The carnival glows under string lights. Colorful stalls line the street. Chip trots up to the ring-toss game.
Chip throws the ring. It lands right on the bottle. 'One toss!' he says.
The vendor slides a gold coin across the table. Chip's ears perk up so high they almost touch.
Chip plays the dart game. Three darts. Three bullseyes. He wins two more coins. Then the wheel of fortune. SPIN, SPIN, STOP. JACKPOT!
The vendor pours a handful of shiny coins into Chip's paws. Chip laughs and counts them. Counting, counting, counting.
Chip marches to the candy stall. 'All of it!' he says, pointing at his coins. He stuffs his pockets with rainbow lollipops, cotton candy, and a chocolate fox.
Chip trades every last coin for five big balloons. He holds them all and bounces down the street. POP!
Chip reaches the lucky dice booth. 'One more roll!' he says, dumping all his remaining coins on the table. The dice rattle and roll. Triple ones. The house wins.
Chip stares at the empty table. The coins are gone. His balloons float away, one by one, until his paws are bare.
Chip walks home through the quieting carnival. The stalls are packing up. His pockets are empty.
Chip opens the door to his modest home. The shelves are bare. The toy chest is empty. Not a single lollipop wrapper on the floor.
Chip sits on his steps and looks at his paws. They are clean. They are empty. He pulls his tail around himself and watches the last carnival light fade.