Balrog Closing The Match

The round buzzer cut out, leaving the CRT humming with cold green phosphorus. Match was over, but the screen stayed glowing in the dark room. I stepped up on the arcade stick deck, planted both soles firm against the cold steel top plate, and reached for the vintage fightstick cord. The thick rubber cable was trailing off the wood into the rug. I hauled three feet of heavy insulated wire up, wrapped it tight around the base of the ball-top joystick, and wedged the heavy molded plug flush against the side casing. Then I gave the red ball top one solid clockwise turn until the microswitch clicked stiff. Gear secured. Board cleared for the night.