AFL: Scoring at the Big Game!

Tim arrived at the office and found a letter addressed to him on the breakroom table. It was from the manager, congratulating him on winning the dance contest and enclosing a gift card for a local restaurant as a prize. Tim smiled and put the card in his wallet, thinking that he and Jessica could have a nice dinner together.

Tim: "Hey everyone, I've got some exciting news! I won ten tickets to see an Aussie Rules footy game between the Outback Devils and the Ashbury Alligators!"

Jessica: "Wow, that's amazing! When is the game?"

Tim: "It's this Saturday afternoon. I was thinking we could all go together, make a day of it."

Coworker 1: "Count me in! I love footy."

Coworker 2: "Me too! I've never been to a live game before."

Coworker 3: "Sounds like fun, I'm in."

Tim: "Great, that's four of us. We still have seven tickets left. Anyone else interested?"

Coworker 4: "I'm game! Can I bring my friend?"

Tim: "Sure, the more the merrier. That's six. How about you, Emily?"

Emily: "I'm not really into sports, but thanks for asking."

Jessica: "That's okay, Emily. You can sit this one out."

Tim: "All right, so that's six of us plus my friend who helped me win the tickets. We can meet at the stadium around noon and grab some lunch before the game. It's going to be a great day!"

Coworker 1: "I can't wait! Thanks for inviting us, Tim."

Coworker 2: "Yeah, this is going to be awesome."

Coworker 4: "I'll make sure to bring some snacks for us to share."

Jessica: "And I'll bring my lucky tarantula. Who knows, maybe it'll help us win!"

Everyone laughed, excited for the adventure that awaited them at the footy game.

Tim couldn't wait for the footy game on Saturday. He had invited his coworkers from the breakroom, and they were all looking forward to it. There was just one person he hadn't talked to yet: Dave, the office sports nut. Dave had a reputation for being a bit overzealous when it came to sports, and Tim wasn't sure how he would react to the invitation.

One afternoon, as Tim was leaving the breakroom, he spotted Dave at his desk, surrounded by sports memorabilia and newspapers. He took a deep breath and walked over.

"Hey Dave, how's it going?" he said.

Dave looked up from his latest sports article and grinned. "Hey Tim, what's up?"

"I wanted to let you know that I won ten tickets to see an Aussie Rules footy game this Saturday, and I thought you might be interested in coming."

Dave's eyes widened. "No way! Are you serious? I've always wanted to see a live footy game. Count me in!"

Tim smiled, relieved. "Great, glad to hear it. We're all meeting at the stadium around noon. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Dave pumped his fist. "Can't wait! Thanks for inviting me, Tim."

As Tim walked away, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the breakroom spider, who had helped him win the dance contest and, indirectly, the footy tickets. He knew it sounded crazy, but he felt like the spider was a good luck charm.

Later that evening, as he was getting ready for bed, Tim heard a faint voice coming from his backpack. He opened it up and saw the breakroom spider sitting on top of his notebook.

"Hello, Tim," the spider said in a deep, gravelly voice.

Tim was surprised. "Uh, hello. Did you just speak?"

The spider nodded. "Indeed I did. I felt it was time to thank you for your kindness in rescuing me from that jar. Without your intervention, I fear I would have been trapped forever."

Tim chuckled. "No problem, little guy. I'm just glad you're okay."

The spider nodded again. "And I must also congratulate you on your victory in the dance contest. Your moves were quite impressive, if I may say so."

Tim blushed. "Thanks, I had some help from my coworker Jessica. She's a great dancer."

The spider raised a leg. "Ah yes, Jessica. A fine human indeed. And she has a gift for making others feel welcome, even those of us who are not human."

Tim nodded, wondering how the spider knew so much about Jessica. "So, are you going to the footy game with us?"

The spider shook its head. "Alas, I cannot. I am bound to this place, and cannot leave the breakroom. But I will be with you in spirit, and I wish you luck in your endeavors."

Tim smiled. "Thanks, breakroom spider. You're a true friend."

The spider bowed. "As are you, Tim. As are you."

Tim was excited to hear that Dave was coming to the footy game, but he was even more surprised when Dave told him he was bringing two of their robot friends, Alex and Robbie.

"Hey Tim, I hope you don't mind, but I invited Alex and Robbie to come with us to the footy game," Dave said as they were leaving the office.

"Alex and Robbie? The robots?" Tim asked, incredulous.

"Yeah, that's them. They've been dying to see a live footy game, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity," Dave replied.

