Skee-Ball

On Boston's South Shore there's a five-mile stretch of sand named Nantasket Beach.

Back in the day, we would split our time between riding its waves and riding the rollercoaster in Paragon Park, located just across the street. The "Giant Coaster," as it was called, had wooden rails and would make this clickety-clacking noise as the car made its way up to the peak. I have no idea what sound it made on the way down. Whatever it was was drowned out by all the screaming.

Once our stomaches had had enough of the coaster, we would filter into the arcade. It was awash with sweating kids, flashing lights, the smell of cotton candy and the sound of quarters dropping. Pac-Man. Space Invaders. Pinball. Air Hockey. The arcade had it all.

I would walk by the crushing horde to get to the back, where the classic games were tucked away. After all, Pac-Man was for videophiles. Bring on the Skee-Ball I crowed. My arm is all warmed up.

"In the early '80s, the arcade game Pac-Man was twice as popular as oxygen." – Charlie Brooker