, Pat and his buddy make their way to us.

“Man I got these tickets for $35, for the pair. Great seats when did you get these?”

“You #$*#_”

“Hold on, Tim’s calling”, Pat says.

“Hey Tim, Pat, yea we’re at the game, wow I thought you knew. I hear your wife, bye.” Pat hangs up on Tim and turns to Larry and me.

“Hey you really should have told Tim, he’s mad.”

“WHAT! You two…”

“COLD BEER here!” The beer vendor shouts as he walks the aisle.

“Cool down, I’ll buy you a beer.” Pat said

“Two beers here.” Pat waves to the vendor.

“$18 buddy!”

Eighteen dollars, wow I thought and then I realize, I think I just found a way to recoup my money.