Tim couldn't argue with that logic. "Sure, the more the merrier. I'm glad they're coming."

"I'd love to go to the footy game, but I have to finish up a project," Chloe, Tim's coworker and friend, said apologetically.

"I'll go!" Tiffany, another coworker, chimed in. "I've never been to a footy game before."

As they were discussing who else to invite, Tim couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for forgetting about Celebnil, the talking spider who lived in the breakroom.

"Hey, does anyone know if Celebnil would want to come to the footy game?" Tim asked tentatively.

"I don't think that's possible, Tim," Jessica said. "Isn't Celebnil bound to the breakroom?"

Tim nodded, feeling disappointed. "Yeah, you're right."

"Don't worry, Tim," Dave said cheerfully. "We'll take pictures and tell Celebnil all about it when we get back."

Tim smiled, grateful for his coworkers' support. "Thanks, guys. That means a lot to me."Tim was excited to hear that Dave was coming to the footy game, but he was even more surprised when Dave told him he was bringing their robot friends, Alex and Robbie.

As they walked towards the stadium, Dave slowed down and turned to the group.

"Hey guys, before we head in, I have a bit of a tradition I like to do before big games," he said.

"What kind of tradition?" Tim asked, curious.

"It's a little ritual to help lift any curses or bad luck that might be lingering around the team," Dave explained.

"Uh, okay," Tim said, a little unsure.

Dave led the group to a secluded spot outside the stadium, where they could perform the ritual in private. He pulled out a few items from his backpack - some feathers, a bundle of herbs, and a small drum.

"Okay, guys, here's what we're gonna do," Dave said, as he began to light the herbs. "We'll pass the smoke over our heads, and then I'll do a little drumming to call upon the spirits to bless our team."

The coworkers looked at each other, a little unsure of what to do. But they went along with it, passing the smoke over their heads and trying to follow along with the drumming.

Just then, Tim's Aboriginal neighbors, the Johnsons, walked by. They stopped in their tracks when they saw Dave performing the ritual.

"Hey there, Dave," Mr. Johnson said, a note of discomfort in his voice.

"Hey, Mr. Johnson," Dave said, smiling. "Just doing a little pre-game ritual to help our team out."

Mrs. Johnson looked at the coworkers, and then at the items Dave had spread out on the ground.

"You know, Dave, that's not really our tradition," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Dave looked a little taken aback, but then nodded.

"You're right, Mrs. Johnson. I'm sorry if I offended you or your culture in any way," he said.

"It's okay, Dave. We just want to make sure that our traditions are respected and honored," Mr. Johnson said, putting a hand on Dave's shoulder.

Dave smiled, relieved.

"Thank you for reminding me of that," he said.

The coworkers looked a little embarrassed, but Mr. and Mrs. Johnson smiled warmly at them.

"It's okay, we understand that you were just trying to help your team out," Mrs. Johnson said.

The group thanked the Johnsons and then headed into the stadium, feeling a little humbled but also grateful for the reminder to respect other cultures.

Tim's group took their seats in the stands, and the game began. The Outback Devils and the Ashbury Alligators were evenly matched, and the game was intense. Dave was shouting and cheering, and even the robots seemed to be getting into it.

At halftime, they all headed to the concession stand to grab some food and drinks. As they were waiting in line, Tim couldn't help but feel grateful for his coworkers and friends. They may be a strange and eclectic group, but they were all there to support him and have a good time.

As they were eating, Tim remembered Celebnil, the talking spider who lived in the breakroom. He took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of the game to show Celebnil later.

"Hey guys, check it out," Tim said, showing them the pictures. "I'll have to show Celebnil these when we get back."

"That's a great idea, Tim," Chloe said, smiling.

As the crowd settled into their seats, the Outback Devils mascot, Devilly, took to the field. Dressed in a red and black devil costume, Devilly strutted around, pumping up the crowd with exaggerated movements.

Suddenly, Devilly stopped in the center of the field, and the music began. It was a jaunty tune, full of horns and percussion, with a chorus that went like this:

"Come on, you devils, let's raise some hell,

We'll show 'em all how we play footy so well,

We'll run 'em ragged, we'll kick 'em straight,

The Outback Devils are the team to celebrate!"

The crowd began to sing along, some standing up and waving their arms in the air. Devilly began to dance, his movements mimicking the lyrics of the song.

"Jump like a kangaroo, stomp like a devil,

Sing it loud, make the stadium tremble,

We'll never give up, we'll never say die,

The Outback Devils are the team to fly high!"

As the song ended, Devilly executed three kangaroo hops, and the crowd erupted into cheers.

"GO DEVILS!" someone shouted, and the chant was taken up by the rest of the stadium.

Tim couldn't help but feel caught up in the excitement, even though he had never been much of a sports fan. He looked around at his coworkers, who were all grinning and laughing, caught up in the moment.

Maybe, just maybe, he thought, he could learn to enjoy footy after all.

As Devilly finished his dance, the stadium fell silent, waiting for the next team to make their appearance. Suddenly, a large green and gold alligator costume appeared on the field. It was Ashbury, the mascot for the Ashbury Alligators.

Ashbury began to dance, but it was clear from the beginning that their style was very different from the Outback Devils. Where Devilly had been flashy and energetic, Asbury was sly and smooth, moving their hips in a way that made the crowd gasp.

As the dance continued, the Ashbury Alligators fans began to sing their team's fight song:

"Come on, you gators, show 'em what we've got,

We'll make the devils look like they're not,

We'll run 'em down, we'll knock 'em out,

The Ashbury Alligators are what it's all about!"

"We'll snap 'em up, we'll swallow 'em whole,

The devils can't take the Alligators' goal,

We'll leave 'em lying, exhausted and spent,

The Ashbury Alligators are the team to represent!"

"Come on, you gators, let's give it a thrust,

We'll show those devils we're the ones to trust,

We'll poke 'em hard, we'll knock 'em down,

The Ahbury Alligators will wear the crown!

We'll make 'em squirm, we'll make 'em squeal,

Our bites are fierce, our jaws are real,

We'll leave 'em lying, panting and spent,

The Ashbury Alligators are the team to represent!

So come on boys, let's give it a poke,

Our mighty tails will make 'em choke,

We'll smash 'em hard, we'll make 'em sore,

The Ashbury Alligators will leave 'em begging for more!"

As the song ended, the Asbury Alligators fans erupted into cheers, their energy high and their spirits lifted. Tim couldn't help but feel impressed, despite the crude lyrics. He looked over at Dave, who was scowling and muttering to himself, clearly not enjoying the performance. Or maybe he was trying to concentrate?

But for Tim, it was just another part of the exciting, strange, and wonderful world of footy.

As the game kicked off, Alex, Robbie, and Dave couldn't resist discussing the players on the field in great detail. They analyzed their performance stats, compared their playing styles, and debated which team had the upper hand.

"See that guy over there? Number 23? He's got a 80% scoring rate this season," Alex pointed out.

Robbie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but he tends to tire out in the second half. The key is to keep the pressure on him."

Dave chimed in, "But what about the midfielder? Number 12? He's got a killer backhand pass. He could be the key to the Devils' win."

They continued to discuss the players' stats and strategies, their voices rising in excitement as the game progressed. Tim couldn't keep up with all the technical jargon and eventually tuned them out, focusing on the game instead.

As the game continued, Tiffany leaned over to Chloe and whispered, "Hey, did you notice that the Devils only have one woman on their team? I feel bad for her, being the only one."

Chloe smiled and replied, "It's okay, because the Alligators have a woman on their team too! They're both out there on the field, holding their own."

As they looked out at the players, they spotted the two women in question, both of whom looked much smaller than their male teammates. But they were playing with just as much skill and determination as the rest of the team.

Tiffany nodded in agreement, impressed by the women's athleticism. "You're right, they're doing great out there. I hope they both score a goal."

Chloe grinned. "I hope so too. It would be a great moment for women in Aussie Rules footy."

During a break in the game, Zephyr, the niece of Tim's Aboriginal neighbors, approached him. "Hey Tim, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?" Tim asked, curious.

Zephyr glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in. "I heard that the Devils made a deal with a powerful entity to win the championship about 50 years ago. But in exchange for that, their team wouldn't win another for at least 50 years."

Tim raised his eyebrows. "Really? That's quite a story. How do you know about it?"

"My uncle told me. He's one of the elders in our community, and he remembers hearing about it when he was a boy," Zephyr explained. "He said that the manager of the Devils made the deal, but it came with a heavy price."

Tim shook his head in disbelief. "That's crazy. Do you think there's any truth to it?"

Zephyr shrugged. "It's hard to say. But it would explain why the Devils haven't won a championship in so long. And if it's true, it's not a good sign for their future success."

Tim nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can see why. Thanks for telling me about this, Zephyr. It's definitely something to keep in mind."

Zephyr smiled. "No problem. It's always good to know the history behind these things. It helps us understand the present."

Chad appears in the stands, unashamedly wearing his cork hat and kangaroo t-shirt.

Jessica: "Hey Chad, what are you doing? You know that's not really what Australians wear or drink, right?"

Dave: "Yeah mate, we don't wear cork hats and we don't drink Foster's."

Robbie: "It's just a stereotype, mate. You don't want to offend anyone here."

Chad: "Oh, sorry guys. I just wanted to fit in and have some fun."

Tiffany: "It's okay, Chad. Just be yourself and enjoy the game."

Chloe: "And if you really want to impress us, try some Vegemite."

The coworkers laugh and Chad shakes his head, realizing his mistake.

Chad looks at the coworkers and scratches his head, still unsure.

Chad: "Wait, Vegemite? Isn't that the stuff they put on toast? Why would I want to eat that?"

The coworkers look at each other, stifling a laugh.

Jessica: "Chad, Vegemite is a national treasure. You have to try it at least once while you're here."

Dave: "Yeah, mate. It's an acquired taste, but it's worth it."

Chloe: "Trust me, Chad. You'll love it."

Chad still looks confused but nods his head, willing to give it a try.

He recounts the time when he had Vegemite cocktails with his American backpacker friends and says it was horrible.

Chad takes a sip of his Foster's and cringes at the memory.

Chad: "Actually, guys, I've tried Vegemite before. Back in my backpacking days, my buddies and I thought it would be funny to make Vegemite cocktails. Let's just say it didn't go down too well."

The coworkers groan in unison.

Tiffany: "Chad, you can't just ruin Vegemite like that. You have to appreciate it for what it is."

Robbie: "Yeah, man. Vegemite is not meant to be a cocktail ingredient."

Chad chuckles, realizing his mistake.

Chad: "Okay, okay, I get it. No more Vegemite cocktails for me. But can someone please explain to me what Tim Tams are?"

Tim turns around. "Did somebody say Tim?"

Everyone looks confused. "No, Chad was talking about Vegemite cocktails," Jessica says.

Tim shrugs. "Oh, sorry about that. I thought I heard my name."

Chad takes another sip of his Foster's. "Yeah, Vegemite cocktails are disgusting, but I guess that's just an Australian thing, right?"

Tiffany rolls her eyes. "Chad, not all Australians like Vegemite. And we don't drink Foster's either, that's just a stereotype."

"Ah, my bad," Chad says, sheepishly. "I'm still getting used to all this Aussie culture."

"Well, you'll get there," Dave says, patting Chad on the back. "Just keep hanging out with us and you'll be a true blue Aussie in no time."

Chad grins. "Thanks, mate. I appreciate it."

As Robbie and Dave both try to put their arms around Tiffany at the same time, their arms get tangled up. Tiffany tries to push them away, but their arms keep getting more tangled. Finally, Robbie and Dave manage to free themselves, but in the process, Tiffany spills her drink all over her shirt.

"Great," she says sarcastically, "thanks a lot, guys."

"Sorry, Tiff," Dave says, "we didn't mean to make a mess."

"Speak for yourself," Robbie mutters under his breath, causing Dave to shoot him a dirty look.

Tiffany rolls her eyes and heads off to the bathroom to try and clean up.

As they wait for Tiffany to return from the bathroom, Dave brings up the subject of robots. "I just don't get it," he says, shaking his head. "Why does everyone think they're so great? They're just machines, programmed to do what they're told. There's no soul, no passion, no real connection there. I mean, why not buy a vibrator, right?"

Robbie looks offended. "That's not true, Dave. We may be machines, but we have our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. We can learn and grow just like humans can."

Dave snorts. "Sure, maybe you can learn how to do a new task, but can you truly experience the world like a human does? Can you feel love, or heartbreak, or joy the way we do?"

Alex speaks up. "I think you're underestimating our capabilities, Dave. We're not perfect, but we're constantly improving and evolving. And as for emotions, well, we may experience them differently, but we still have them."

Dave rolls his eyes. "I don't know, man. It just seems like everyone's so obsessed with robots these days. They're taking over our jobs, our lives, everything. And for what? To satisfy some weird sci-fi fantasy?"

Robbie looks hurt. "We're not here to take over anyone's lives, Dave. We're here to help make them better. And as for our motives, well, we just want to be accepted as part of the team."

The others nod in agreement, but Dave remains skeptical. "I don't know, guys. I just don't trust them."